Changes

When Shogun [[Tokugawa Iesada]] was on his deathbed in [[1858]], Nariaki attempted to have his seventh son, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, named Iesada's heir. His defeat by the opposing faction in this succession dispute meant that he was once again out of favor with the dominant ruling faction, and so he returned once again to the Komagome mansion. Rumors that he might be ordered to commit [[seppuku|suicide]] led many of his retainers to prepare themselves to defend their lord against messengers from the shogunate carrying such an order; these tensions were defused, however, as the shogunate instead ordered Nariaki to retire to Mito.

When Shogun [[Tokugawa Iesada]] was on his deathbed in [[1858]], Nariaki attempted to have his seventh son, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, named Iesada's heir. His defeat by the opposing faction in this succession dispute meant that he was once again out of favor with the dominant ruling faction, and so he returned once again to the Komagome mansion. Rumors that he might be ordered to commit [[seppuku|suicide]] led many of his retainers to prepare themselves to defend their lord against messengers from the shogunate carrying such an order; these tensions were defused, however, as the shogunate instead ordered Nariaki to retire to Mito.

In [[1860]], [[Tairo|Tairô]] [[Ii Naosuke]] was [[Sakuradamon Incident|assassinated]] by a group of ''[[ronin|rônin]]'' from Mito and [[Satsuma han|Satsuma domains]]. While Naosuke was certainly among Nariaki's chief political rivals, and represented political stances and policies both Nariaki and these ''sonnô jôi rônin'' were very much opposed to, it remains unclear whether Nariaki was involved in, or even aware of, the assassination plans. He died later that year.

In [[1860]], [[Tairo|Tairô]] [[Ii Naosuke]] was [[Sakuradamon Incident|assassinated]] by a group of ''[[ronin|rônin]]'' from Mito and [[Satsuma han|Satsuma domains]]. While Naosuke was certainly among Nariaki's chief political rivals, and represented political stances and policies both Nariaki and these ''sonnô jôi rônin'' were very much opposed to, it remains unclear whether Nariaki was involved in, or even aware of, the assassination plans.  

 

That same year, Nariaki saw one more of his political plans go awry; he had arranged with Iesada that Iesada's successor as shogun, [[Tokugawa Iemochi]], would marry one of Yoshiko's princely (Imperial) relatives. This would have enhanced the prestige and influence of Nariaki's own family. However, it was announced in 1860 that Iemochi would instead marry [[Kazu-no-Miya]], a younger sister of [[Emperor Komei|Emperor Kômei]], something of which "everyone in Mito disapproved."<ref>Walthall, 49.</ref>

{{stub}}

{{stub}}

*Plaques on-site at the former site of the [[Mito Kyoto mansion]].

*Plaques on-site at the former site of the [[Mito Kyoto mansion]].

*[[Anne Walthall]], "Nishimiya Hide: Turning Palace Arts into Marketable Skills," in Walthall (ed.), ''The Human Tradition in Modern Japan," Scholarly Resources, Inc. (2002), 45-60.

*[[Anne Walthall]], "Nishimiya Hide: Turning Palace Arts into Marketable Skills," in Walthall (ed.), ''The Human Tradition in Modern Japan," Scholarly Resources, Inc. (2002), 45-60.

[[Category:Samurai]]

[[Category:Samurai]]

[[Category:Bakumatsu]]

[[Category:Bakumatsu]]