Nikolay Petrovich Rezanov

A Russian envoy to Japan. Born into a Russian noble family. He held the important positions of First Director of the Senate and Grand Chamberlain, and became the son-in-law of the wealthy Shelikhov, founder of the Shelikhov-Golkov Trading Company, and also became the general agent of the Russian-American Company, which was established in 1799 after the firm was dissolved. He persuaded Alexander I that trade with Japan and the establishment of a direct sea route to Russia were necessary for the development of Russian America (the area from the North Pacific coast to Alaska), and arrived in Nagasaki in 1804 (Bunka 1) on a circumnavigation ship under the command of Krusenstern, accompanied by Sendai's drifter Tamitsudayu. Based on the charter that Laxman had obtained for Nagasaki, he stayed there for about half a year and sought trade, but was refused by the Japanese side, and was treated like a prisoner while ashore for medical treatment. The attacks on Sakhalin, Etorofu, and other places by naval officers Khvostov and Davidov of the Russian-American Company in 1806 and 1807, known as the "Cultural Raids," were ordered by Rezanov and were retaliation for the shogunate's refusal to allow trade.

[Masato Kobayashi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

ロシアの遣日使節。ロシアの貴族の家に生まれる。元老院第一局長兼侍従長の要職につくとともに、シェリホフ・ゴリコフ商会の設立者である富豪シェリホフの女婿(じょせい)となり、同商会を発展的に解消して1799年に設立された露米会社の総代理人ともなった。露領アメリカ（北太平洋沿岸からアラスカにかけての地域）の発展のためには日本との通商や本国との直航路の開設が必要であることをアレクサンドル1世に説き、仙台の漂流民津太夫らを伴い、クルーゼンシュテルン指揮下の世界周航船で1804年（文化1）長崎に着いた。ラクスマンの得た長崎にくることを許す特許状に基づき、半年間ほど滞在して通商を求めたが、日本側の拒絶にあい、また、病気療養のために上陸中も幽囚同様の扱いを受けた。1806、07年に起こった露米会社の海軍士官フボストフ、ダビドフによる樺太(からふと)、択捉(えとろふ)などの襲撃事件、いわゆる「文化(ぶんか)の露寇(ろこう)」は、レザノフの命によるもので、幕府の通商拒絶への報復であった。

［小林真人］

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