Origins & Early Life

Count Nogi Maresuke (乃木 希典), also known as Kiten, Count Nogi (December 25, 1849 – September 13, 1912), was a Japanese general in the Imperial Japanese Army and a governor-general of Taiwan. He was one of the commanders during the 1894 capture of Port Arthur from China and a prominent figure in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–05, as commander of the forces which captured Port Arthur from the Russians. He was a national hero in Imperial Japan as a model of feudal loyalty and self-sacrifice, ultimately to the point of suicide. In the Satsuma Rebellion, he lost a banner of the emperor in battle, for which he tried to atone with suicidal bravery in order to recapture it, until ordered to stop.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

In the Russo-Japanese War, he captured Port Arthur but he felt that he had lost too many of his soldiers, so requested permission to commit suicide, which the emperor refused. These two events, as well as his desire not to outlive his master, motivated his suicide on the day of the funeral of the Emperor Meiji. His example brought attention to the concept of bushido (moral code of the samurai) and the controversial samurai practice of junshi (following the lord in death). Nogi Nakito...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• August Strindberg — Contemporary (Born in 1849) (1849): Pioneering Swedish literary figure, playwright, and essayist of the late 19th century.
• Basil Zaharoff — Contemporary (Born in 1849) (1849): Greek industrialist and arms dealer, known as a 'merchant of death' in global conflicts.
• Bertha Benz — Contemporary (Born in 1849) (1849): Pioneering automotive figure who drove the first long-distance car journey.
• Alan Turing — Contemporary (Born in 1912) (1912): Father of theoretical computer science, known for the Turing machine and codebreaking.
• Alfredo Stroessner — Contemporary (Born in 1912) (1912): Paraguayan military dictator who ruled from 1954 to 1989, known for repression.
• Bram Stoker — Contemporary (Died in 1912) (1912): Irish author renowned for the Gothic horror novel Dracula and Count Dracula.
• Anwar Sadat — Shared historical date (12-25 · Born) (1918): Egyptian President who spearheaded economic reform and the peace treaty with Israel.
• Barbara Mandrell — Shared historical date (12-25 · Born) (1948): Iconic American country music singer known for her steel guitar skills and crossover appeal.
• Andrea Mantegna — Shared historical date (09-13 · Died) (1506): Master of the Italian Renaissance, known for monumental perspective and sculptural figures.
• Antony Hewish — Shared historical date (09-13 · Died) (2021): Pioneering radio astronomer, celebrated for the discovery of pulsars.
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