When MINAMOTO no Sanetomo, who had the title of the third shogun (general), was assassinated by Kugyo in January 1219, Yoshitoki HOJO, who was the regent to the shogunate, demanded the third son of Michiie, Yoritsune KUJO, as the fourth generation shogun since the mother of Michiie was the distant relative of Yoritomo.
建保7年（1219年）1月、第3代将軍・源実朝が公暁によって暗殺されると、道家の母が頼朝の縁戚に当たることから、執権の北条義時より三男の九条頼経を第4代将軍にと要請される。