Nabeshima Naohiro (Saga)
Encyclopedia
was the 11th and final daimyō
of Saga Domain
in Hizen Province
, Kyūshū
, Japan. Before the Meiji Restoration
, his name was and his honorary title was Hizen-no-Kami.
, the 10th daimyō of Saga. On the retirement of his father in 1861, Naohiro was appointed 11th (and final) daimyō of Saga Domain.
During the Boshin War
of the Meiji Restoration, he led Saga’s forces as a component the Satchō Alliance
in support of Emperor Meiji
, after the Battle of Toba-Fushimi
and fought against the Tokugawa remnants at the Battle of Ueno
and in the various campaigns in northern Japan against the Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei
.
With the abolition of the han system
, he surrendered his domain to the central government, and departed Japan with his two younger brothers for studies in Great Britain
, returning only in 1882. During his stay in England, he was appointed as official representative of Japan to the Court of St. James's
by the Japanese government. After his return to Japan, he served in various political capacities, including president of the Genrōin
, advisor to Emperor Meiji (and later Emperor Taishō
), and as a member of the House of Peers
. He was appointed a marquis
(kōshaku) under the kazoku
peerage system. From 1911, he was president of Kokugakuin University
.
His connections with the Imperial Family of Japan were strong. His second daughter was the wife of Prince Nashimoto Morimasa, and his granddaughter was Princess Chichibu
. He died in 1921, and his grave is at the Aoyama Cemetery in Tokyo.
Daimyo
is a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
of Saga Domain
Saga Domain
Saga Domain was a han, or feudal domain, in Tokugawa period Japan. Largely contiguous with Hizen Province on Kyūshū, the domain was governed from Saga Castle in the capital city of Saga by the Nabeshima clan of tozama daimyō...
in Hizen Province
Hizen Province
was an old province of Japan in the area of Saga and Nagasaki prefectures. It was sometimes called , with Higo Province. Hizen bordered on the provinces of Chikuzen and Chikugo. The province was included in Saikaidō...
, Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
, Japan. Before the Meiji Restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
, his name was and his honorary title was Hizen-no-Kami.
Biography
Naohiro was the second son of Nabeshima NaomasaNabeshima Naomasa
was the 10th and final daimyō of Saga Domain in Hizen Province, Kyūshū, Japan. His honorary title was Hizen-no-Kami, and he was occasionally referred to as “Prince Hizen” in western accounts during the Bakumatsu period.-Biography:...
, the 10th daimyō of Saga. On the retirement of his father in 1861, Naohiro was appointed 11th (and final) daimyō of Saga Domain.
During the Boshin War
Boshin War
The was a civil war in Japan, fought from 1868 to 1869 between forces of the ruling Tokugawa shogunate and those seeking to return political power to the imperial court....
of the Meiji Restoration, he led Saga’s forces as a component the Satchō Alliance
Satcho Alliance
The ', or Satchō Alliance was a military alliance between the feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū formed in 1866 to combine their efforts to overthrow the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan....
in support of Emperor Meiji
Emperor Meiji
The or was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession, reigning from 3 February 1867 until his death...
, after the Battle of Toba-Fushimi
Battle of Toba-Fushimi
The occurred between pro-Imperial and Tokugawa shogunate forces during the Boshin War in Japan. The battle started on 27 January 1868 , when the forces of the Tokugawa shogunate and the allied forces of Chōshū, Satsuma and Tosa domains clashed near Fushimi...
and fought against the Tokugawa remnants at the Battle of Ueno
Battle of Ueno
The Battle of Ueno was a battle of the Boshin War, which occurred on July 4, 1868 , between the troops of the Shōgitai under Shibusawa Seiichirō and Amano Hachirō, and Imperial "Kangun" troops....
and in the various campaigns in northern Japan against the Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei
Ouetsu Reppan Domei
-External links:**...
.
With the abolition of the han system
Abolition of the han system
The was an act, in 1871, of the new Meiji government of the Empire of Japan to replace the traditional feudal domain system and to introduce centralized government authority . This process marked the culmination of the Meiji Restoration in that all daimyo were required to return their authority...
, he surrendered his domain to the central government, and departed Japan with his two younger brothers for studies in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, returning only in 1882. During his stay in England, he was appointed as official representative of Japan to the Court of St. James's
Court of St. James's
The Court of St James's is the royal court of the United Kingdom. It previously had the same function in the Kingdom of England and in the Kingdom of Great Britain .-Overview:...
by the Japanese government. After his return to Japan, he served in various political capacities, including president of the Genrōin
Genroin
' was a national assembly in early Meiji Japan, established after the Osaka Conference of 1875. It is also referred to as the Senate of Japan, Genrōin being the word used to describe the Roman Senate, and other western legislatures named after it....
, advisor to Emperor Meiji (and later Emperor Taishō
Emperor Taishō
The was the 123rd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession, reigning from 30 July 1912, until his death in 1926.The Emperor’s personal name was . According to Japanese customs, the emperor has no name during his reign and is only called the Emperor...
), and as a member of the House of Peers
House of Peers (Japan)
The ' was the upper house of the Imperial Diet as mandated under the Constitution of the Empire of Japan ....
. He was appointed a marquis
Marquis
Marquis is a French and Scottish title of nobility. The English equivalent is Marquess, while in German, it is Markgraf.It may also refer to:Persons:...
(kōshaku) under the kazoku
Kazoku
The was the hereditary peerage of the Empire of Japan that existed between 1869 and 1947.-Origins:Following the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the ancient court nobility of Kyoto regained some of its lost status...
peerage system. From 1911, he was president of Kokugakuin University
Kokugakuin University
Kokugakuin University is a private university, whose main office is located in Tokyo's Shibuya district...
.
His connections with the Imperial Family of Japan were strong. His second daughter was the wife of Prince Nashimoto Morimasa, and his granddaughter was Princess Chichibu
Princess Chichibu
was the wife of Prince Chichibu of Japan.Princess Chichibu was born as Matsudaira Setsuko in Walton on Thames, England. She was the daughter of Matsudaira Tsuneo , Japanese ambassador to the United States and later to Great Britain , and still later, Imperial Household Minister and his wife, the...
. He died in 1921, and his grave is at the Aoyama Cemetery in Tokyo.