At first he was a vassal of kuge (court noble), but was promoted to a daimyo (Japanese feudal lord) under the protection of Keishoin, a mother of Tsunayoshi TOKUGAWA, because he was her brother.
はじめ公家の家臣だったが、徳川綱吉の生母桂昌院の弟にあたるため、桂昌院の庇護を受けて大名に立身した。