Changes

Meanwhile, Hisamitsu was called to [[Edo]] to contribute to discussions on shogunal policy reforms. He contributed to having ''daimyô's [[sankin kotai|sankin kôtai]]'' obligations relaxed, and to the appointment of [[Tokugawa Yoshinobu]] as guardian for the shogun (''shôgun kôken shoku'') and [[Matsudaira Shungaku]] as ''[[seiji sosai shoku|seiji sôsai shoku]]''. The famous [[Namamugi Incident]] took place as he passed through [[Yokohama]] on his way back to Satsuma, amidst an entourage of some 1000 Satsuma samurai. A British merchant, Charles Richardson, either refused or was unable to properly make way for Hisamitsu's entourage as it traveled down the road; Richardson was killed, and the following year, in response, the British Royal Navy [[bombardment of Kagoshima|bombarded Kagoshima]], the chief Satsuma castle town. Yet, in the aftermath of this conflict, Hisamitsu managed to build strong friendly relations with Britain, importing silk spinning technologies, sending [[Satsuma students|students]] to study in England (in violation of the shogunate's [[maritime prohibitions]]), and welcoming British engineers and technicians, who helped design and build the beginnings of "modern" industry in Satsuma.

Meanwhile, Hisamitsu was called to [[Edo]] to contribute to discussions on shogunal policy reforms. He contributed to having ''daimyô's [[sankin kotai|sankin kôtai]]'' obligations relaxed, and to the appointment of [[Tokugawa Yoshinobu]] as guardian for the shogun (''shôgun kôken shoku'') and [[Matsudaira Shungaku]] as ''[[seiji sosai shoku|seiji sôsai shoku]]''. The famous [[Namamugi Incident]] took place as he passed through [[Yokohama]] on his way back to Satsuma, amidst an entourage of some 1000 Satsuma samurai. A British merchant, Charles Richardson, either refused or was unable to properly make way for Hisamitsu's entourage as it traveled down the road; Richardson was killed, and the following year, in response, the British Royal Navy [[bombardment of Kagoshima|bombarded Kagoshima]], the chief Satsuma castle town. Yet, in the aftermath of this conflict, Hisamitsu managed to build strong friendly relations with Britain, importing silk spinning technologies, sending [[Satsuma students|students]] to study in England (in violation of the shogunate's [[maritime prohibitions]]), and welcoming British engineers and technicians, who helped design and build the beginnings of "modern" industry in Satsuma.

From [[1864]] onwards, Hisamitsu distanced himself (and the domain) from the shogunate. He briefly toyed with the idea of establishing a new government headed by Satsuma and certain other domains, themselves, but soon changed to supporting calls for a new government centered around the [[emperor]].

From [[1864]] onwards, Hisamitsu distanced himself (and the domain) from the shogunate. He briefly toyed with the idea of establishing a new government headed by Satsuma and certain other domains, themselves, but soon changed to supporting calls for a new government centered around the [[emperor]]. He was named to the Imperial Court's Privy Council by [[Emperor Komei|Emperor Kômei]] in [[1863]].

==Meiji Period==

==Meiji Period==