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The Emperor Quang Trung. Photo D.T.D |
Nguyen Hue, whose real name is Ho Thom, was born in 1753. His father is Ho Phi Phuc, his mother is Nguyen Thi Dong, and his brothers are Nguyen Nhac and Nguyen Lu.
His ancestor moved from Hung Nguyen District of today’s province of Nghe An to Quy Nhon District which is now Tay Son District, Binh Dinh Province in mid-17th century.
Scholar Hien, who was opposed to Truong Phuc Loan, moved to live in Quy Nhon and started teaching here. Seeing Ho Thom and his two brothers had talent and iron wills, he whole-heartedly taught them everything he knew.
When raising the army for the resistance war, three brothers took Nguyen as their last name for the land in the South belonged to the Nguyen Lords.
When being 18, Nguyen Hue and his brothers set up fortifications in the forest and recruited soldiers, proclaiming “Overthrowing Truong Phuc Loan, supporting Phuc Duong (Lord Nguyen Phuc Khoat’s grandson deposed by Phuc Loan)”. His slogan “Take from the rich, give to the poor” won the people’s hearts.
In the autumn of 1773, Tay Son insurgent army occupied Quang Ngai. They also dominated from southern Binh Dinh to Binh Thuan. In 1778, Nguyen Nhac was on the throne, entitling Thai Duc and Nguyen Hue became a general with the title Long Nhuong.
In 1782, the navy led by Nguyen Hue defeated Nguyen Anh’s navy which was supported by Portugal’s warships.
After Gia Dinh had fallen under the control of Tay Son army in late 1782, Nguyen Anh asked King of Siam for help. Also, he came into contact with the Bishop of Adran, Pigneau de Beahaine, and deputed him, along with Prince Canh, to travel to France to seek assistance from the French government.
The Siamese army invaded the western of south Vietnam in late July, 1784. When they went to Rach Gam Xoai Mut, Nguyen Hue led the army to defeat the invaders on Jan. 19, 1795. Nguyen Anh then had to manage to escape to Siam.
The victory marked the fall of the Nguyen conquest in the south. The Tay Son insurgent army controlled the whole southern provinces.
In April, 1786, Nguyen Hue planned to liberate Thuan Hoa and Thang Long. After Thuan Hoa, up to the Gianh River, had fallen into the hands of the Tay Son, Nguyen Hue led his army to march into Thang Long on July 21, 1786.
It took only 10 days for Hue to dominate Vi Hoang, Pho Hien, and Thang Long. A couple of days later, Hue and numerous officers arrived at the palace to congratulate the Le King, Le Hien Tong, who had been restored to real power.
In August 1, 1786, the Emperor gave him the title Duke of Uy. Hue then got married the Emperor’s daughter, Princess Ngoc Han.
After the Tay Son had come back to the south, Le Chieu Thong succeeded his father to the throne. Thong was however manipulated by the remnants of the Trinh family. He had to be dependent on Nguyen Huu Chinh to destroy the Trinh troops.
Chinh was then against the Tay Son, taking power for himself in the north. Nguyen Hue assigned Ngo Van So and Vu Van Nham to take the army to Thanh Long to kill Chinh; meanwhile, Le Chieu Thong fled to China.
However, Vu Van Nham also exceeded his authority after Nguyen Hue had moved back the south. Hue had to move north again to kill Nham and place Ngo Van So in charge in his place.
At that time, Le Chieu Thong appealed to the Chinese Qing Emperor for assistance and the Chinese army led by Sun Shi Yi crossed into Vietnam and occupied Thang Long in December 17, 1788.
In December 22, 1788, Nguyen Hue was enthroned on Ngu Binh Mountain, taking the title Quang Trung and prepared to fight against the Chinese invader.
He planned a spoiling attack and ordered his soldiers to celebrate Tet early, promising that they would be able to properly celebrate later in Thang Long.
“The Tay Son forces then timed their attack on Thang Long on midnight of the 5th day of the Tet (lunar New Year) celebration, catching the Chinese totally by surprise and the Chinese forces were easily destroyed as they fled in complete disarray”.
In the afternoon of the fifth day of the New Year, the Emperor Quang Trung's troops entered Thang Long.
Nguyen Hue never failed during 20 year of fighting. He is considered as a military genius and clear-sighted Emperor in Vietnamese history in the early 18th century.
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