06月11日

According to the ancient Greek scholar Eratosthenes, the city of Troy fell in 1184 BC, concluding the decade-long Trojan War. This legendary conflict, central to Homer's Iliad, represents a blend of myth and potential historical events in Late Bronze Age Greece. The siege of Troy has inspired countless works of art, literature, and archaeological investigations. Eratosthenes's chronology, compiled centuries later, remains a cornerstone for dating ancient Greek history. The fall of Troy symbolizes the end of an era and the enduring power of myth in shaping cultural memory.

In April 1173, the Buddhist monk Mongaku led a dramatic appeal to retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa, demanding the reconstruction of Jingo-ji temple in Kyoto. He performed a forceful goso protest within the imperial palace precincts, highlighting tensions between religious institutions and the court. His bold actions challenged the authority of the cloistered emperor and alarmed the Heian aristocracy. Mongaku was arrested by court officials and stripped of his monastic privileges. Following his detention, he was exiled to Izu Province, a remote assignment that tested his resolve and faith.

On June 11, 1429, the French army, inspired by Joan of Arc, laid siege to the strategic town of Jargeau on the Loire River. Commanded by Joan, the French forces faced an English garrison fortified within the town walls. After intense skirmishes and the use of artillery, the English defenses weakened under sustained pressure. Joan's leadership and the arrival of reinforcements proved decisive in breaching the town’s fortifications. The battle marked a turning point in the Loire Campaign, boosting French morale and undermining English control in the region.

On June 11, 1509, Henry VIII wed Catherine of Aragon, the Spanish princess and widow of his elder brother Arthur. The marriage strengthened the alliance between England and Spain under the Habsburg monarchs. Catherine was initially a popular and respected queen who bore Henry a daughter, Mary, but no surviving male heir. Their union later became central to Henry’s quest for an annulment, leading to the English Reformation and the break with the Catholic Church. This marriage set in motion events that would transform England’s religious and political landscape.

The Battle of Shizugatake began on June 11, 1583, as a decisive clash between Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Shibata Katsuie in the struggle for control of Oda Nobunaga’s legacy. Hideyoshi's rapid attack and skilled use of arquebusiers overwhelmed Katsuie’s forces near Lake Biwa. Despite Katsuie’s courageous resistance, he was ultimately forced to retreat to his stronghold at Kitanosho Castle. Katsuie’s subsequent defeat and suicide solidified Hideyoshi’s position as the preeminent warlord in Japan. The victory at Shizugatake paved the way for Hideyoshi’s unification of the country.

On June 11, 1742, the Treaty of Breslau was signed, bringing peace between King Frederick II of Prussia and Empress Maria Theresa of Austria. Under the treaty, Austria ceded most of Silesia to Prussia, recognizing Frederick’s conquest during the war. The agreement marked the end of the First Silesian War, part of the larger War of the Austrian Succession. The loss of Silesia dealt a severe economic blow to Austria but secured Prussia’s emergence as a major European power. The treaty reshaped the balance of power in Central Europe and set the stage for future conflicts.

In 1800, the renowned surveyor Inō Tadataka embarked on his first major expedition to Ezo (modern Hokkaido) to gather data for a detailed map of Japan. Sponsored by the Tokugawa shogunate, he utilized precise astronomical observations and triangulation methods. Tadataka’s team traversed rugged coastlines and interior regions, recording latitude and longitude for thousands of survey points. This pioneering work laid the foundation for the Inō map, completed after his death, which remained Japan’s most accurate cartographic achievement for decades. His meticulous methods influenced modern geographic and surveying practices.

On June 11, 1868, the fledgling Meiji government promulgated the Seitaisho, a charter that outlined the organization of central and local authorities. The document abolished many traditional feudal offices, creating ministries responsible for finance, justice, and foreign affairs. It introduced a council of state and defined roles for the emperor, the great councils, and administrative bureaus. The Seitaisho represented the Meiji leaders’ commitment to modernizing Japan’s governance along Western lines. This act set the stage for subsequent reforms, including the Charter Oath and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy.

In 1870, tensions in Tokushima Domain culminated in the Kōgo Incident, when radical former samurai loyal to the Inada family of Awaji Island carried out a violent assault. The attackers, angered by the clan’s separation demands from the main Tokushima han, targeted the Inada retainers stationed at Sumoto Castle. The violent confrontation resulted in casualties on both sides and exposed fractures within the newly centralized Meiji state. Officials arrested several conspirators, and the incident underscored the challenges of modernizing Japan’s feudal order. The Kōgo Incident became a cautionary example of domainal resistance during the early Meiji reforms.

On June 11, 1873, Shibusawa Eiichi founded the First National Bank in Tokyo, introducing Western-style banking to Japan. The institution issued banknotes convertible to gold, facilitated commercial transactions, and promoted industrial growth. Shibusawa’s vision linked finance and ethical business practices, earning him the title 'father of Japanese capitalism.' The bank’s success paved the way for the development of a broader financial system and the emergence of major zaibatsu conglomerates. Today, it continues as part of Mizuho Financial Group, reflecting a legacy of economic modernization.

戊戌の変法は、1898年に中国清朝で光緒帝が支持した政治改革運動です。 康有為や梁啓超らの変法派が中心となり、西洋式の学制導入や財政・軍制改革を推進しました。 王室官僚や保守派からの抵抗を招き、一部の改革は急進的と批判されました。 変法の期間はわずか百日程度であったため「百日維新」とも呼ばれます。 保守派のクーデターにより光緒帝は退位・幽閉され、改革は頓挫しました。 この運動は後の清末改革や辛亥革命への先駆けとされ、中国近代化に大きな影響を与えました。

義和団の乱（拳乱）は清末の排外主義運動で、外国勢力排除を掲げた農民武装集団の蜂起です。 義和団に同調した清国軍閥の董福祥部隊が北京で行動を起こしました。 6月11日、董福祥配下の兵士が日本大使館員・杉山彬を殺害し、外交官への暴力がエスカレートしました。 この事件は列強の反発を招き、八カ国連合軍による救援軍派遣の口実の一つとなります。 結果として、清朝政府は義和団鎮圧と列強への屈服へと追い込まれました。 義和団の乱は後の清朝崩壊と中国半植民地化を加速させた歴史的転換点となりました。