Trần Hưng Đạo

TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n HÃÂ°ng ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡o (; 1228Ã¢ÂÂ1300), real name TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n QuÃ¡Â»Âc TuÃ¡ÂºÂ¥n (Ã©ÂÂ³Ã¥ÂÂÃ¥Â³Â»), also known as Grand Prince HÃÂ°ng ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡o (HÃÂ°ng ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡o ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i VÃÂ°ÃÂ¡ng Ã¢ÂÂ Ã¨ÂÂÃ©ÂÂÃ¥Â¤Â§Ã§ÂÂ), was a Vietnamese royal prince, statesman and military commander of ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i ViÃ¡Â»Ât military forces during the TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n dynasty. After his death, he was considered a saint and deified by the people and named ÃÂÃ¡Â»Â©c ThÃÂ¡nh TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n (Ã¥Â¾Â·Ã¨ÂÂÃ©ÂÂ³) or CÃ¡Â»Âu ThiÃÂªn VÃÂ© ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¿ (Ã¤Â¹ÂÃ¥Â¤Â©Ã¦ÂÂ¦Ã¥Â¸Â). HÃÂ°ng ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡o commanded the Vietnamese armies that repelled two out of three major Mongol invasions in the late 13th century. His multiple victories over the Yuan dynasty under Kublai Khan are considered among the greatest military feats in Vietnamese history.

Origins

TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n HÃÂ°ng ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡o was born as Prince TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n QuÃ¡Â»Âc TuÃ¡ÂºÂ¥n ( ) in 1228, as a son of Prince TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n LiÃ¡Â»Âu, the elder brother of the new child emperor, TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n ThÃÂ¡i TÃÂ´ng, after the TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n dynasty replaced the LÃÂ½ family in 1225 AD. Later, TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n LiÃ¡Â»ÂuÃ¢ÂÂthe Empress LÃÂ½ ChiÃÂªu HoÃÂ ng's brother-in-law at the timeÃ¢ÂÂwas forced to defer his own wife (Princess ThuÃ¡ÂºÂn ThiÃÂªn) to his younger brother Emperor ThÃÂ¡i TÃÂ´ng under pressure from Imperial Regent TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n ThÃ¡Â»Â§ ÃÂÃ¡Â»Â to solidify TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n clan's dynastic stability. The brothers TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n LiÃ¡Â»Âu and Emperor TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n ThÃÂ¡i TÃÂ´ng harboured grudges against their uncle TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n ThÃ¡Â»Â§ ÃÂÃ¡Â»Â for the forced marital arrangement.

First Mongol invasion

During the first Mongol invasion of Vietnam in 1258, TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n HÃÂ°ng ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡o served as an officer commanding troops on the frontier.

Second Mongol invasion

In 1278, TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n ThÃÂ¡i TÃÂ´ng died. emperor TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n ThÃÂ¡nh TÃÂ´ng retired and made crown prince TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n KhÃÂ¢m (known as TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n NhÃÂ¢n TÃÂ´ng, and to the Mongol as TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n NhÃ¡ÂºÂt TÃÂ´n) his successor. Kublai sent a mission led by Chai Chun to ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i ViÃ¡Â»Ât, and once again urged the new monarch to come to China in person, but the emperor refused. The Yuan then refused to recognize him as king, and tried to place a Vietnamese defector as king of ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i ViÃ¡Â»Ât. Frustrated with the failed diplomatic missions, many Yuan officials urged Kublai to send a punitive expedition to ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i ViÃ¡Â»Ât. In 1283, Khublai Khan sent Ariq Qaya to ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i ViÃ¡Â»Ât with an imperial request for ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i ViÃ¡Â»Ât to help attack Champa through Vietnamese territory, and demands for provisions and other support for the Yuan army, but the king refused.

