Gustave Duchesne de Bellecourt

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Duchesne de Bellecourt in July 1863, at the age of 46.
Duchesne de Bellecourt in July 1863, at the age of 46.
Duchesne de Bellecourt, bringing the ratified Franco-Japanese Treaty to the Shogun, February 4, 1860.
Duchesne de Bellecourt, bringing the ratified Franco-Japanese Treaty to the Shogun, February 4, 1860.
Franco-Anglo-Japanese conference on the French ship Sémiramis, July 2, 1863, following the Namamugi incident. Forefront: French interpreter Blekman, Japanese interpreter. Background (from left to right): Three Japanese governors of Yokohama, Duchesne de Bellecourt, Daimyo Sakai-Hida-no-Kami, Colonel Neale (British representative in Japan), Admiral Jaurès, Admiral Kuper.
Franco-Anglo-Japanese conference on the French ship Sémiramis, July 2, 1863, following the Namamugi incident.
Forefront: French interpreter Blekman, Japanese interpreter.
Background (from left to right): Three Japanese governors of Yokohama, Duchesne de Bellecourt, Daimyo Sakai-Hida-no-Kami, Colonel Neale (British representative in Japan), Admiral Jaurès, Admiral Kuper.

Gustave Duchesne, Prince de Bellecourt (1817-1881), was a 19th century French diplomat who was active in Asia, and especially in Japan.

In 1858, Gustave Duchesne de Bellecourt arrived in Japan as the secretary of the mission for the Franco-Japanese Treaty of Trade and Amity, led by Jean-Baptiste Louis Gros. The following year, he went again to Japan and became the first French representative in the country,[1] with the title of "Premier ministre plénipotentiaire de France au Japon". He was assisted by the translator Father Girard.

Duchesne's assignment came at a time of much violence against foreigners in Japan.[citation needed] In 1860, the servant of Duchesne was attacked with a sword and badly wounded in front of the French legation at the Temple of Saikai-ji in Edo.[2]

In 1861, Duchesne was promoted to the position of ambassador. He was generally in agreement with Rutherford Alcock in his positions against the Bakufu.

In 1863, Duchesne was involved in the negociations for the reparations following the Namamugi incident, in which foreigners were killed by a party from Satsuma.[3]

In 1864, Duchesne de Bellecourt was succeeded at his post in Tokyo by Léon Roches, heralding an era of much stronger involvement by France.[4]

Gustave Duchesne de Bellecourt received the medal of the Légion d'Honneur.[5]

[edit] Publications

  • Les agrandissements de la France dans le Bassin du Mekong

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Polak 2001, p.29
  2. ^ Satow, p.34-36
  3. ^ Polak, p.92
  4. ^ Polak, p.29
  5. ^ Base de données Mérimée ministère de la Culture et de la Communication [1]

[edit] References

  • Polak, Christian (2001) Soie et Lumieres. L'Age d'or des échanges franco-japonais (des origines aux années 1950), 日仏交流の黄金期（江戸時代～１９５０年代）, (French and Japanese), Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie Française du Japon, Hachette Fujingaho.
  • Sir Ernest Satow (1921), A Diplomat in Japan, Stone Bridge Classics, ISBN 9781933330167