Shinsengumi
Japanese:新選組 or 新撰組
Shinsengumi were special police force in Kyoto which organized by Bakufu in Bakumatsu .
Roshigumi
1862 Bakufu recruited Ronin to guard Shogun Iemochi on the occasion of visit to Kyoto. It was planned by Kiyokawa Hachiro of Shonai han. Around 200 Ronin formed Roshigumi, they headed to Kyoto in Feburuary 1863. The supervisors were Matsudaira Chikaranosuke, Udono Kyuo, Kubota Shigekatsu, Yamaoka Tesshu, Nakajo Kinnosuke, Sasaki Tadasaburo. Right after they arrived at Kyoto, Kiyokawa's conspiracy was revealed. The Roshigumi decided to return Edo except Kondo Isami's Shieikan and Serizawa Kamo's Mito group. Some other members also remained with them in Mibu village, Kyoto. In March, They named Mibu Roshigumi. The Mibu Roshigumi was hired by Aizu han the Military Commissioner of Kyoto In August, they were dispatched for the Political change on August 18. Lord Matsudaura Katamori evaluated their job and gave them new name Shinsengumi. (Some sources say the name was given by Buku Denso)
Shinsengumi
September 1863, Shieikan group purged Mito group to control over Shinsengumi. In 1864 Shinsengumi raided Ikedaya where Sonjo Roshi were planning to burn Kyoto. After following Kinmon rebellion , Shinsengumi recruited more than 200 new members with the prize money given by the Imperial court, Bakufu and Aizu han.
The new members included Ito Kashitaro group who Kondo recruited in Edo. The Shinsengumi headquarter moved to Nishi Hongan-ji from Mibu. 1867 shortly after Shinsengumi were officialy hired as Bakushin , Ito Kashitaro group were separated and formed Goryô Eji. They were assassinated.(Aburano Kôji Jiken)
Boshin War
January 1868 , Boshin war was started with the Battle of Toba-Fushimi. Shinsengumi and other Bakufu troops flighted to Edo with battleship Fujisan Maru . Shinsengumi was reorganized to Koyo Chinbutai. The Koyo Chinbutai headed to take over Kofu castle, but lost the Battle of Koshu-Katsunuma. When they returned to Edo, Nagakura Shinpachi and Harada Sanosuke left from Shinsengumi and formed Seiheitai. Kondo was captured in Nagareyama and executed at Itabashi. Okita Soji died of Tuberculosis just a month after Kondo's death. Hijikata Toshizo wounded at the Battle of Utsunomiya castle , Saito Hajime became commander of Shinsengumi at the Battle of Aizu and he decided to remain with Aizu samurai when Hijikata decided to go to Hakodate. Hijikata was shot and killed at the Battle of Hakodate and the last Shinsengumi commander Soma Kazue surrendered. He was exiled to Niijima island later.
Chronology
1863
- 2/8 Roshigumi is organized.
- 3/12 Rename to Mibu Roshigumi
- 3/25 Assassination of Tonouchi Yoshio
- 6/3 Fighting with Sumo wrethlers in Osaka.
- 8/12 Serizawa burns down Yamatoya.
- 8/18 Political change on August 18.
- 9/13 Niimi Nishiki commits seppuku.
- 9/18 Assassination of Serizawa.
