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Though most famous for its [[Bakumatsu]]/[[Meiji period]] history, Hakodate was active as a regional port long before then as well. It was one of a number of cities where [[Tanuma Okitsugu]] established clearinghouses in [[1785]] to effect the collection of [[marine products]] for official [[Tokugawa shogunate|Bakufu]] sale at [[Nagasaki]]. The position of ''[[Hakodate bugyo|Hakodate bugyô]]'' was created several decades later, in [[1802]], to help oversee these economic matters as well as the security/defense of the port.

Though most famous for its [[Bakumatsu]]/[[Meiji period]] history, Hakodate was active as a regional port long before then as well. It was one of a number of cities where [[Tanuma Okitsugu]] established clearinghouses in [[1785]] to effect the collection of [[marine products]] for official [[Tokugawa shogunate|Bakufu]] sale at [[Nagasaki]]. The position of ''[[Hakodate bugyo|Hakodate bugyô]]'' was created several decades later, in [[1802]], to help oversee these economic matters as well as the security/defense of the port.

[[Commodore Perry]] spent several weeks in Hakodate in the 4th-5th months (on the [[Japanese calendar|Japanese lunar calendar]]) of [[1854]], surveying the port and preparing to negotiate for the details of arrangements to be made for American access to and use of the port.<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 1 (1937), 584, 589, 599.</ref> Privileges extended to the United States in the [[1854]] Convention of Kanagawa (signed 1854/3) were then extended to the British in the [[Anglo-Japanese Convention of 1854]] signed in the 8th month, and to the Russians in the [[Treaty of Shimoda]], signed in the 12th month that same year.<ref>Mitani, 222-232, 247-250, 292.</ref> A Russian consulate was established in Hakodate shortly afterwards; it was active by [[1860]], if not earlier. These privileges were then extended to the Dutch as well, in the [[Treaty of Peace and Amity (Dutch-Japan)]], signed [[1856]]/1.<ref>Mitani, 260-262.</ref>

[[Commodore Perry]] spent several weeks in Hakodate in the 4th-5th months (on the [[Japanese calendar|Japanese lunar calendar]]) of [[1854]], surveying the port and preparing to negotiate for the details of arrangements to be made for American access to and use of the port.<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 1 (1937), 584, 589, 599.</ref> At the end of the 6th month, the shogunate had [[Matsumae Takahiro]], lord of [[Matsumae han]], return Hakodate and the surrounding areas to shogunate control, and assigned [[Takeuchi Yasunori]] as ''[[Hakodate bugyo|Hakodate bugyô]]'' to oversee the port and city.<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 1 (1937), 618.</ref>

 

Privileges extended to the United States in the [[1854]] Convention of Kanagawa (signed 1854/3) were then extended to the British in the [[Anglo-Japanese Convention of 1854]] signed in the 8th month, and to the Russians in the [[Treaty of Shimoda]], signed in the 12th month that same year.<ref>Mitani, 222-232, 247-250, 292.</ref> A Russian consulate was established in Hakodate shortly afterwards; it was active by [[1860]], if not earlier. These privileges were then extended to the Dutch as well, in the [[Treaty of Peace and Amity (Dutch-Japan)]], signed [[1856]]/1.<ref>Mitani, 260-262.</ref>

During the [[Boshin War]] which accompanied the [[Meiji Restoration]], Hakodate became the center of the short-lived [[Republic of Ezo]]. Pro-shogunate holdouts seized the [[Goryokaku|Goryôkaku]] fortress in [[1868]]/10 and made their last stand against Imperial forces there in the [[1869]] [[battle of Hakodate]]. The Republic surrendered on 1869/5/18, marking the end of the Boshin War.

During the [[Boshin War]] which accompanied the [[Meiji Restoration]], Hakodate became the center of the short-lived [[Republic of Ezo]]. Pro-shogunate holdouts seized the [[Goryokaku|Goryôkaku]] fortress in [[1868]]/10 and made their last stand against Imperial forces there in the [[1869]] [[battle of Hakodate]]. The Republic surrendered on 1869/5/18, marking the end of the Boshin War.