The first known instance of jiyu-ninkan was committed by MINAMOTO no Yoshitsune, who appointed himself Kebiishi saemon no jo (a post which carried the responsibility for maintaining public order and overseeing military affairs in Kyoto) without first obtaining the permission of MINAMOTO no Yoritomo.
その最初の例といえるのが、源頼朝の許しを得ず、検非違使左衛門尉に任ぜられた源義経である。