After the Jokyu War, however, approval of the Kamakura bakufu (Japanese feudal government headed by a shogun) was required for the effective succession of the imperial throne; in fact, because of the demise of Emperor Shijo in 1242, the Kamakura bakufu rejected Prince Iwakuranomiya Tadanari, a promising successor, and instead made Gosaga take over the imperial throne.
しかし承久の乱以後、実際の皇位継承に関しては鎌倉幕府の承認が必要な慣例となっており、仁治3年（1242年）四条天皇の崩御に際し、幕府は有力候補であった岩倉宮忠成王の即位を覆し後嵯峨を即位させた。