Because the Emperor's birth mother was not from the FUJIWARA clan, he was treated coldly by the chancellor (chief advisor to the Emperor), FUJIWARA no Yorimichi and his brother, FUJIWARA no Norimichi; however, it is said their younger half-brother, FUJIWARA no Yorinobu, supported Emperor Gosanjo.
生母が藤原の出でない為、関白藤原頼通や弟の藤原教通に疎んじられたが、彼等の異母弟の藤原能信の支援を受けたと言われている。