Republic of Ezo

The Republic of Ezo (Japanese虾 夷 共和国; Ezo Kyowakoku ) was a short-lived spin-off of Japan on the northern island of Ezo (also Jesso, later Hokkaidō ). It consisted December 1868 to June 1869.

After the defeat of the forces of the Tokugawa shogunate in the Boshin War ( 1868-1869 ) took refuge part of the navy of the shogun led by Admiral Enomoto Takeaki, to the island of Ezo ( Hokkaido ), along with 2,500 soldiers and a handful of French military advisers under Jules Brunet.

On 25 December 1868 established an independent Republic of Ezo modeled after the United States and selected Enomoto as its Sosai (総 裁). He was thus the only president of a Japanese State at all. The word also refers to the rarely awarded highest ranking in several martial arts. Vice President was Matsudaira taro. This election is considered the first democratic election in Japanese history.

The flag showed a chrysanthemum on a sky blue background, the symbol of imperial rule, and a red star with seven spikes as a symbol of the new republic.

The newly elected government tried in vain to reach an international recognition for the Republic. During the winter they fortified the defenses around the peninsula of Hakodate with the new fortress Goryōkaku as the center. The troops were under Japanese- French command, the Japanese commander in chief Otori Keisuke was supported by the French captain Jules Brunet. The troops were in four brigades under the command of French officers ( Fortant, Le Marlin, Cazeneuve and Bouffier ) divided, each brigade in turn consisted of two half- brigades under Japanese command.

The forces of the emperor strengthened rapidly their position on the Japanese main land, and in April 1869 they sent a fleet and 7000 infantry by Ezo. The imperial troops were advancing rapidly and won the Battle of Hakodate. Finally, the fortress Goryōkaku was included with the remaining 800 men of the Republic.

Enomoto decided on May 18, 1869 to surrender and recognized the reign of Emperor Mutsuhito to. The Republic of Ezo heard on 27 June 1869 to exist. In August of the same year, the island got its current name in Hokkaido. Enomoto was sentenced to a short prison sentence, but was released in 1872. He took a job as a government official in the just renamed Hokkaido Land Agency. Later he became ambassador to Russia and had several ministerial posts in the Meiji government.

Claimed territory of the Republic of Ezo

Government Buildings

Battle of Hakodate