SAKANOUE no Tamuramaro came to notice as an officer in the Imperial Guards in Kyoto and achieved military success as one of the Vice Shoguns in OTOMO no Otomaro's army in the war against the Ezo people in Mutsu Province in 793.
中央で近衛府の武官として立ち、793年に陸奥国の蝦夷に対する戦争で大伴弟麻呂を補佐する副将軍の一人として功績を上げた。