He left his will for his youngest child, Tokiwai no Miya Imperial Prince Tsuneaki, who was three years old at that time, to become Crown Prince, the Prince's uncle, the Sadaijin (Minister of the Left), Kinhira SAIONJI tried to make it happen, the Retired Emperor Gouda opposed to this strongly and this caused confusion within the Daikaku-ji Imperial line.
遺詔で末子であり当時3歳の常盤井宮恒明親王の立太子の意思を示し、親王の伯父である左大臣西園寺公衡が実現工作に動いたために、後宇多上皇の強い反発を招き大覚寺統内部に混乱を招いた。