Michiie KUJO from one of the Court noble forces, tried to have Prince Tadanari (Emperor Chukyo's half younger brother), Emperor Juntoku's Prince, succeed to the throne, however, the regent, Yasutoki HOJO was against it since Retired Emperor Juntoku's Prince was involved in the Jokyu Disturbance, he then tried to have Retired Emperor Tsuchimikado's Prince, Prince Kunihito become Emperor and allowed the Prince to be enthroned by saying he received an oracle from Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine (In fact, Sadamichi TSUCHIMIKADO's wife was Yasutoki's half younger sister, thus there was an unusual situation whereby the Prince Kunihito and Hojo clan were relatives to each others).
九条道家ら公卿勢力は、順徳天皇の皇子である忠成王（仲恭天皇の異母弟）を擁立しようとしたが、執権北条泰時は、承久の乱の関係者の順徳上皇の皇子の擁立には反対の立場を示し、中立的立場であった土御門上皇の皇子の邦仁王を擁立しようとし、鶴岡八幡宮の御託宣があったとして邦仁王を擁立した（実は土御門定通の妻は泰時の異母妹であったため、邦仁王と北条氏とは縁戚関係にあったという特殊な事情もあった）。