Editing Tokugawa Yoshinobu (section)

==Early life==

Tokugawa Yoshinobu was born in [[Edo]] as the seventh son of [[Tokugawa Nariaki]], ''[[daimyō]]'' of Mito. Mito was one of the ''[[gosanke]]'', the three branch families of the Tokugawa clan which were eligible to be chosen as ''[[shōgun]]''. His birth name was Matsudaira Shichirōmaro ({{lang|ja|松平七郎麻呂}})<ref>Takano, ''Tokugawa Yoshinobu'', p. 26. Sons of the lord of Mito did not bear the name Tokugawa unless they themselves became the next lord.</ref> His mother, [[Princess Yoshiko (Arisugawa-no-miya)|Princess Arisugawa Yoshiko]], was a member of the [[Arisugawa-no-miya]], a cadet branch of the imperial family; through her, he was a third cousin (once removed) of the then-[[Emperor Ninkō]]. Shichirōmaro was brought up under strict, spartan supervision and tutelage.<ref>Tokugawa, ''Tokugawa yonbyakunen no naishobanashi'', pp. 138–140.</ref> His father Nariaki followed the example of the second Mito daimyo, [[Tokugawa Mitsukuni]] (1661-1690), who had sent all his sons after the firstborn to be raised in Mito. Shichirōmaro was seven months old when he arrived in Mito in 1838. He was taught in the literary and [[Japanese martial arts|martial arts]], as well as receiving a solid education in the principles of politics and government at [[Kōdōkan (Mito)|Kōdōkan]].<ref>Takano, p. 28.</ref>
[[File:Tokugawa yoshinobu.jpg|thumb|250px|Yoshinobu in ceremonial dress]]
At the instigation of his father, Shichirōmaro was adopted by the [[Gosankyō|Hitotsubashi-Tokugawa]] family in order to have a better chance of succeeding to the shogunate<ref>Takano, p. 38.</ref> and changed his first name to [[:ja:昭致|Akimune]] (昭致). He became family head in 1847, coming of age that year, receiving court rank and title, and taking the name Yoshinobu.<ref>Takano, p. 48.</ref> Upon the death of the 13th ''shōgun'', [[Tokugawa Iesada|Iesada]], in 1858, Yoshinobu was nominated as a potential successor.<ref>Borton, ''Japan's Modern Century'', p. 40.</ref> His supporters touted his skill and efficiency in managing family affairs. However, the opposing faction, led by [[Ii Naosuke]], won out. Their candidate, the young [[Tokugawa Yoshitomi]], was chosen, and became the 14th ''shōgun'' Iemochi.<ref>Borton, pp. 39–40.</ref> Soon after, during the [[Ansei Purge]], Yoshinobu and others who supported him were placed under [[house arrest]].<ref>Takano, pp. 12–13.</ref> Yoshinobu himself was made to retire from Hitotsubashi headship.

The period of Ii's domination of the Tokugawa government was marked by mismanagement and political infighting. Upon Ii's [[Sakuradamon Incident (1860)|assassination]] in 1860, Yoshinobu was reinstated as Hitotsubashi family head, and was nominated in 1862 to be the {{nihongo|''shōgun''{{'}}s guardian|将軍後見職|shōgun kōken-shoku}}, receiving the position soon afterwards.<ref>Murray, ''Japan'', p. 362; Kobiyama, ''Matsudaira Katamori no shōgai'', p. 75; Bolitho, ''Collapse of the Tokugawa Bakufu'', p. 9.</ref> At the same time, his two closest allies, [[Matsudaira Yoshinaga]] and [[Matsudaira Katamori]], were appointed to other high positions: Yoshinaga as {{nihongo|chief of political affairs|政治総裁職|seiji sōsai shoku}},<ref>Kobiyama, p. 75.</ref> Katamori as {{nihongo|Guardian of Kyoto|京都守護職|[[Kyoto Shugoshoku]]}}.<ref>Takano, pp. 132–133.</ref> The three men then took numerous steps to quell political unrest in the Kyoto area, and gathered allies to counter the activities of the rebellious [[Chōshū Domain]]. They were instrumental figures in the ''[[kōbu gattai]]'' political party, which sought a reconciliation between the shogunate and the imperial court.<ref>Kobiyama, pp. 84–87; Totman, p. 45; Takano, p. 20.</ref>

In 1864, Yoshinobu, as commander of the imperial palace's defense, defeated the Chōshū forces in their attempt to capture the imperial palace's {{nihongo|Hamaguri Gate|蛤御門|Hamaguri-Gomon}} in what is called the [[Kinmon Incident]]. This was achieved by use of the forces of the [[Aizu]]–[[Satsuma province|Satsuma]] coalition.<ref>See ''Japan 1853–1864, Or, Genji Yume Monogatari'', trans. by Ernest Mason Satow. (Tokyo: Naigai Shuppan Kyokai), for more.</ref>