Léon Roches
Léon Roches (September 27, 1809, Grenoble – 1901) was a representative of the French government in Japan from 1864 to 1868.
Léon Roches was a student at the
North Africa
When Léon's father acquired a plantation in
Under Bugeaud's recommendation, Roches joined the French Foreign Ministry as an interpreter in 1845. In 1846 he became Secretary of the legation in Tangier, and then took responsibilities at the French mission in Morocco.
From 1855 to 1863, Roches served as the French consul general in Tunis, Tunisia.[2]
Using his experiences in North Africa, he wrote a book titled Trente-deux ans à travers l′Islam (Thirty-two years through Islam).[3]
Trieste
By an exceptional nomination, Roches became first-class Consul in Trieste, allowing him to acquire a strong experience in trading matters. After three years, he was appointed Consul in Tripoli. In 1855, he became Consul in Tunis. He often wore Arab dress and was renowned for his abilities with guns and horses.[1]
Japan
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On October 7, 1863, Roches was nominated Consul General of France in
Roches advocated the use of strength against the anti-foreign adversaries of the
Roches also helped the Shogunate modernize. He arranged for an "Ecole Franco-Japonaise" to be established, and organized the building of the
"The character of the Japanese essentially distinguishes them from other oriental people... We must act towards them with goodwill and dignity, critically but with justice; we can often appeal to their sentiment of honour and to the pride found among all of them, even among the lowest classes... They are gay, lively and communicative; they are disposed towards us as well as to other foreigners; whatever will be the material development of English power in this country, they run to us alone for reforms"
— Léon Roches, 1866 letter to French Minister Drouyn de Lhuys.[6]
He left Japan on June 23, 1868,[7] following the defeat of the Shogun's forces in the battle of Toba-Fushimi.
See also
- Franco-Japanese relations
Notes
- ^ a b c d Polak 2001, p.31
- ^ Perkins, Kenneth (2014). A History of Modern Tunisia, Second Edition. Cambridge University Press.
- ISBN 978-1-59339-837-8.
- ^ Emperor of Japan: Meiji and his world, 1852-1912, p 133. Donald Keene
- ^ The last Samurai: japanische Geschichtsdarstellung im populären Kinofilm, p 90 och 91. Daniel Scherer (2009)
- ^ Medzini, p.88
- ^ Ernest Satow, Diplomat in Japan (London, 1921) p. 375
References
- Medzini, Meron French Policy in Japan Harvard University Press 1971, ISBN 0-674-32230-4
External links
Media related to Léon Roches at Wikimedia Commons
This article incorporates text from OpenHistory.
