HMS Phaeton was a frigate of the Royal Navy which was active in the Pacific during the Napoleonic Wars. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the senior service of the British armed services, being the oldest of its three branches. ... For other meanings of Pacific, see Pacific (disambiguation). ... Combatants Allies: • Great Britain/United Kingdom, • Prussia, • Austria, • Sweden, • Russia, • and Others • France • Denmark-Norway • Poland Casualties Full list The Napoleonic Wars consisted of a series of wars fought during Napoleon Bonapartes rule over France. ...

Contemporary Japanese drawing of the HMS Phaeton (Nagasaki Municipal Museum).

As Napoleon had allied with the Netherlands against England, Royal Navy ships started to prey on Dutch shipping. In 1808, Phaeton entered Nagasaki harbour to attack a couple of Dutch trading ships planned for arrival. For other uses, see Napoleon (disambiguation). ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location (dark green) within the United Kingdom (light green), with the Republic of Ireland (blue) to its west Languages English Capital London Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population –mid-2004... Nagasaki City Hall Mayor {{{Mayor}}} Address 〒850-8685 Nagasaki-shi, Sakura-machi 2-22 Phone number 095-825-5151 Official website: www1. ...

Phaeton entered Nagasaki harbour on October 14th under a Dutch flag. As was the custom, Dutch representatives from the Nagasaki trading enclave of Dejima rowed out to welcome the visiting ship, but as they approached a tender was lowered by Phaeton to capture the Dutch representatives. The Phaeton demanded supplies (water, food, fuel) to be delivered to the ship in exchange for the released of the Dutch employees. The Phaeton also fired cannons and rifles to press her demands, and threatened to destroy the Japanese and Chinese ships in the harbour. View of Dejima in Nagasaki Bay Scale model of Dutch trading post on display in Dejima (2003) Edo-era boundaries of Dejima island (outlined in red) within the modern city of Nagasaki. ...

The meager Japanese forces in Nagasaki were unable to repel the Phaeton. At the time, it was the Saga clan's turn to protect Nagasaki harbour, but they had limited expenses by sending only 100 troops there, instead of the 1,000 officially required for the station. The Nagasaki Magistrate, Matsudaira Gempei Zushonokami, immediately ordered troops from the neighbouring areas of Kyushu island to be sent. A force of 8,000 samurai and 40 ships was mobilized to confront the Phaeton, but they could not arrived until a few days. In the meantime, the Nagasaki Magistrate decided to respond to the ship's demands, and provided supplies. A reconstruction of a Yayoi period building at the Yoshinogari site Saga Prefecture (佐賀県; Saga-ken) is located on Kyushu island, Japan. ... Kyushu region, Japan Kyushu (九州 kyūshū) is the third largest island of Japan and most southerly and westerly of the four main islands. ... Japanese samurai in armour, 1860s. ...

The Phaeton finally left two days later on October 17th, before the arrival of Japanese reinforcements, and after it had learnt that the Dutch trading ships would not be coming that year. A letter for the Dutch director Hendrik Doeff was also left. The Nagasaki Magistrate, Matsudaira, took responsibility by committing suicide by seppuku. Hendrik Doeff (1764-1837). ... Seppuku with ritual attire and second (staged) General Akashi Gidayu preparing to commit Seppuku after losing a battle for his master in 1582. ...

Following the attack of the Phaeton, the Bakufu reinforced coastal defenses, and promulgated a law prohibiting foreigners coming ashore, on pain of death (1825~1842, Muninen-uchikowashi-rei). The Bakufu also requested official interpreters to learn English and Russian, departing from their focus on Dutch studies. In 1814, the first English-Japanese dictionary (6000 words) was written by the Dutch interpreter Motoki Shozaemon. For the James Clavell novel, see Shogun or for the TV Miniseries. ...