His father, Emperor Nijo tried to directly rule the government and was opposed to Goshirakawa, he put an end to Goshirakawa's cloister government by saying he was scheming to allow his half younger brother, Prince Norihito, ascend to the throne, and Norihito's uncle, TAIRA no Tokitada was sentenced to deportation, TAIRA no Norimori, FUJIWARA no Narichika and FUJIWARA no Nobutaka lost their positions.
父である二条天皇は在世中に親政を行おうとして後白河と対立した上、異母弟・憲仁の擁立を画策したとして、憲仁の叔父・平時忠を流罪、平教盛・藤原成親・藤原信隆を解官して後白河の院政を停止させた。