Her son, the Emperor Shomu, however, failed to produce single male heir after the Prince Asaka died, which, coupled with power struggle between the Fujiwara family and other noble families, practically led to the extinction of the lineage of the Emperor Tenmu, less than 20 years from the emperor's demise.
しかし、その跡継ぎ聖武天皇には安積親王薨去後はついに男子の跡継ぎが生まれず、一族藤原氏と他氏貴族との権力闘争などもあいまって、崩御後20年も経たないうちに天武皇統は事実上断絶してしまう事となった。