Prince Mochihito might have been supported by the old force close to the Nijo that was against Goshirakawa and the Taira clan performing a Genpuku Ceremony since he was adopted by Hachijo-in, junbo (a woman of comparable standing to the birth mother of an emperor) of Emperor Nijo.
以仁王は二条天皇の准母・八条院の猶子になっているため元服の背景には、後白河や平氏一門に対抗する旧二条親政派の支援があった可能性も考えられる。