There was a severe struggle for Imperial succession between the Daikakuji-to Imperial line and the Jimyo-in Imperial line during this period, and it is said the Emperor's grandfather, Emperor Kameyama, worked hard for the Kamakura bakufu (Japanese feudal government headed by a shogun) to allow the Emperor to succeed to the throne.
大覚寺統と持明院統の間で激しい後継争いが続いていた時期で、天皇の即位には祖父の亀山天皇の鎌倉幕府への強い働きかけがあったといわれている。