In the beginning, the course of the war ran in Nobuyori's favor, but the situation drastically changed as FUJIWARA no Korekata and FUJIWARA no Tsunemune deserted, switching sides to the enemy and made the Emperor Nijo escape from Dairi, and the Retired Emperor escaped and Nobuyori and his allies were driven into the corner as a rebel army.
当初、戦局は信頼方に有利に展開するが、藤原惟方・藤原経宗らが敵方に寝返り二条天皇を内裏から脱出させたことから状況は一変、上皇も脱出し、信頼らは一転して賊軍としての立場に追い込まれる。