Changes

* ''Born: [[1828]]''

* ''Born: [[1828]]''

* ''Died: [[1877]]''

* ''Died: [[1877]]''

* ''Japanese'': 西郷 隆盛 ''(Saigo Takamori)''

* ''Japanese'': 西郷 隆盛 ''(Saigou Takamori)''

 

[[Image:Saigo-takamori1.gif |frame|left|Portrait of Saigô Takamori]]

[[Image:Saigo-takamori1.gif |frame|left|Portrait of '''Saigo Takamori''']]

[[Image:Saigo.JPG|right|thumb|Statue of Saigô Takamori by sculptor [[Takamura Koun|Takamura Kôun]] in [[Ueno Park]]]]

[[Image:Saigo.JPG|right|thumb|Statue of Saigo Takamori in Ueno Park]]

The military leader of [[Satsuma han|Satsuma]] during the waning days of the [[Tokugawa Bakufu|Tokugawa Shogunate]], Saigô played a pivotal role in the [[Meiji Restoration|restoration of Imperial rule to Japan]]. While his daimyo, [[Shimazu Hisamitsu]], tended to vacillate on his position regarding supporting the shogunate or not, Saigô was resolute in his distaste for the [[Tokugawa clan|Tokugawa]] regime and was determined to completely crush Tokugawa power at almost any cost. Saigô was one of [[Sakamoto Ryoma|Sakamoto Ryôma's]] closest allies and friends, but some historians have speculated that he may have had a hand in Ryôma's assassination by leaking the location of Ryôma's hideout to Bakufu officials. The logic behind this speculation is that Saigô deemed that Ryôma would be a formidable roadblock in his plan to crush the Tokugawa. Surprisingly, Saigô went on to become the commander-in-chief of the Meiji army, laying the groundwork for what became the modern [[Imperial Japanese Army]]. Saigô left the government in [[1873]] after a falling out with his younger brother [[Saigo Tsugumichi|Saigô Tsugumichi]], who was ardently against [[Seikanron|his plans to conquer Korea]]. He died leading the [[Satsuma Rebellion]] against the government he helped to establish.

The military leader of [[Satsuma province|Satsuma]] during the waning days of the [[Tokugawa Bakufu|Tokugawa Shogunate]], Saigo played a pivotal role in the restoration of Imperial rule to Japan. While his daimyo, [[Shimazu Hisamitsu]] tended to vacillate on his position regarding supporting the Shogunate or not, Saigo was resolute in his hatred of the [[Tokugawa clan|Tokugawa]] regime and was determined to completely crush Tokugawa power at almost any cost. Saigo was one of [[Sakamoto Ryoma|Sakamoto Ryoma's]] closest allies and friends, but some historians have speculated that he may have had a hand in Ryoma's assassination by leaking the location of Ryoma's hideout to Bakufu officials. The logic behind this speculation is that Saigo deemed that Ryoma would be a formidable roadblock in his plan to crush the Tokugawa. Surprisingly, Saigo went on to become the commander-in-chief of the Meiji army, laying the groundwork for what became the modern [[Imperial Japanese Army]]. Saigo left the government in [[1873]] after a falling out with his younger brother [[Saigo Tsugumichi]], who was ardently against [[Seikanron|his plans to conquer Korea]]. He died leading the [[Satsuma Rebellion]] against the government he helped to establish.

==References==

==References==