Lý Nhân Tông

LÃÂ½ NhÃÂ¢n TÃÂ´ng (22 February 1066 Ã¢ÂÂ 15 January 1128), personal name LÃÂ½ CÃÂ n ÃÂÃ¡Â»Â©c, temple name NhÃÂ¢n TÃÂ´ng was the fourth emperor of the LÃÂ½ dynasty, ruling the empire of ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i ViÃ¡Â»Ât from 1072 until his death in 1128. Succeeding his father LÃÂ½ ThÃÂ¡nh TÃÂ´ng at the age of 7, during his early reign LÃÂ½ NhÃÂ¢n TÃÂ´ng ruled with the assistance of his mother Ã¡Â»Â¶ Lan and the chancellor LÃÂ½ ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡o ThÃÂ nh who were both considered competent regents and were able to help the emperor maintain the country's prosperity. Appreciated as a great emperor of the LÃÂ½ dynasty, LÃÂ½ NhÃÂ¢n TÃÂ´ng made important contributions to the development of ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i ViÃ¡Â»Ât, especially for establishing Confucianism as the official philosophy of the state, creating Confucian-based imperial exams, and creating schools based on the Confucian system of learning. During his 56-year reign, which was the longest reign for any Vietnamese monarch, LÃÂ½ NhÃÂ¢n TÃÂ´ng also experienced several wars against ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i ViÃ¡Â»Ât's neighbours, the Song dynasty and the kingdom of Champa in which the SinoÃ¢ÂÂVietnamese War (1075–1076) was the fiercest. After his death, the royal family lost their control over the court to the chancellors and the bureaucracies.

Early life

LÃÂ½ CÃÂ n ÃÂÃ¡Â»Â©c (Ã¦ÂÂÃ¤Â¹Â¾Ã¥Â¾Â·) was born in the first month of the lunar calendar in 1066 as the first son of the emperor LÃÂ½ ThÃÂ¡nh TÃÂ´ng and his concubine Ã¡Â»Â¶ Lan. It was said that LÃÂ½ ThÃÂ¡nh TÃÂ´ng was unable to have his own son up to the age of 40, so he paid a visit to Buddhist pagodas all over the country to pray for a child. Therefore, right after the birth, LÃÂ½ CÃÂ n ÃÂÃ¡Â»Â©c was entitled crown prince of the LÃÂ½ dynasty while Lady Ã¡Â»Â¶ Lan was granted the title Imperial Concubine. To celebrate the event that lifted the emperor's constraint of dying without issue, LÃÂ½ ThÃÂ¡nh TÃÂ´ng changed his era name from ChÃÂ°ÃÂ¡ng ThÃÂ¡nh Gia KhÃÂ¡nh () to Long ChÃÂ°ÃÂ¡ng ThiÃÂªn TÃ¡Â»Â± () and gave out a general amnesty for prisoners.

In the first month of the lunar calendar in 1072, his father, the emperor ThÃÂ¡nh TÃÂ´ng died and thus the crown prince LÃÂ½ CÃÂ n ÃÂÃ¡Â»Â©c succeed the throne at the age of 7. The emperor changed the era name to ThÃÂ¡i Ninh (1072–1076), during his reign LÃÂ½ NhÃÂ¢n TÃÂ´ng had seven more era names which are Anh VÃÂ© ChiÃÂªu ThÃ¡ÂºÂ¯ng (1076–1084), QuÃ¡ÂºÂ£ng HÃ¡Â»Â±u (1085–1092), HÃ¡Â»Âi Phong (1092–1100), Long PhÃÂ¹ (1101–1109), HÃ¡Â»Âi TÃÂ°Ã¡Â»Âng ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i KhÃÂ¡nh (1110–1119), ThiÃÂªn PhÃÂ¹ DuÃ¡Â»Â VÃÂ© (1120–1126) and ThiÃÂªn PhÃÂ¹ KhÃÂ¡nh ThÃ¡Â»Â (1127–1127).

As emperor

Early years

Initially, the question of who was to be regent for the young emperor was awarded to the chancellor (Vietnamese: thÃÂ¡i sÃÂ°) LÃÂ½ ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡o ThÃÂ nh and the Empress Mother ThÃÂ°Ã¡Â»Â£ng DÃÂ°ÃÂ¡ng, but she was soon dismissed by LÃÂ½ NhÃÂ¢n TÃÂ´ng after the influence from the emperor's natural mother Ã¡Â»Â¶ Lan. Later the Empress Mother ThÃÂ°Ã¡Â»Â£ng DÃÂ°ÃÂ¡ng and her 76 imperial maids were imprisoned in the ThÃÂ°Ã¡Â»Â£ng DÃÂ°ÃÂ¡ng palace; they ultimately were killed and buried in the tomb of LÃÂª ThÃÂ¡nh TÃÂ´ng.

