Although he is considered to be a direct descendant of the Soma clan, he often caused arguments over territories with Shigetane, Hikojiro Morotane's son, and his territories were confiscated for the crime of groundless lawsuits.
相馬氏の嫡流筋であったとみられるが、領地問題をめぐって彦次郎師胤の子の重胤とたびたび争いを起こし、濫訴の罪で所領を没収された。