Battle of Aizu
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (October 2014) |
Battle of Aizu | |||||||
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Part of Boshin War | |||||||
Attack of the Aizu-Wakamatsu castle during the Battle of Aizu. | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Imperial faction: |
Jōshitai ] | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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Strength | |||||||
15,000 combatants 75,000 reinforcement | 5,000 combatants (9,400 in total: 3,500 clans soldiers, 5,900 samurais, dozens of female warriors) | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
unknown | 2,977 |
The Battle of Aizu (Japanese: 会津戦争, "War of Aizu") was fought in northern Japan from October to November in autumn 1868, and was part of the Boshin War.
History
During the tenure of the 9th generation lord Matsudaira Katamori, the domain deployed massive amounts of their troops to Kyoto, where Katamori served as Kyoto Shugoshoku. Earning the hatred of the Chōshū domain, and alienating his ally, the Satsuma domain, Katamori retreated with the shōgun Tokugawa Yoshinobu in 1868.
Though the
A detached unit from the
A remnant of Shinsengumi, a special police force which Aizu had supervised while in Kyoto, was present at the battle, under the command of Saitō Hajime. In addition, survivors from the Shōgitai engaged in the fighting, as did the Tosa Jinshōtai and the Shin'itai, a regiment of Shintō priests performing the role of spiritual advisors to the attacking Imperial forces.[1]
After a month under siege, on November 6, 1868, Aizu officials agreed to surrender, through the mediation of their neighbor, the
Gallery
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The damaged Aizu-Wakamatsu castle right after the Battle of Aizu
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Reenactment of Aizu cannoneers during the Boshin war.
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Byakkotai warriors
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Reenactment of young Aizu warriors during the Boshin war.
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Aizu War Records by Adachi Ginko 1877
References
- ISBN 978-0-8248-2157-9.
- Noguchi Shinichi, Aizu-han. Tokyo: Gendai Shokan, 2005. (ISBN 4-7684-7102-1)
- Byakkotai.net