20 Facts About Jules Brunet

Jules Brunet was a French military officer who served the Tokugawa shogunate during the Boshin War in Japan.

Jules Brunet was the son of Jean-Michel Brunet, a veterinary doctor in the army, and his wife Louise-Adine Rocher.

Shortly after graduating, Jules Brunet was sent to serve in the French invasion of Mexico.

Jules Brunet was promoted to captain of the artillery in 1867, and was then Knight of the Legion d'honneur.

Jules Brunet was notably recommended to Napoleon III by government official Emilien de Nieuwerkerke, who noted Brunet's drawing skills and his "most great desire to be in charge of a military mission to Japan".

At 28 years old, Jules Brunet was one of the youngest officers selected to the Mission.

Jules Brunet chose to stay in Japan and remain loyal to Shogun's side of the war.

Jules Brunet decided to assist the Ouetsu Reppan Domei, known as the "Northern Alliance", in their resistance against the Imperial faction.

When Edo fell to Imperial forces Enomoto and Jules Brunet escaped, first going to Sendai and then to the northern island of Hokkaido.

Jules Brunet became the de facto Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Ezo government.

Jules Brunet invited foreign diplomats and handled opening negotiations with foreign powers, as the Ezo state sought international recognition, and was responsible for drafting French-language announcements to his fellow officers fighting in the rebellion.

Jules Brunet helped to organize the Ezo army, under hybrid Franco-Japanese leadership.

The new Japanese government requested that Jules Brunet be punished for his activities in the Boshin War, but his actions had won popular support in France and the request was denied.

Jules Brunet was taken prisoner at the Siege of Metz.

Jules Brunet visited the Royal School of Military Engineering in the United Kingdom in August 1871, and later that year was made an officer of the Legion d'honneur and assigned as aide de camp to the Minister of War, Ernest Courtot de Cissey.

In 1879, Jules Brunet received the promotion to chef d'escadron and was appointed military attache to Rome.

In 1895 Jules Brunet was made a Grand Officer of the Order of the Sacred Treasure.

Jules Brunet's actions served as inspiration for the character of Nathan Algren, the protagonist of the 2003 film The Last Samurai.

Jules Brunet appears as a character in the 2024 video game Rise of the Ronin, where he is portrayed as a military advisor to Katsu Kaishu and can fight alongside the player in the Battle of Toba-Fushimi if the player chooses to side with the Shogunate's forces during the conflict.

Jules Brunet was a talented painter and sketch artist who left numerous depictions of his travels in Mexico and Japan.