Home > Tokugawa Yoshinobu

He was born in Mito, Ibaraki, Japan, the 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, 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.

At the instigation of his father, he was adopted by the Hitotsubashi family in order to have a better chance of succeeding to the shogunate. Upon the death of the 13th shogun, Shogun IesadaTokugawa Iesada ( ; 1824 1858) was the 13th shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan who held office for only 5 years, from 1853 to 1858. Tokugawa, Iesada Tokugawa, Iesada Iesada., in 1858Events January 14 Felice Orsini and his accomplices fail to assassinate Napoleon III in Paris but their bombs kill 156 bystanders. Because of the involvement of French emigres living in Britain, there is a brief anti-British feeling in France but the empe, Tokugawa Keiki, daimyo of Hitotsubashi, was nominated as Shogun. Supporters demonstrated his skill in efficiently managing Hitotsubashi government at young age. But enemies led by Ii NaosukeIi Naosuke (, 1815 March 3, 1860) was Tairo of Japan from April 23, 1858 until his death. He is most famous for signing the Harris Treaty with the United States, granting ports and extraterritoriality to American merchants and seamen. He was born as the f gained support and put up Tokugawa Iemochi as 14th Shogun. Tokugawa Keiki, his supporters and his family were placed under severe house arrestIn justice and law, house arrest is the situation where a person is confined (by the authorities) to his or her house, possibly with travel allowed but restricted. It is a lenient alternative to prison time. House arrest is typically enforced with the use.

The reign of Tokugawa IemochiTokugawa Iemochi ( ; 1846 1866) was the 14th shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, who held office 1858 to 1866. Iesada Iesada Iesada. was marked by incompetence and mismanagement. Upon the assassination of Ii Naosuke in 1860Events March 6 Abraham Lincoln speaks against slavery in New Haven, Connecticut April 3 The Pony Express makes its first run. May 9 The Constitutional Union Party holds its convention and nominates John Bell for President of the United States. May 13 Batt, 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 RojuRoju is the highest ranking government official in charge of political affairs of the Tokugawa shogunate.. Keiki then took numerous steps to quell the rising rebellion, and gathered allies to counter the rebellious Choshu province and treaties 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 were initiated. A massive government overhaul was undertaken to initiate reforms that would strengthen the Tokugawa government.

A national army and navy were formed and the outlook was that the Tokugawa shogunate was 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 formed an alliance to counter the bakufu. Under the banner of sonno joi and the radicals' fear of the new Shogun as the "Rebirth of Ieyasu" who will usurp the power of the Emperor, they waged war against the Tokugawa bakufu, successfully gaining strong support from other daimyos. After a number of massive 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 against more potent and powerful foreigners.

In 1867, Yoshinobu stepped down as shogun, returning all power to the Emperor. He was placed under house arrest, and stripped of all titles, land and power. He was later on released, when he demonstrated no further interest and ambition in national affairs. He retired to Shizuoka, the place to which Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of Tokugawa shogunate, also retired. In 1902, the Meiji Emperor allowed him to reestablish his own house as a Tokugawa branch (bekke) with the highest rank in the peerage, that of prince (koshaku), for his loyal service to Japan. Prince Tokugawa Yoshinobu [peer] died on January 22, 1913.

See also: Meiji Restoration