In earlier days, Michinaga had instigated a plot leading to the downfall of FUJIWARA no Korechika and FUJIWARA no Takaie (brothers who were uncles to Imperial Prince Atsuyasu) and acted discourteously towards Teishi, Imperial Prince Atsuyasu's mother, on a number of occasions.
道長はかつて親王の外舅伊周・藤原隆家兄弟を失脚させた張本人であり、親王の生母定子に対しても数々の非礼を働いた。