After the Empress Mother's assassination, Ã¡Â»Â¶ Lan was entitled Empress Mother Linh NhÃÂ¢n and replaced the Empress Mother ThÃÂ°Ã¡Â»Â£ng DÃÂ°ÃÂ¡ng in the position of regent for the emperor. Concerning the death of the previous empress mother, the historian NgÃÂ´ SÃÂ© LiÃÂªn commented that "although having a devotion to Buddhism, Ã¡Â»Â¶ Lan was too ruthless in killing the innocent empress mother, and also remarked that the chancellor LÃÂ½ ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡o ThÃÂ nh was transferred to a position in the southern border likely because he advised against Ã¡Â»Â¶ Lan's murder of ThÃÂ°Ã¡Â»Â£ng DÃÂ°ÃÂ¡ng.

Once Ã¡Â»Â¶ Lan became regent on behalf of LÃÂ½ ThÃÂ¡nh TÃÂ´ng during his military campaign in Champa, she continued to prove her ability in successfully assisting the emperor in ruling the country, together with the chancellor LÃÂ½ ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡o ThÃÂ nh and the commander-in-chief LÃÂ½ ThÃÂ°Ã¡Â»Âng KiÃ¡Â»Ât. In the second month of 1117, following Ã¡Â»Â¶ Lan's advice, LÃÂ½ NhÃÂ¢n TÃÂ´ng issued an edict prohibiting people from killing buffaloes, reasoning that since buffalo were essential for farming, the death of buffalo would seriously affect many people who depended on the crops that were tilled by the now-dead buffalo; therefore, a criminal accused of killing buffalo and the occasional accomplice had to be heavily punished. The chancellor LÃÂ½ ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡o ThÃÂ nh was also famous for his competence and righteousness that helped the young emperor NhÃÂ¢n TÃÂ´ng to maintain the prosperity of the country and the strength of the LÃÂ½ army.

LÃÂ½ NhÃÂ¢n TÃÂ´ng's reign is highly applauded, above all in national education. Following the emperor's order, the first imperial examination of the Vietnamese monarch based on Confucian learning was organized in the second month in 1072 with LÃÂª VÃÂn ThÃ¡Â»Ânh becoming the first first-rank laureate in the history of imperial examinations in Vietnam. Afterwards LÃÂª VÃÂn ThÃ¡Â»Ânh was promoted to the position of chancellor in 1086. However the new Chancellor soon lost his position in 1096 after a controversial case of treason, was stripped of all titles, and banished. Besides LÃÂª VÃÂn ThÃ¡Â»Ânh, MÃ¡ÂºÂ¡c HiÃ¡Â»Ân TÃÂch was also a capable official who found his way to the royal court from the Confucian learning that was continuously being developed by the emperor, especially after his decree establishing the first school for Confucian students in ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i ViÃ¡Â»Ât, QuÃ¡Â»Âc tÃ¡Â»Â giÃÂ¡m (Ã¥ÂÂÃ¥ÂÂÃ§ÂÂ£, National Academy), in 1076. In 1089 LÃÂ½ NhÃÂ¢n TÃÂ´ng made another important decision when he reformed the ranking of officials in the royal court and in the country. To protect the capital ThÃÂng Long against floods, LÃÂ½ NhÃÂ¢n TÃÂ´ng initiated the construction of the CÃ¡Â»Â XÃÂ¡ Dike, one of the first dike systems in ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i ViÃ¡Â»Ât.

