 In 809, Heizei fell ill, and fearing that the sickness was a curse by the vengeful spirits of Prince Sawara and Prince Iyo, chose to abdicate the throne to prevent calamity.The Fujiwara no Kusuko and her older brother, the "sangi" Fujiwara no Nakanari, strongly opposed this decision, but the Emperor did not back down, and ten days later his brother Crown Prince Kamino took the throne as Emperor Saga.Saga chose Heizei's third son as crown prince.