A year earlier before the Imperial Prince was born, his father, the Emperor Sutoku was forced by the Retired Emperor Toba who was executing Insei (rule by the retired emperor) to accept his half brother, Imperial Prince Narihito (future Emperor Konoe) as a younger brother of the Emperor who was heir apparent.
親王の誕生前年、父である崇徳天皇は院政を行う鳥羽上皇の強い意向によって異母弟・体仁親王（後の近衛天皇）を皇太弟に立てることを強要される。