When it came to the period of the Northern and Southern Courts, during which Takauji ASHIKAGA formed a samurai government in Kyoto (the Northern Court) and Emperor Godaigo set up the Southern Court in Yoshino, Takatsune became engaged in a tug-of-war against the Southern Court, mainly in Hokuriku region as a military governor of Echizen Province.
足利尊氏が京都に武家政権を成立させ、後醍醐らが吉野に南朝を成立させて南北朝時代となると、越前国守護として主に北陸方面で南朝方と攻防を繰り広げた。