After the demise of Emperor Ojin, he and Prince Iratsuko Ujinowaki, who was regarded as the most likely successor to the Imperial Throne, tried to give the throne over to each other but, because of death of the Prince (according to "Nihonshoki," the Prince killed himself in order to give the throne to Emperor Nintoku), he acceded to the throne.
応神天皇の崩御の後、最も有力と目されていた皇位継承者の菟道稚郎子（うじのわきいらつこ）皇子と互いに皇位を譲り合ったが、皇子の死（『日本書紀』は仁徳天皇に皇位を譲るために自殺したと伝える）により即位したという。