Changes

Nikolai Rezanov was a Russian envoy sent to [[Nagasaki]] in [[1804]] in order to attempt to secure commercial trade access for Russian ships.

Nikolai Rezanov was a Russian envoy sent to [[Nagasaki]] in [[1804]] in order to attempt to secure commercial trade access for Russian ships.

In approaching Japan at this time, the Russians hoped that with the [[Dutch East India Company]] severely weakened in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars, it might create an opening for them to be able to enter into trade with Japan. It was hoped they could trade furs, walrus ivory, fish, leather goods, and woolen cloth for [[silk]], [[rice]], and [[copper]], as well as other luxury goods such as [[porcelain]]s and [[lacquer]]wares. Given the great distance between Russian settlements in Siberia and Alaska, and Russia's breadbasket in eastern Europe / central Asia, it was also hoped that such a trade relationship could help feed these areas.

In approaching Japan at this time, the Russians hoped that with the [[Dutch East India Company]] severely weakened in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars, it might create an opening for them to be able to enter into trade with Japan. It was hoped they could trade furs, walrus ivory, fish, leather goods, and woolen cloth for [[silk]], [[rice]], and [[copper]], as well as other luxury goods such as [[porcelain]]s and [[lacquer]]wares. Given the great distance between Russian settlements in Siberia and Alaska, and Russia's breadbasket in eastern Europe / central Asia, it was also hoped that such a trade relationship could help feed these areas.

Rezanov sat in harbor at Nagasaki for several months, as port defense forces from [[Fukuoka han]] stood at alert, before being dismissed in 1804/11. Port officials met with him, and asked a variety of questions, including inquiring as to which products Russia would offer in trade, how many ships would come and how often, and whether they would come to Japan from Europe or from Kamchatka. Rezanov replied that it would be impossible to discuss all these various issues at once, and that some would have to be determined in further, later, negotiations. Ultimately, he was denied any trade permissions, and was sent away early in the next year ([[1805]]).

Rezanov sat in harbor at Nagasaki for several months, as port defense forces from [[Fukuoka han]] stood at alert, before being dismissed in 1804/11. Port officials met with him, and asked a variety of questions, including inquiring as to which products Russia would offer in trade, how many ships would come and how often, and whether they would come to Japan from Europe or from Kamchatka. Rezanov replied that it would be impossible to discuss all these various issues at once, and that some would have to be determined in further, later, negotiations. Ultimately, he was denied any trade permissions, and was sent away early in the next year ([[1805]]). He died on the way back to St. Petersburg, but his subordinates Khvostov and Davydov enacted his plans to assault Japanese shipping and settlements in [[1806]]-[[1807]], and to demand from the shogunate a decision allowing for Russian trade; this resulted in the shogunate taking a harder stance than before, ordering Russian ships to be repelled by force.<ref>Mitani Hiroshi, David Noble (trans.), ''Escape from Impasse'', International House of Japan (2006), 14-15.</ref>

 

{{stub}}

{{stub}}

==References==

==References==

*Robert Hellyer, ''Defining Engagement'', Harvard University Press (2009), 98-100, 112.

*Robert Hellyer, ''Defining Engagement'', Harvard University Press (2009), 98-100, 112.

[[Category:Foreigners]]

[[Category:Foreigners|Rezanov]]

[[Category:Diplomats]]

[[Category:Diplomats|Rezanov]]

[[Category:Edo Period]]

[[Category:Edo Period|Rezanov]]