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Yoshinobu was the seventh son of [[Tokugawa Nariaki]], head of the [[Mito Tokugawa clan]]. He was adopted as heir of the [[Hitotsubashi Tokugawa clan]], and became head of that family in [[1847]].<ref>"Shiryôhen kaidai shiryô honkoku: Edo dachi ni tsuki oose watashi dome" 「史料編解題・史料翻刻「江戸立二付仰渡留」」, in Kamiya Nobuyuki 紙屋敦之 (ed.), ''Kinsei Nihon ni okeru gaikoku shisetsu to shakai hen'yô 3: taikun gaikô kaitai wo ou'' 『近世日本における外国使節と社会変容（３）－大君外交解体を追う－』, Tokyo: Waseda University (2009), p45n84.</ref> In [[1855]], he married [[Ichijo Mikako|Ichijô Mikako]], an adopted daughter of Gonnodainagon [[Ichijo Tadaka|Ichijô Tadaka]].<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 2 (1937), 147.</ref>

Yoshinobu was the seventh son of [[Tokugawa Nariaki]], head of the [[Mito Tokugawa clan]]. He was adopted as heir of the [[Hitotsubashi Tokugawa clan]], and became head of that family in [[1847]].<ref>"Shiryôhen kaidai shiryô honkoku: Edo dachi ni tsuki oose watashi dome" 「史料編解題・史料翻刻「江戸立二付仰渡留」」, in Kamiya Nobuyuki 紙屋敦之 (ed.), ''Kinsei Nihon ni okeru gaikoku shisetsu to shakai hen'yô 3: taikun gaikô kaitai wo ou'' 『近世日本における外国使節と社会変容（３）－大君外交解体を追う－』, Tokyo: Waseda University (2009), p45n84.</ref> In [[1855]], he married [[Ichijo Mikako|Ichijô Mikako]], an adopted daughter of Gonnodainagon [[Ichijo Tadaka|Ichijô Tadaka]].<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 2 (1937), 147.</ref>

When it became clear that the shogun  [[Tokugawa Iesada]] was not going to produce an heir, Yoshinobu was proposed as heir by a group who believed that in the turbulant age (now known as the [[Bakumatsu Period|bakumatsu]]), a mature man was needed as shogun. The group included [[Shimazu Nariakira]] of [[Satsuma han|Satsuma]], who married his adopted daughter [[Atsu-hime]] to the shogun in an attempt to influence him. Yoshinobu's supporters even tried to get backing from the imperial court, involving it for the first time in a Tokugawa family matter (Reishauer p. 208). However, the young [[Tokugawa Iemochi]] of the [[Kii Tokugawa clan]] was named as heir just before Iesada died in [[1858]]. The next year, during the [[Ansei Purge]], Yoshinobu was ordered into domiciliary confinement. But in [[1862]] he was made the guardian of the young Iemochi, and upon the latter's death in [[1866]] became shogun in January [[1867]].

When it became clear that the shogun  [[Tokugawa Iesada]] was not going to produce an heir, Yoshinobu was proposed as heir by a group who believed that in the turbulant age (now known as the [[Bakumatsu Period|bakumatsu]]), a mature man was needed as shogun. The group included [[Shimazu Nariakira]] of [[Satsuma han|Satsuma]], who married his adopted daughter [[Atsu-hime]] to the shogun in an attempt to influence him. Yoshinobu's supporters even tried to get backing from the imperial court, involving it for the first time in a Tokugawa family matter (Reishauer p. 208). However, the young [[Tokugawa Iemochi]] of the [[Kii Tokugawa clan]] was named as heir just before Iesada died in [[1858]]; Yoshinobu's visits to [[Edo castle]] were then suspended.<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 3 (1937), 5.</ref> The next year, during the [[Ansei Purge]], Yoshinobu was ordered into domiciliary confinement. But in [[1862]] he was made the guardian of the young Iemochi, and upon the latter's death in [[1866]] became shogun in January [[1867]].

Yoshinobu embarked on reform of the administration with the advice of the [[France|French]] envoy [[Leon Roches|Léon Roches]]. There were also several attempts to form a council of leading [[daimyo]] which would be involved in government. Since until then only the hereditary Tokugawa vassal daimyo (fudai daimyo) had been involved in the administration, this was a major change. However, these plans fell through. Then [[Tosa han]] proposed that the shogun return his political authority to the emperor and head a council of daimyo under the emperor. The shogun would also continue to control the Tokugawa estate. Yoshinobu announced this "Return of Power" ([[Taisei Hokan|Taisei Hôkan]] 大政奉還) in Kyoto on [[1867]]/10/14 and was again entrusted with the government of the nation. But nothing really happened.  

Yoshinobu embarked on reform of the administration with the advice of the [[France|French]] envoy [[Leon Roches|Léon Roches]]. There were also several attempts to form a council of leading [[daimyo]] which would be involved in government. Since until then only the hereditary Tokugawa vassal daimyo (fudai daimyo) had been involved in the administration, this was a major change. However, these plans fell through. Then [[Tosa han]] proposed that the shogun return his political authority to the emperor and head a council of daimyo under the emperor. The shogun would also continue to control the Tokugawa estate. Yoshinobu announced this "Return of Power" ([[Taisei Hokan|Taisei Hôkan]] 大政奉還) in Kyoto on [[1867]]/10/14 and was again entrusted with the government of the nation. But nothing really happened.