Masakuni Inaba

Japanese: 稲葉正邦 - いなば・まさくに

Year of death: July 15, 1898 (Meiji 31)
Year of birth: Tempo 5.5.26 (1834.7.2)
He was a senior councilor in the late Edo period. His father was Niwa Nagatomi, the lord of the Nihonmatsu Domain in Mutsu Province (Fukushima Prefecture). He was adopted by Inaba Masayoshi, the lord of the Yodo Domain in Yamashiro Province (Kyoto City), and inherited his title in 1848. In 1863, he was appointed Kyoto Shoshidai, and together with Matsudaira Katamori, the Kyoto Shugoshoku, he worked to crack down on Sonno Joi extremists. During this time, he promoted the cancellation of Emperor Komei's visit to Yamato, and during the coup of August 18 of the same year, he guarded the Imperial Palace together with soldiers from the Aizu and Kuwana domains, contributing to the success of the coup. In the following year, 1864, he was promoted to senior councilor, and sent soldiers to the first Choshu expedition, inspecting the heads of the three elder retainers of the Choshu domain. He was dismissed from his position as a senior councilor in April 1865, but was reappointed the following year in April. He was in charge of withdrawing the Second Expeditionary Army of the Choshu Empire following the death of Shogun Tokugawa Iemochi, and in the following year, he was appointed Chief of Domestic Affairs, a new position established by Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu as a measure to strengthen the Shogunate. When the Meiji Restoration took place, he advocated that the Shogun should strengthen his power by assuming both the role of regent and chancellor, abolish the distinction between Imperial and military officials, and between hereditary and outsiders, establish two offices, and establish national policy based on public debate. After that, when the Battle of Toba-Fushimi broke out, he declared neutrality in the face of the split in the domains. When the defeated Shogunate forces retreated several times and reached Yodo Castle, he closed the castle gates and refused to let them in. He then traveled from Edo to Kyoto and was placed under house arrest at Myoshinji Temple, but in leap April of 1868 (Meiji 1), he was assigned to guard the new government. When Edo Castle was opened to the public, he supported the pro-surrender faction. The following year, he was appointed governor of the domain, but was dismissed from his position when the domains were abolished in 1871 and prefectures were established. In 1882, he was granted the title of viscount. <Reference> “Yodo Inaba Family Documents” (Japan Historical Records Association Series)

(Junichi Nagai)

Source: Asahi Japanese Historical Biography: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. About Asahi Japanese Historical Biography

Japanese:

没年：明治31.7.15(1898)
生年：天保5.5.26(1834.7.2)
幕末の老中。父は陸奥国二本松藩(福島県)藩主丹羽長富。山城国淀藩(京都市)藩主稲葉正誼の養子となり嘉永1(1848)年襲封した。文久3(1863)年京都所司代に任じられ,京都守護職松平容保と共に尊攘激派の取り締まりに当たった。その間,孝明天皇の大和行幸の中止を進め,同年の8月18日の政変に際しては会津・桑名両藩兵と共に御所を警備し,政変の成功に寄与した。翌元治1(1864)年には老中に転じ,第1次長州征討に藩兵を出し,長州藩3家老の首級を実検している。慶応1(1865)年4月に老中を免じられたが,翌2年4月再任された。そして将軍徳川家茂の死去に伴う第2次征長軍の引き揚げを担当し,翌3年将軍徳川慶喜の幕府強化策として新設された国内事務総裁に任じられた。大政奉還に当たっては将軍が摂政・関白を兼ねて権力を強化し,公武の別や譜代,外様の別を廃して上下両議事所を設置し,公議に基づいて国是を確立することを主張した。その後,鳥羽・伏見の戦が起こると2派に分裂した藩論を前に中立を宣言した。敗北した幕府軍が退却を重ね淀城に至ったとき,城門を閉ざしてその受け入れを拒否している。その後,江戸から上洛し妙心寺で謹慎したが,明治1(1868)年閏4月新政府側の警衛の任を与えられた。江戸城の開城に際しては恭順派を支持した。翌年知藩事に任じられたが,4年廃藩置県で免官となった。17年には子爵を授けられている。<参考文献>『淀稲葉家文書』(日本史籍協会叢書)

(長井純市)

出典　朝日日本歴史人物事典：（株）朝日新聞出版朝日日本歴史人物事典について　情報

<<: Masanori Inaba

>>: Heiji Inaba