Far East Kingdoms

Dai Viet Kingdom (Annam) (Vietnam)
Nguyễn Lords (AD 1613-1802)

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The modern-day nation state of Vietnam emerged out of prehistory's Early Vietnam. Various early (and partially legendary) kingdoms followed but northern Vietnam then endured a sequence of occupations and independence which began with the 'First Chinese Domination of Vietnam' and ended with the 'Third Chinese Domination of Vietnam'.

A series of revolts in the eighth century occupied province of Annam helped to feed the growing Viet sense of national consciousness. In AD 938, Ngo Quyen won a glorious victory against occupying Southern Han forces along the banks of the River Bach Dang. The victory put an end to a thousand years of near-continuous Chinese domination. That was replaced with the restored Nam Viet kingdom and a long period of national independence and sovereignty which started with the Ngo dynasty.

That independence was ended temporarily by the 'Fourth Chinese Domination of Vietnam' before that was thrown off by the rebellious Later Tran emperors and the founder of the Later Le dynasty. Later dynastic rulers, however, allowed court intrigues to take precedence, creating the backdrop for power plays and a usurpation.

Although the Nguyễn (Nguyen) family had already become powerful at court, in 1527 they were outplayed by General Mac Dang Dương when he took control and founded his own Mac dynasty. Its fortunes were mixed, to say the least. Unsupported by its Ming overlord, in 1533 it found itself governing the north of the country while the Revival Le emperor held the south alongside the controlling Trịnh lords.

The civil war came to an end in 1592, but the Mac lingered on in semi-obscurity until 1677. A restored Dai Viet formed the basis of modern Vietnam. However, the Revival Le emperors were pretty quickly reduced to the status of figureheads and puppets in the hands of the competing Nguyễn and Trịnh lords of the south and north respectively. Outnumbered by the northern state mechanism, the Nguyễn held firm behind their defensive walls until, in the end, they were overthrown by the Tay Son.

(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information from Vietnam: A New History, Christopher Goscha, from Early Mainland Southeast Asia, C Higham (River Books Co, 2014), from Southeast Asia: A Historical Encyclopaedia, from Angkor Wat to East Timor, Keat Gin Ooi (ABC-Clio, 2004), from A History of the Vietnamese, Keith W Taylor (Cambridge University Press, 2013), from Times Atlas of World History (Maplewood, 1979), from Historical Atlas of the World, R R Palmer (Ed, Chicago, 1963), and from External Links: Encyclopaedia Britannica, and Vietnam (Countrystudies), and Vietnam from the 1st to the 10th centuries AD (Vietnam National Museum of History), and Vietnam from the 10th century AD to the mid-20th century AD (Vietnam National Museum of History).)

1533 - 1545

First Nguyen lord to dominate Nam Viet's south. Murdered.

1533

With the anti-Mac rebellion in full force the kingdom of Nam Viet fractures. The south quickly falls to Nguyễn Kim and his son-in-law, Trịnh Kiểm, and neither family, Nguyễn or Trịnh, will easily relinquish their newfound power.

As rival emperor to the Mac they install Lê Trang Tông, a son of Lê Chiêu Tổng, penultimate emperor of the deposed Later Le dynasty. That emperor's successor, Lê Cung Hoàng, is also sometimes claimed as the father. Either way, he leads the Revival Le dynasty.

The coins of the Vietnamese kings imitated Chinese coins, although official issues were often heavier than the Chinese coins and with somewhat cruder calligraphy, with this example being issued during the reign of Lê Hiến Tổng of the Later Le

1537

Mac Dang Doanh is not the warlord his father still is. A series of defeats in the civil war have allowed the Revival Le to firmly establish themselves in the south.

Now an official Ming delegation decides that the Mac usurpation of the throne is not justifiable. A large army is dispatched with the stated purpose of reunifying the country under Le rule. In the summer, Mac Dang Doanh dies, forcing his father to resume his position as emperor.

1540

Restored Emperor Mac Dang Dương caves in to Ming pressure even though their enormous army has remained sitting on the northern Viet border. He subjugates himself to Ming demands, retaining only a lordship in the north and accepting the Revival Le authority.

The Revival Le, however, are not willing to accept a de facto division of their country with the Mac continuing to rule their small territory. The civil war continues but events become highly obscure as the Mac continue to launch attacks which are invariably brushed aside.

Courtly dress of the Mac dynasty in Dai Viet, which would soon be removed from its unlawful hold on power

1545 - 1613

Son. Survived in southern border areas.

1592

The Mac clan finds itself being bested by the Revival Le forces. It flees Cao Bằng where it continues to govern in reduced circumstances, with little more than a reduced lordship and no aspirations to be emperor. This still does not stop the fighting between the Mac and the Revival Le.

1599

The emperors of the Revival Le rule in name only. True power is held in a divided country, by the Nguyễn clan in the south and the Trịnh lords in the north. To date, the latter have largely dominated the imperial throne and led all the battles against the northern Mac, and it is now that Trịnh Tùng effectively creates himself lord of Bình An in Dai Viet in the emperor's name.

