After the succession of Emperor Kanmu, FUJIWARA no Tanetsugu was assassinated in 785, and Kanmu's Empress FUJIWARA no Otomuro and wife, FUJIWARA no Tabiko died in succession and the power of the Ceremonial House of the Fujiwara clan declined.
桓武天皇即位後は、延暦4年（785年）の藤原種継暗殺や、桓武の皇后藤原乙牟漏・夫人藤原旅子の相次ぐ死により藤原式家の勢力が衰えた。