In January 1285, Prince Toghan led the Mongol invasion of ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i ViÃ¡Â»Ât. TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n HÃÂ°ng ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡o was the general of the combined ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i ViÃ¡Â»Ât land and naval forces, which was routed by the main Mongol land forces and retreated back to the capital ThÃÂng Long. After hearing about the successive defeats, emperor TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n NhÃÂ¢n TÃÂ´ng travelled by small boat to meet TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n HÃÂ°ng ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡o in QuÃ¡ÂºÂ£ng Ninh and ask him if ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i ViÃ¡Â»Ât should surrender. TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n HÃÂ°ng ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡o resisted and asked for the aid of the private armies of the TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n princes. In early 1285, TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n envoys offered peace terms to the Mongols. Toghan and his deputy Omar Batur refused, engaged TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n HÃÂ°ng ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡o's forces in battle on the banks of the Red River, and successfully captured ThÃÂng Long. TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n HÃÂ°ng ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡o escorted the TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n royalty to their palace at in Nam ÃÂÃ¡Â»Ânh.

The Mongol forces under Sodu, deputy to Toghan, continued to push further south and installed defected prince TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n ÃÂch TÃ¡ÂºÂ¯c as the new King of Annam. The TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n forces had their forces surrounded by the Yuan army while their emperors fled along the coast to Thanh HÃÂ³a. As fighting in Champa intensified, Toghan ordered Sodu to return to Champa with the warm weather and disease in ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i ViÃ¡Â»Ât given as the official reason. During this retreat, TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n HÃÂ°ng ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡o's forces inflicted major victories over on the Red River, resulting in the death of Sodu and the retreat of Omar Batur to China. ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i ViÃ¡Â»Ât forces retook ThÃÂng Long and Toghan returned to China with great losses.

Third Mongol invasion

In 1287, Kublai Khan this time sent one of his favorite sons, Prince Toghan to lead another invasion campaign into ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i ViÃ¡Â»Ât with a determination to occupy and redeem the previous defeat. The Yuan Mongol and Chinese forces formed an even larger infantry, cavalry and naval fleet with the total strength estimated at 120,000 troops according to the Mongols and 500,000 men according to the Vietnamese.

During the first stage of the invasion, the Mongols quickly defeated most of the ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i ViÃ¡Â»Ât troops that were stationed along the border. Prince Toghan's naval fleet devastated most of the naval force of General TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n KhÃÂ¡nh DÃÂ° in VÃÂ¢n ÃÂÃ¡Â»Ân. Simultaneously, Prince Ariq-Qaya led his massive cavalry and captured PhÃÂº LÃÂ°ÃÂ¡ng and ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i Than garrisons, two strategic military posts bordering ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i ViÃ¡Â»Ât and China. The cavalry later rendezvous with Prince Toghan's navy in VÃÂ¢n ÃÂÃ¡Â»Ân. In response to the battle skirmish defeats at the hands of the Mongol forces, the Emperor Emeritus TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n ThÃÂ¡nh TÃÂ´ng summoned General TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n KhÃÂ¡nh DÃÂ° to be court-martialed for military failures, but the general managed to delay reporting to the court and was able to regroup his forces in VÃÂ¢n ÃÂÃ¡Â»Ân. The cavalry and fleet of Prince Toghan continued to advance into the imperial capital ThÃÂng Long. Meanwhile, the trailing supply fleet of Prince Toghan, arriving at VÃÂ¢n ÃÂÃ¡Â»Ân a few days after General TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n KhÃÂ¡nh DÃÂ°'s had already occupied this strategic garrison, the Mongol supply fleet was ambushed and captured by General TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n KhÃÂ¡nh DÃÂ°'s forces. KhÃÂ¡nh DÃÂ° was then pardoned by Emperor Emeritus. The Mongol main occupying army quickly realized their support and supply fleet has been cut off.

