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The domain undertook a more serious and widespread policy of ''dochaku'', resettling samurai in the countryside, in the 1790s. This was done both in order to alleviate socioeconomic problems of the domain's waning finances (by allowing samurai to simply farm their own land and earn their own income, rather than relying on the domainal stores), and as part of philosophies or ideologies that this would return the samurai/peasant relationship to an earlier, more balanced, form. Many retainers resisted, however, seeing this merely as a way of cutting their stipends, while many rural elites saw the resettled samurai as disrupting or displacing their own local elite status. The project was abandoned by [[1798]], in response to the opposition, though in [[1803]], the domain once again allowed samurai to move to the countryside if they so chose; those who elected to do so, however, would be giving up their samurai status.<ref>Ravina, 136-140.</ref>
The domain undertook a more serious and widespread policy of ''dochaku'', resettling samurai in the countryside, in the 1790s. This was done both in order to alleviate socioeconomic problems of the domain's waning finances (by allowing samurai to simply farm their own land and earn their own income, rather than relying on the domainal stores), and as part of philosophies or ideologies that this would return the samurai/peasant relationship to an earlier, more balanced, form. Many retainers resisted, however, seeing this merely as a way of cutting their stipends, while many rural elites saw the resettled samurai as disrupting or displacing their own local elite status. The project was abandoned by [[1798]], in response to the opposition, though in [[1803]], the domain once again allowed samurai to move to the countryside if they so chose; those who elected to do so, however, would be giving up their samurai status.<ref>Ravina, 136-140.</ref>
Due to the domain's location, it was obligated beginning around 1800 to aid in the military defense of [[Ezo]] ([[Hokkaido|Hokkaidô]]) against Russian incursions, receiving a reduction in its ''[[sankin kotai|sankin kôtai]]'' obligations in return. By 1809, Hirosaki had 400 troops regularly stationed in [[Matsumae han|Matsumae domain]]. The defense of the north was more fully entrusted to Matsumae beginning in [[1822]], though Hirosaki was still expected to provide additional troops in case of emergency.<ref>Ravina, 152.</ref>
==Bakumatsu & Meiji==
==Bakumatsu & Meiji==
As in [[Yonezawa han]] and many others, the high officials of Hirosaki's domainal government saw the [[sonno|Imperial loyalists]] as a threat to their domain. Unlike those in Yonezawa, however, the leaders of Hirosaki felt that resistance was futile, and so did not join up with the active resistance.<ref>Ravina, 202.</ref>
Unlike in many of the more oft-discussed domains, Hirosaki saw little domestic disturbance - e.g. ''[[sonno|sonnô]] [[joi|jôi]]'' factions, millenarianism, or peasant uprisings - during the [[Bakumatsu period]].
Coastal defenses for the domain were provided in large part by retainers, who were obligated from [[1864]] onwards to provide one gun for each 100 ''koku'' of their income. The domain also arranged naval fortifications, coastal artillery and the like.
As in [[Yonezawa han]] and many others, the high officials of Hirosaki's domainal government saw the [[sonno|Imperial loyalists]] as a threat to their domain. Unlike those in Yonezawa, however, the leaders of Hirosaki felt that resistance was futile, and so did not join up with the active resistance.<ref>Ravina, 202.</ref> Overall, the domain's position throughout the conflict was one of prevarication. In [[1868]]/4, the domain dispatched 540 troops to [[Shonai han|Shônai han]] in response to Imperial orders, but then only two months later, decided to join the ''[[Ouetsu reppan domei|Ôuetsu reppan dômei]]'' alliance of northern domains in support of the shogunate. Then, just two weeks later, in response to communications from the [[Konoe family]], the domain reversed its position again.<ref>Ravina, 152-153.</ref>
==Lords of Hirosaki==
==Lords of Hirosaki==
#[[Tsugaru Nobuyuki]] (r. 1825-1839)
#[[Tsugaru Nobuyuki]] (r. 1825-1839)
#[[Tsugaru Yukitsugu]] (d. 1865)
#[[Tsugaru Yukitsugu]] (d. 1865)
#[[Tsugaru Tsuguakira]] ([[1865]]-[[1871]])
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