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Jules Brunet
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Jules Brunet
Jules Brunet (2 January 1838 – 12 August 1911) was a French military officer who served the Tokugawa shogunate during the Boshin War in Japan. Originally sent to Japan as a horse artillery instructor with the French military mission of 1867, he refused to leave the country after the shōgun was defeated, and played a leading role in the separatist Republic of Ezo and its fight against forces of the Meiji Restoration. After the rebellion's defeat, he returned to France, fought in the Franco-Prussian War, later reached the rank of general of division, and worked for the Ministry of War.
Brunet was born on 2 January 1838 in Belfort, in the region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, in eastern France. He was the son of Jean-Michel Brunet, a veterinary doctor in the army, and his wife Louise-Adine Rocher. In 1855, he began his military education after being admitted to Saint-Cyr, which he left two years later to enter the École Polytechnique. Graduating 68th of 120 in his class, Brunet joined the horse artillery, and finished his education at the school of artillery of Metz, where he excelled in his studies and graduated in fourth place in his course, in 1861.
Shortly after graduating, Brunet was sent to serve in the French invasion of Mexico. As a sub-lieutenant in the horse artillery regiment of the Imperial Guard, he served with distinction throughout the war, particularly during the Siege of Puebla in 1863, for which he was awarded by Emperor Napoleon III with the Cross of the Légion d'honneur. He was promoted to captain of the artillery in 1867, and was then Knight of the Légion d'honneur. During his time in Mexico, Brunet was able to create a number of quickly-drawn croquis, many of which were then published by French newspapers to illustrate the war.
In 1866, the French government decided to send a group of military advisors to Japan to help modernize the Shogun's army. For his distinguished performance in the artillery school and in the war in Mexico, Brunet was a main choice for the artillery corps of the mission. He was notably recommended to Napoleon III by government official Émilien de Nieuwerkerke, who also noted Brunet's drawing skills and his "most great desire to be in charge of a military mission to Japan". At 28 years old, Brunet was one of the youngest officers selected to the Mission.
The mission was composed of fifteen members, including five officers, and was led by Captain Charles Chanoine. All preparations were completed on 3 November 1866, and days later the mission departed to Japan aboard the Péluse. They arrived in January 1867, and trained the Shogun's troops for about a year. While in Japan, Brunet was promoted to captain (August 1867). Then the Shogun, in 1868, was overthrown in the Boshin War and Emperor Meiji was nominally restored to full power.
In late September 1868, the French military mission was ordered by its government to leave Japan. Captain Chanoine arranged for the mission to leave Japan aboard two ships, which would sail on 15 and 28 October. Brunet, however, chose to stay in Japan and remain loyal to Shogun's side of the war. He decided to assist the Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei, known as the "Northern Alliance", in their resistance against the Imperial faction. He resigned from the French army on 4 October, informing Minister of War Adolphe Niel of his decision in a letter:
"I have the honor of presenting to you my resignation from the rank of captain; I declare that from this 4 October 1868, I renounce the prerogatives of the position of artillery officer in the French army".
In another letter, to Napoleon III himself, Brunet explained the plan of the alliance, as well as his role in it:
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Jules Brunet
Jules Brunet (2 January 1838 – 12 August 1911) was a French military officer who served the Tokugawa shogunate during the Boshin War in Japan. Originally sent to Japan as a horse artillery instructor with the French military mission of 1867, he refused to leave the country after the shōgun was defeated, and played a leading role in the separatist Republic of Ezo and its fight against forces of the Meiji Restoration. After the rebellion's defeat, he returned to France, fought in the Franco-Prussian War, later reached the rank of general of division, and worked for the Ministry of War.
Brunet was born on 2 January 1838 in Belfort, in the region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, in eastern France. He was the son of Jean-Michel Brunet, a veterinary doctor in the army, and his wife Louise-Adine Rocher. In 1855, he began his military education after being admitted to Saint-Cyr, which he left two years later to enter the École Polytechnique. Graduating 68th of 120 in his class, Brunet joined the horse artillery, and finished his education at the school of artillery of Metz, where he excelled in his studies and graduated in fourth place in his course, in 1861.
Shortly after graduating, Brunet was sent to serve in the French invasion of Mexico. As a sub-lieutenant in the horse artillery regiment of the Imperial Guard, he served with distinction throughout the war, particularly during the Siege of Puebla in 1863, for which he was awarded by Emperor Napoleon III with the Cross of the Légion d'honneur. He was promoted to captain of the artillery in 1867, and was then Knight of the Légion d'honneur. During his time in Mexico, Brunet was able to create a number of quickly-drawn croquis, many of which were then published by French newspapers to illustrate the war.
In 1866, the French government decided to send a group of military advisors to Japan to help modernize the Shogun's army. For his distinguished performance in the artillery school and in the war in Mexico, Brunet was a main choice for the artillery corps of the mission. He was notably recommended to Napoleon III by government official Émilien de Nieuwerkerke, who also noted Brunet's drawing skills and his "most great desire to be in charge of a military mission to Japan". At 28 years old, Brunet was one of the youngest officers selected to the Mission.
The mission was composed of fifteen members, including five officers, and was led by Captain Charles Chanoine. All preparations were completed on 3 November 1866, and days later the mission departed to Japan aboard the Péluse. They arrived in January 1867, and trained the Shogun's troops for about a year. While in Japan, Brunet was promoted to captain (August 1867). Then the Shogun, in 1868, was overthrown in the Boshin War and Emperor Meiji was nominally restored to full power.
In late September 1868, the French military mission was ordered by its government to leave Japan. Captain Chanoine arranged for the mission to leave Japan aboard two ships, which would sail on 15 and 28 October. Brunet, however, chose to stay in Japan and remain loyal to Shogun's side of the war. He decided to assist the Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei, known as the "Northern Alliance", in their resistance against the Imperial faction. He resigned from the French army on 4 October, informing Minister of War Adolphe Niel of his decision in a letter:
"I have the honor of presenting to you my resignation from the rank of captain; I declare that from this 4 October 1868, I renounce the prerogatives of the position of artillery officer in the French army".
In another letter, to Napoleon III himself, Brunet explained the plan of the alliance, as well as his role in it:
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