Conflicts with neighbours

Relations between the kingdom of ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i ViÃ¡Â»Ât and the Song Empire began to deteriorate when the Song chancellor Wang Anshi brought out his reforms in 1069. In the late 1060s, Wang Anshi's New Policies and the prevalent sentiment of irredentism in Shenzong's court led to new ways of governing. Wang's policies saw each part of society as part of a greater whole, and thus the state must take a more holistic and all-encompassing part in governance. One of Wang's reforms, the Balanced Delivery Law, called on fiscal intendants in six of the southern circuits to disregard quotas on tribute items and to buy and sell items according to prices on the open market. Loyal supporters were sought out to assist in the extraction of these resources. LÃÂ½ ThÃÂ°Ã¡Â»Âng KiÃ¡Â»Ât viewed the changing economic relationship between the Song and its frontier people as an abandonment of the traditional tribute paradigm. Wang called for military action from Song imperial troops. King LÃÂ½ NhÃÂ¢n TÃÂ´ng decided to stay one step ahead by ordering the generals LÃÂ½ ThÃÂ°Ã¡Â»Âng KiÃ¡Â»Ât and TÃÂ´n ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ£n to launch a military campaign under the pretext of "rescuing Chinese people from the cruel reforms." In 1075, the Vietnamese army led by LÃÂ½ ThÃÂ°Ã¡Â»Âng KiÃ¡Â»Ât attacked the Lian and Qin provinces of Song China while another army led by TÃÂ´n ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ£n besieged the citadel of Yongzhou. Although LÃÂ½ ThÃÂ°Ã¡Â»Âng KiÃ¡Â»Ât succeeded in defeating the Song reinforcements intended for Yongzhou, the Song army and people in the city were still able to stand the besiegement for 40 days and inflicted high casualties on the Vietnamese forces. As a result, when the Vietnamese army finally ended the siege of Yongzhou, the Vietnamese generals decided to get revenge by killing more than 58,000 people in the city. Several sources estimate that the total number of people killed by Viet troops during this campaign totaled 100,000. In response to the sudden attack, the Song emperor began an invasion of ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i ViÃ¡Â»Ât in the twelfth month of 1076 with the support of the Song's vassal kingdoms, Champa and the Khmer. After an initial, rapid advance, the Song forces were stopped by the Vietnamese defense along the NhÃÂ° NguyÃ¡Â»Ât River led by LÃÂ½ ThÃÂ°Ã¡Â»Âng KiÃ¡Â»Ât. In avoiding this strong defence system, the commander of the Song army decided to change the army's direction towards the nearby region of PhÃÂº LÃÂ°ÃÂ¡ng, where they defeated LÃÂ½ ThÃÂ°Ã¡Â»Âng KiÃ¡Â»Ât's forces in a major battle. As the Song forces took the offensive, while ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i ViÃ¡Â»Ât had to strenuously hold on to their costly defensive front, LÃÂ½ ThÃÂ°Ã¡Â»Âng KiÃ¡Â»Ât tried to boost the morale of his soldiers by a poem named Nam quÃ¡Â»Âc sÃÂ¡n hÃÂ. Afterwards this poem was considered the first Declarations of independence of Vietnam. Being aware of the unfavourable situation of the Viet army, LÃÂ½ NhÃÂ¢n TÃÂ´ng finally decided to propose a cease-fire which was accepted by the Song dynasty since they had lost 400,000 men to battles and the harsh weather of ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i ViÃ¡Â»Ât. The Song army retreated after occupying a vast region near the border between the two countries; however, this region was gradually returned to the ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i ViÃ¡Â»Ât after several diplomatic efforts made by the Vietnamese envoys ÃÂÃÂ o TÃÂ´n NguyÃÂªn and LÃÂª VÃÂn ThÃ¡Â»Ânh.

In the south, hostilities soon flared between ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i ViÃ¡Â»Ât and Champa. Appointed for the position of commander-in-chief of the Vietnamese army by LÃÂ½ NhÃÂ¢n TÃÂ´ng, LÃÂ½ ThÃÂ°Ã¡Â»Âng KiÃ¡Â»Ât often personally commanded operations in the southern border where he defeated the army of Champa several times with the last victory in 1104, only one year before his death in 1105. The success of LÃÂ½ ThÃÂ°Ã¡Â»Âng KiÃ¡Â»Ât during his military campaigns against the kingdom of Champa helped LÃÂ½ NhÃÂ¢n TÃÂ´ng to stabilize the southern region for the later years of his reign.

