Criminal
07-08-2007, 11:00 PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Ezo
On December 15, 1868 the independent "Republic of Ezo," based on the American model, was set up, with Enomoto elected as its first sosai. This was the first election ever held in Japan, where a feudal empire, military warlords, or shogunates were the norm. Through Hakodate Magistrate Nagai Naoyuki, they tried to reach out to foreign legations present in Hakodate, such as the Americans, French, and Russians, but were unable to garner any international support for their new government.
The governmental hall of the Republic of Ezo, inside the fortress of Goryokaku.The Republic had its own flag, a chrysanthemum on a sky-blue background (symbol of Imperial rule) and a red star with seven points (symbol of the new Republic). The financial wherewithal was provided in part by 180,000 gold ryo coins Enomoto retrieved from Osaka Castle following Tokugawa Yoshinobu's departure in early 1868. [1]
During winter they fortified the defences around the southern peninsula of Hakodate, with the new fortress of Goryokaku at the center. The troops were organized under a joint Franco-Japanese command, the commander-in-chief Otori Keisuke being seconded by the French captain Jules Brunet, and divided into four brigades, each commanded by a French officer (Fortant, Marlin, Cazeneuve, and Bouffier). The brigades were themselves divided into eight half-brigades, each under Japanese command.
Brunet demanded - and received - a signed personal pledge of loyalty from all officers and insisted they assimilate French ideas. An anonymous French officer wrote that he had taken charge of everything, "...customs, municipality, fortifications, army; everything passed through his hands. The simple Japanese are puppets whom he manipulates with great skill..." [and that] "...he has carried out a veritable 1789 French Revolution in this brave new Japan; the election of leaders and the determination of rank by merit and not birth - these are fabulous things for this country, and he has been able to do things very well, considering the seriousness of the situation..."[2]
[edit] Defeated by Imperial forces
Imperial troops soon consolidated their hold on mainland Japan, and in April 1869 dispatched a fleet and an infantry force of 7,000 to Ezo. The Imperial forces progressed swiftly and won the Battle of Hakodate, until the fortress of Goryokaku was surrounded with 800 remaining men. Enomoto decided to surrender on May 17, turning the Goryokaku over to Satsuma staff officer Kuroda Kiyotaka on May 18, 1869. [3] Kuroda is said to have been deeply impressed by Enomoto's dedication in combat, and is remembered as the one who spared the latter's life from execution. As per the arrangements for the surrender, the Republic ceased to exist on 27 June 1869. On August 15 of the same year, the island was given its present name, Hokkaidō ("Northern Sea District").[4
On December 15, 1868 the independent "Republic of Ezo," based on the American model, was set up, with Enomoto elected as its first sosai. This was the first election ever held in Japan, where a feudal empire, military warlords, or shogunates were the norm. Through Hakodate Magistrate Nagai Naoyuki, they tried to reach out to foreign legations present in Hakodate, such as the Americans, French, and Russians, but were unable to garner any international support for their new government.
The governmental hall of the Republic of Ezo, inside the fortress of Goryokaku.The Republic had its own flag, a chrysanthemum on a sky-blue background (symbol of Imperial rule) and a red star with seven points (symbol of the new Republic). The financial wherewithal was provided in part by 180,000 gold ryo coins Enomoto retrieved from Osaka Castle following Tokugawa Yoshinobu's departure in early 1868. [1]
During winter they fortified the defences around the southern peninsula of Hakodate, with the new fortress of Goryokaku at the center. The troops were organized under a joint Franco-Japanese command, the commander-in-chief Otori Keisuke being seconded by the French captain Jules Brunet, and divided into four brigades, each commanded by a French officer (Fortant, Marlin, Cazeneuve, and Bouffier). The brigades were themselves divided into eight half-brigades, each under Japanese command.
Brunet demanded - and received - a signed personal pledge of loyalty from all officers and insisted they assimilate French ideas. An anonymous French officer wrote that he had taken charge of everything, "...customs, municipality, fortifications, army; everything passed through his hands. The simple Japanese are puppets whom he manipulates with great skill..." [and that] "...he has carried out a veritable 1789 French Revolution in this brave new Japan; the election of leaders and the determination of rank by merit and not birth - these are fabulous things for this country, and he has been able to do things very well, considering the seriousness of the situation..."[2]
[edit] Defeated by Imperial forces
Imperial troops soon consolidated their hold on mainland Japan, and in April 1869 dispatched a fleet and an infantry force of 7,000 to Ezo. The Imperial forces progressed swiftly and won the Battle of Hakodate, until the fortress of Goryokaku was surrounded with 800 remaining men. Enomoto decided to surrender on May 17, turning the Goryokaku over to Satsuma staff officer Kuroda Kiyotaka on May 18, 1869. [3] Kuroda is said to have been deeply impressed by Enomoto's dedication in combat, and is remembered as the one who spared the latter's life from execution. As per the arrangements for the surrender, the Republic ceased to exist on 27 June 1869. On August 15 of the same year, the island was given its present name, Hokkaidō ("Northern Sea District").[4