The Shōgun's last Samurai corps : the bloody battles and intrigues of the Shinsengumi

"Power to them meant everything. It was founded on courage, which begot honor. And by this courage and for this honor they fought to the death." The Shogun's Last Samurai Corps tells the thrilling story of the Shinsengumi—the legendary corps of Samurai warriors tasked with keeping order in Kyoto during the final chaotic years of the Tokugawa Shogunate (1600-1868). This book recounts the fascinating tales of political intrigue, murder and mayhem surrounding the fearsome Shinsengumi, including: The infamous slaughter at Ikidaya Inn where, after learning of a plan to torch the city, a group of Shinsengumi viciously attacked and killed a group of anti-Tokugawa plotters The bloody assassination of Serizawa Kamo, the Shinsengumi leader, under highly suspicious circumstances The final tumultuous battles of the civil war in which the Shinsengumi fought and died in a series of doomed last stands Author and Samurai history expert Romulus Hillsborough uses letters, memoirs, interviews and eyewitness accounts to paint a vivid picture of the Shinsengumi, their origins, violent methods and the colorful characters that led the group. Power to them meant everything. It was founded on courage, which begot honor. And by this courage and for this honor they fought to the death. The Shogun's Last Samurai Corps tells the thrilling story, the first ever in the English language, of the Shinsengumi - the legendary Samurai corps tasked with keeping order in Kyoto during the turbulent final years of the Tokugawa Shogunate (1600-1868). This book recounts many fascinating tales of political intrigue, murder, and assassination that would turn Kyoto's streets into a sea of blood as rival groups vied for power including: The infamous slaughter at the Ikeda'ya Inn where, after learning of a plan to set fire to the city, a group of thirty Shinsengumi viciously attacked a group of anti-Tokugawa plotters, killing eight. The bloody assassination of Serizawa Kamo, a Shinsengumi leader, under suspicious circumstances which allowed his fellow commanders to consolidate power. The death of commander Kondo Isami, who was arrested by imperial troops, imprisoned, tried and executed for assassinations carried out by the Shinsengumi. The final bloody battles of the civil war where the Shinsengumi would fight in a doomed last stand with the Shogun. Author and Samurai history expert Romulus Hillsborough uses letters, memoirs, interviews and eyewitness accounts to paint a vivid picture of the Shinsengumi, their origins, violent methods and the colorful characters that led the group. In this updated volume, Hillsborough has contributed a new chapter on the Tennen Rishin swordsmanship school favored by the Shinsengumi leadership further commenting on the bloody story of this fascinating Samurai corps "Power to them meant everything. It was founded on courage, which begot honor. And by this courage and for this honor they fought to the death."

The Shogun's Last Samurai Corps tells the thrilling story of the Shinsengumi--the legendary corps of Samurai warriors tasked with keeping order in Kyoto during the final chaotic years of the Tokugawa Shogunate (1600-1868).

This book recounts the fascinating tales of political intrigue, murder and mayhem surrounding the fearsome Shinsengumi, including:

• The infamous slaughter at Ikidaya Inn where, after learning of a plan to torch the city, a group of Shinsengumi viciously attacked and killed a group of anti-Tokugawa plotters
• The bloody assassination of Serizawa Kamo, the Shinsengumi leader, under highly suspicious circumstances
• The final tumultuous battles of the civil war in which the Shinsengumi fought and died in a series of doomed last stands

Author and Samurai history expert Romulus Hillsborough uses letters, memoirs, interviews and eyewitness accounts to paint a vivid picture of the Shinsengumi, their origins, violent methods and the colorful characters that led the group. This book tells the thrilling story of the Shinsengumi - the legendary Samurai brigade tasked to keep order in Kyoto during the final turbulent final years of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Romulus Hillsborough recounts the dramatic tales of political intrigue, murder and assassination that would turn Kyoto's streets into a sea of blood as rival groups vied for power