He became a maternal grandfather of three emperors: Emperor Gouda, Emperor Fushimi and Emperor Hanazono, and had stronger power in the imperial court than the Saionji family which was the head family.
その後、後宇多天皇・伏見天皇・花園天皇の3天皇の外祖父になり、本家筋の西園寺家を凌いで朝廷に隠然たる勢力を持った。