Family

Although LÃÂ½ NhÃÂ¢n TÃÂ´ng had three empresses, Lan Anh, KhÃÂ¢m ThiÃÂªn and ChÃ¡ÂºÂ¥n BÃ¡ÂºÂ£o, he was unable to have his own son; thus, the emperor decided to adopt sons of the Marquises SÃÂ¹ng HiÃ¡Â»Ân, ThÃÂ nh KhÃÂ¡nh, ThÃÂ nh QuÃ¡ÂºÂ£ng, ThÃÂ nh ChiÃÂªu, ThÃÂ nh HÃÂ°ng, so that the emperor could choose a capable successor to maintain the throne for the LÃÂ½ dynasty. Finally, being an intelligent and vivacious boy, Marquis SÃÂ¹ng HiÃ¡Â»Ân's son LÃÂ½ DÃÂ°ÃÂ¡ng HoÃÂ¡n was made the crown prince at the age of 2 in 1117. In December 1127 after a 56-year reign, LÃÂ½ NhÃÂ¢n TÃÂ´ng died at VÃÂ©nh Quang Palace at the age of 61 and was succeeded by LÃÂ½ DÃÂ°ÃÂ¡ng HoÃÂ¡n, now the emperor LÃÂ½ ThÃ¡ÂºÂ§n TÃÂ´ng. In his last will, LÃÂ½ NhÃÂ¢n TÃÂ´ng still expressed his concern for the country and only wished for a prosperous nation (bÃ¡Â»Ân bÃ¡Â»Â yÃÂªn vui) and a stable frontier (biÃÂªn thuÃ¡Â»Â³ ÃÂt loÃ¡ÂºÂ¡n).

Parents
LÃÂ½ NhÃ¡ÂºÂt TÃÂ´n (1023 Ã¢ÂÂ 1072)
Lady Ã¡Â»Â¶ Lan (Ã¥ÂÂÃ¨ÂÂ, 1044 Ã¢ÂÂ 1117)
Wives
Empress Lan Anh (Ã¨ÂÂÃ¨ÂÂ±Ã§ÂÂÃ¥ÂÂ)
Empress ThÃÂ¡nh CÃ¡Â»Â±c (Ã¨ÂÂÃ¦Â¥ÂµÃ§ÂÂÃ¥ÂÂ ? Ã¢ÂÂ 1095)
Empress ChiÃÂªu ThÃÂ¡nh (Ã¦ÂÂÃ¨ÂÂÃ§ÂÂÃ¥ÂÂ ? Ã¢ÂÂ 1108).
Children (Adoptives)
LÃÂ½ DÃÂ°ÃÂ¡ng HoÃÂ¡n (1116 Ã¢ÂÂ 1138), son of NhÃÂ¢n TÃÂ´ng brother's SÃÂ¹ng HiÃ¡Â»Ân hÃ¡ÂºÂ§u
LÃÂ½ DÃÂ°ÃÂ¡ng CÃÂ´n (Ã¦ÂÂÃ©ÂÂ½Ã§ÂÂ), went exiled in Goryeo Korea in 1127, after being captive in Kaifeng, Song China by the Jurchen Jin dynasty's army

Legacy

The 55-year rule of LÃÂ½ NhÃÂ¢n TÃÂ´ng is the longest reign in the history of Vietnamese monarchs. For his contributions, LÃÂ½ NhÃÂ¢n TÃÂ´ng is still considered a great emperor of the LÃÂ½ dynasty, credited with solidifying the LÃÂ½ dynasty's rule in Vietnam and stabilizing the country for future LÃÂ½ emperors. During his 55 years of rule, LÃÂ½ NhÃÂ¢n TÃÂ´ng not only cultivated the agriculture and military strength of ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i ViÃ¡Â»Ât, but also established a national education for Confucian learning with the establishment of the first imperial examinations and the first imperial school for Confucian learning in ThÃÂng Long which is still preserved today. Besides these accomplishments, LÃÂ½ NhÃÂ¢n TÃÂ´ng is well known for his talent in writing poetry with three poems that still remain, TÃÂ¡n GiÃÂ¡c HÃ¡ÂºÂ£i thiÃ¡Â»Ân sÃÂ°, ThÃÂ´ng HuyÃ¡Â»Ân ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡o nhÃÂ¢n, Truy tÃÂ¡n VÃ¡ÂºÂ¡n HÃ¡ÂºÂ¡nh thiÃ¡Â»Ân sÃÂ° and LÃÂ¢m chung di chiÃ¡ÂºÂ¿u. To commemorate the successful reign of LÃÂ½ NhÃÂ¢n TÃÂ´ng, a stele was erected in 1121 with the content composed by the minister of justice NguyÃ¡Â»Ân CÃÂ´ng BÃ¡ÂºÂt. Called SÃÂ¹ng ThiÃ¡Â»Ân DiÃÂªn Linh Stele, this work still stands today and is considered one of the most important steles in the History of Vietnam.