Far East Kingdoms

Dai Viet Kingdom (Annam) (Vietnam)
Trịnh Lords (AD 1545-1787)

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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 rulers of that dynasty, however, allowed court intrigues to take precedence, creating the backdrop for power plays and a usurpation.

Although the Nguyễn 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 a 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.

(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

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

Courtly dress of the Mac dynasty in Dai Viet, which would soon be removed from its unlawful hold on 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, albeit one which is dominated by Nguyễn Kim until he is murdered in 1545, at which point the Trịnh clan seize control of the emperor and rule in his name.

1545 - 1570

Trịnh family head under Revival Le dynasty.

1570

Son. Incompetent. Headed family for only 6 months.

1570 - 1623

Brother & replacement. First Trịnh lord (from 1599).

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.

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

1623

Trịnh Tùng dies an ignominious death, ill and abandoned on the roadside by his fleeing servants after his younger son has been murdered by conspirators who want to control the imperial throne.

1623 - 1657

Son. Ignited the Trịnh-Nguyễn Civil War.

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 Trịnh-Nguyễn Civil War.

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.

Female dress within the Revival Le nobility would undergo several revisions from this starting point before being banned entirely in 1744 in the south and in 1830 in the north

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 (during which time Trịnh Tráng dies). At just the wrong moment - 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.

1657 - 1682

Son. Country gradually became hostile to Europeans.

1671

The Trịnh attack southwards 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 on behalf of the Revival Le. He is forced to flee to China and his lands are lost to an almost-fully reunited Dai Viet kingdom.

1682 - 1709

Son. Improved the state during peacetime. Died aged 76.

1694 - 1704

The last effective ruler of Lan Xang dies. The resulting succession battle causes the kingdom's supporting federation to collapse. Trịnh Căn sends in his 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 seen in Wat Chaiwatthanaram

1709 - 1729

Great-grandson. Attempted to suppress Christianity.

1729 - 1740

Son. Deposed due to corrupted leadership.

1740 - 1767

Brother. Had to suppress multiple insurrections.

1767 - 1782

Son.

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.

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

1782

Son. Lord for 1 month only, under a regent.

1782 - 1786

Half-brother. Suicided to avoid Tay Son capture.

1786 - 1787

Son of Trịnh Giang.

1787

The brief civil war between the followers of Trịnh Cán and Trịnh Tông has fatally weakened the Trịnh in the north. When Trịnh Tông faces capture after a Tay Son victory against his forces, he commits suicide rather than face retribution.

His great-uncle rules for a year but Trịnh control in the north is already weak, having already lost central Viet lands to the south. They are defeated and swept aside by the new Tay Son rulers of Dai Viet.