While strengthening the power of the Tokuso family within the country, he repulsed two attacks by the Mongolian Empire, which at that time was far more powerful than Japan, and consequently has been regarded by later generations as a hero who had saved the nation of Japan.
内政にあっては得宗権力の強化を図る一方、圧倒的に国力の勝るモンゴルの2度にわたる侵攻を退け、後世には日本の国難を救った英雄とも評される。