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Tokugawa Yoshinobu (徳川慶喜 1837-1913) was born in
Mito,
Japan, seventh son of
Tokugawa Nariaki,
Daimyo of Mito, inferior of the
Three Houses or Families that would be eligible for
Tokugawa shogunate.
Born with the name Tokugawa Keiki on 38 October 1837, he was brought up
under strict supervision and tutelage by mostly male educators of his
father. Taught in the
arts,
swordfighting,
martial arts,
politics and
government, Keiki would be discovered as an evidently promising future
leader, being highly intelligent with keen leadership skills.
He would be adopted by his father to the
Hitotsubashi family to be able to have a slightly higher advantage of
being a shogunal successor. Upon the death of the 13th shogun,
Shogun Ietsuna, in 1858, Tokugawa Keiki, daimyo of Hitotsubashi, is
nominated as Shogun, with supporters showing his skill in efficiently
managing Hitotsubashi government at young age. But enemies led by
Ii Naosuke gained support and put up Tokugawa Iemochi as 14th Shogun.
Tokugawa Keiki, his supporters and his family were placed under severe
house arrest.
The reign of
Tokugawa Iemochi is marked by incompetence and mismanagement of
government. Upon the
assassination of Ii Naosuke in
1860, to save the Tokugawa shogunate from self-destruction, Tokugawa
Keiki was nominated in 1862 to be a member of the 5-man council of elders
(advisers), the
Roju. Keiki then took numerous steps to quell the rising rebellion,
and gathered allies to counter the rebellious
Choshu province and deals with foreign states. In 1864, Keiki
successfully defeated the Choshu forces in their attempt to capture the
imperial gates in
Hamaguri, allying with forces from
Satsuma and others.
In 1866, Shogun Iemochi fell ill and died, leaving the Tokugawa bakufu
very weak and losing control, with no successor competent enough to save
the government. Tokugawa Keiki was strongly supported by all Tokugawas and
its allies as the only person with enough skill and experience to save
Government. Tokugawa Keiki became the 15th Tokugawa Shogun in 1866, taking
the name Tokugawa Yoshinobu. Immediately upon Yoshinobu's ascension as
shogun, major changes are then initiated. A huge government overhaul is
then undertaken to start reforms to strengthen the Tokugawa government.
A national army and navy are formed and the outlook is that the
Tokugawa shogunate is gaining ground towards renewed strength and power.
Fearing the renewed strengthening of the Tokugawas under a strong and wise
ruler, daimyos from Satsuma, Choshu and
Tosa form an alliance to counter the bakufu. Under the banner of
sonno joi and the propaganda of the "Rebirth of Ieyasu" to usurp
the Emperor, they waged war against the Tokugawa bakufu, successfully
gaining strong support from other daimyos. After a number of huge losses
on the side of the Tokugawa, still reeling from its past weakness,
Yoshinobu agreed that the Tokugawa could not win the civil war, and that
Japan needed to be united strong against more potent and powerful
foreigners. In 1867, Yoshinobu stepped down as shogun, returning all power
to the Emperor. He is placed under house arrest, removed of all titles,
land and power. He was later on released, as he showed no more interest
and ambition in national affairs. He retired in
Shizuoka, the retiring place of Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of Tokugawa
shogunate. In 1902, the
Meiji Emperor allowed him to reestablish his own house as a Tokugawa
branch (beeke) with the highest rank in the peerage, that of
prince (koshaku) for his loyal service to Japan. Prince Tokugawa
Yoshinobu [peer] died on 22 January 1913.
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