As an heir of Shigetada, he built Minami-yamashiro-jo Castle in Yamada County, Owari Province (present day around Kakeshita Town, Seto City, Aichi Prefecture) and lived there until his death in Jokyu War in 1221, the war he fought hard for the retired Emperor with his father and his eldest son, Kanetsugu.
重忠の嫡男として尾張国山田郡(尾張国)内（現在の愛知県瀬戸市掛下町付近）に南山城を築き居住したとされが、承久3年（1221年）の承久の乱で長子・兼継を従え父と共に後鳥羽上皇方に参じ奮戦するも敗北し、鎌倉幕府軍に討ち取られた。