The Shugonin of the time were in command of Zaichokanjin (the local officials in Heian and Kamakura periods) and were in charge of domestic security and civil government; they were in charge of requisition of army provisions and mobilization of soldiers, but in 1185, when the Taira clan fell, in order to build a smooth relationship with the imperial court, the Yoritomo administration briefly did away with the Kokushugonin that they had appointed themselves.
当時の守護人は、在庁官人らを指揮して国内の治安維持・民政にあたり、兵粮徴発や兵士動員などを任務としていたが、1185年（文治1）に平氏政権が滅亡すると、朝廷との円滑な関係を構築するため、頼朝政権は独自に設置した国守護人を一旦廃止することとした。