Arthur Fortant

Who is Arthur Fortant?

Arthur Fortant was a non-commissioned officer, a sergeant of the French Regiment of the Guard of the field artillery. He was a member of the first French Military Mission to Japan in 1867, in which he accompanied Jules Brunet. He worked as an instructor for artillery in the army of the Shogun.

With the advent of the Boshin War, and the declaration of neutrality of foreign powers, Fortant chose to resign from the French Army and continue the fight on the side of the Bakufu.

He participated to the Battle of Hakodate, in which he was head of one of the four Japanese regiments.