1613 - 1635

Son. Established the city of Saigon.

1627

A long-simmering dispute has existed between the Trịnh lord and the rival Nguyễn over the former's control of the imperial throne. With Nguyễn Phuc Nguyen having refused to send taxes to the imperial court for the past seven years, Trịnh Tráng now attacks, sparking the the Trịnh-Nguyễn Civil War.

The Trịnh lord's palace in Hanoi was not only his abode, it was also his place of work and was therefore an extravagant symbol of the family's power and wealth

A large Trịnh army campaigns into Nguyễn territory for four months, although a victory against the well-armed and prepared south is not forthcoming. The country has effectively been divided in two at the River Gianh in Quảng Bình province. Impressive fortified lines protect the south from subsequent attacks.

1635 - 1648

Son. Successfully defended the kingdom.

1648 - 1687

Son. Annexed remaining Champa lands.

1653 - 1661

Having inflicted a heavy defeat on the Trịnh in 1648 during yet another failed attack, the Nguyễn launch their first campaign into the north. They spend seven years defeating Trịnh forces until - thanks to their two leading generals falling out and refusing to cooperate with each other - the tables are turned and the Nguyễn must fall back to their defensive lines.

1671

The Trịnh attack again, this time with the largest army of the entire Trịnh-Nguyễn Civil War. It suffers heavy casualties and fails to make a dent in Nguyễn defences. The two rival lords now agree to acknowledge the Revival Le emperor on their own terms, despite the division of the country, and peace reigns for the best part of a century.

1673 - 1677

The Manchu invasion and conquest of Ming China climaxes in this decade. A savage struggle takes place in the south when three great provinces rise against the Manchu and their teenage emperor, Kangxi.

While the Mac of Dai Viet were refusing to give up dreams of ruling a united Viet country, their Ming overlords were being replaced by the intruding Manchu

The brutal fight is known as the 'Revolt of the Three Feudatories', or the 'Rebellion of Wu Sangui'. The ill-advised Mac lord, Mac Kính Vũ supports the three rebel provinces and while he is distracted he is dealt with by the Trịnh lord of the Revival Le. He is forced to flee to China and his lands are lost to an almost-fully reunited Dai Viet kingdom.

1687 - 1691

Son.

1691 - 1725

Son. Took formal control of remaining Champa lands.

1694 - 1704

The last effective ruler of Lan Xang dies. The resulting succession battle causes the kingdom's supporting federation to collapse. Trịnh Căn apparently sends in his Trịnh-controlled army to see if he can take control there, but it becomes embroiled in a decade-long conflict.

Three weakened kingdoms emerge from the mess, each of which is forced to pay tribute both to the Ayutthaya kingdom and to the Viet under Trịnh control (although this is open to question, with the Nguyễn also being suggested as the leaders of Viet involvement).

Ayutthaya took on influences from many external players, including Sukhothai and the Khmer, as well as China, Japan and - later - several European countries, with that influence being sen in Wat Chaiwatthanaram

1725 - 1738

Son.

1738 - 1765

Brother. Established modern southern border with Khmer.

1765 - 1777

Son. Captured and executed.

1774

The Tay Son are gradually destroying Nguyễn military capability, with the defenders already having suffered losses in Khmer territory. Their forces at the northern defensive works are weakened, so the Trịnh launch an attack on 15 November 1774.

For the first time they are able to break through. In February 1775 the Nguyễn capital at Huế is captured. The Trịnh become involved in some fighting against the Tay Son army too, but a treaty means that the Tay Son are left alone to complete the job of destroying the Nguyễn.

1776 - 1777

Grandson of Phuc Khoat. Co-ruler. Executed.

1778

The Tay Son uprising secures central Dai Viet, leaving the ousted Revival Le emperor and his supporters isolated in the south, primarily around Saigon. The three Tay Son brothers come from the village of the same name (they are not part of the Nguyễn clan despite their family name).

The Tay Son dynasty was founded by three Nguyễn brothers (who were not connected to the lords of the same name) who rebelled against all of the major parties in Dai Viet's confused political situation, sweeping two of them away and almost destroying a third

1780 - 1802

Nephew of Phuc Thuan Replaced Tay Son to rule Dai Viet.

1788 - 1789

Nguyễn Phuc Anh of the Nguyễn-dominated south declares the Revival Le dynasty to be extinct in 1788. He himself assumes the title of emperor of Dai Viet and continues to oppose the Tay Son who remove the last legitimate Revival Le emperor from the throne in 1789.

1802

Nguyễn Phuc Anh and his southern Dai Viet forces displace the Tay Son emperors so that he can become emperor himself as Gia Long. It is under his rule that the kingdom of Dai Viet absorbs the other Vietnamese holdings to create a single empire. One of his first acts is to change the name of Dai Viet to Nam Viet.