A bright spot in the tragedy for Goshirakawa was that the Taira clan fled taking Antoku along, and, after securing political initiative by appointing In no kinshin to official posts and Zuryo (the head of the provincial governors) which had been occupied by the Taira clan, Goshirakawa made Shinomiya (Takakura's fourth imperial prince, Takashige, later the Emperor Gotoba), who stayed in the capital, the emperor.
後白河にとって平氏が安徳を連れて逃げていったのは不幸中の幸いであり、平氏の占めていた官職・受領のポストに次々と院近臣を送り込んで政治の主導権を確立すると、8月20日、都に残っていた四宮（高倉の第四皇子・尊成、後鳥羽天皇）を践祚させた。