幕府が廃止されて明治政府が樹立されると、明治天皇は（坂本龍馬の「新政府綱領八策」を草案とした）「五箇条の誓文」を発布されました。
Once Bakufu was abolished and Meiji Government was established, “the Oath of the New Regime (The original draft was “the Platform of the New Regime” written by Ryoma Sakamoto.)” was promulgated by Meiji Emperor.
首都は実質京都から東京（江戸）に移り、天皇の御所も1869年の3月に東京へと移されました。
The capital was substantially transferred from Kyoto to Tokyo (Edo), and the Imperial Palace was also relocated to Tokyo in March of 1869.
そして、戊辰戦争終結後に明治政府は藩の領地と領民が名目上朝廷に帰属することになったことを通達しますが（版籍奉還）、藩主をそのまま261藩の知藩事に任命し、実際上統治を続けさせました。
After Boshin Civil War was over, Meiji Government sent the official notice to the Domains announcing that their People and land were nominally reverted to the dynasty, but appointing the Domain heads the governors of the 261 Domains, the government had them continue their actual governance.
しかし、政府は1871年に朝廷に名目上帰属する領地と領民を政府の管理下に置き、261藩を3府302県に置き換えることを決めました（廃藩置県）。
However, the government decided in 1871 to put the People and the land which were nominally reverted to the dynasty under its control and to replace the 261 Domains with the 305 Prefectures.
また、全知藩事を罷免し、替わりに全知事を政府から府と県に派遣することを決めました。
Also, they decided to dismiss all the governors of the Domains and instead dispatch all the governors of the Prefectures from the government.