The capture of the Mongol supply fleet at VÃÂ¢n ÃÂÃ¡Â»Ân along with the concurring news that General TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n HÃÂ°ng ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡o had recaptured ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i Than garrison in the north sent the fast advancing Mongol forces into chaos. The ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i ViÃ¡Â»Ât forces unleashed guerrilla warfare on the weakened Mongol forces causing heavy casualties and destructions to the Yuan forces. However, the Mongols continued advancing into ThÃÂng Long due to their massive cavalry strength, but by this time, the emperor decided to vacate ThÃÂng Long to flee and he ordered the capital to be burned down so the Mongols wouldn't collect any spoils of war. The subsequent battle skirmishes between the Mongols and ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i ViÃ¡Â»Ât had mixed results: the Mongols won and captured YÃÂªn HÃÂ°ng and Long HÃÂ°ng provinces, but lost in the naval battles at ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i BÃÂ ng. Eventually, Prince Toghan decided to withdraw his naval fleet and consolidate his command on land battles where he felt the Mongol's superior cavalry would defeat the ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i ViÃ¡Â»Ât infantry and cavalry forces. Toghan led the cavalry through NÃ¡Â»Âi BÃÂ ng while his naval fleet commander, Omar, directly launched the naval force along the BÃ¡ÂºÂ¡ch ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ±ng River simultaneously.

The Battle of BÃ¡ÂºÂ¡ch ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ±ng River

The Mongol naval fleet was unaware of the river's terrain. Days before this expedition, the Prince of HÃÂ°ng ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡o predicted the Mongol's naval route and quickly deployed heavy unconventional traps of steel-tipped wooden stakes unseen during high tides along the BÃ¡ÂºÂ¡ch ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ±ng River bed. When Omar ordered the Mongol fleet to retreat from the river, the Viet deployed smaller and more maneuverable vessels into agitating and luring the Mongol vessels into the riverside where the booby traps were waiting while it was still high tide. As the river tide on BÃ¡ÂºÂ¡ch ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ±ng River receded, the Mongol vessels were stuck and sunk by the embedded steel-tipped stakes. Under the presence of the Emperor Emeritus ThÃÂ¡nh TÃÂ´ng and Emperor NhÃÂ¢n TÃÂ´ng, the Viet forces led by the Prince of HÃÂ°ng ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡o burned down an estimated 400 large Mongol vessels and captured the remaining naval crew along the river. The entire Mongol fleet was destroyed and the Mongol fleet admiral Omar was captured.

The cavalry force of Prince Toghan was more fortunate. They were ambushed by General PhÃ¡ÂºÂ¡m NgÃÂ© LÃÂ£o along the road through NÃ¡Â»Âi BÃÂ ng, but his remaining force managed to escape back to China by dividing their forces into smaller retreating groups but most were captured or killed in skirmishes on the way back to the border frontier, resulting in losing half the remaining army.

Death

In 1300 AD, he fell ill and died of natural causes at the age of 73. His body was cremated and his ashes were dispersed under his favorite oak tree he planted in his royal family estate near ThÃÂng Long in accordance to his will. The Viet intended to bury him in a lavish royal mausoleum and official ceremony upon his death, but he declined in favour of a simplistic private ceremony. For his military brilliance in defending ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i ViÃ¡Â»Ât during his lifetime, the Emperor posthumously bestowed TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n HÃÂ°ng ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡o the title of HÃÂ°ng ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡o ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i VÃÂ°ÃÂ¡ng (Grand Prince HÃÂ°ng ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡o).

Family

Father: Prince YÃÂªn Sinh
Mother: Lady ThiÃ¡Â»Ân ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡o
Consort: Princess ThiÃÂªn ThÃÂ nh
Issues:

, later Prince HÃÂ°ng VÃÂ©
, later Prince HÃÂ°ng TrÃÂ
TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n QuÃ¡Â»Âc TÃ¡ÂºÂ£ng, later Prince HÃÂ°ng NhÃÂ°Ã¡Â»Â£ng, father of Empress Consort BÃ¡ÂºÂ£o TÃ¡Â»Â« of Emperor TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n Anh TÃÂ´ng
, later Prince HÃÂ°ng HiÃ¡ÂºÂ¿u
TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n ThÃ¡Â»Â Trinh, later Empress Consort KhÃÂ¢m TÃ¡Â»Â« BÃ¡ÂºÂ£o ThÃÂ¡nh of Emperor TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n NhÃÂ¢n TÃÂ´ng
Empress TuyÃÂªn TÃ¡Â»Â«
Princess Anh NguyÃÂªn, later wife of General PhÃ¡ÂºÂ¡m NgÃÂ© LÃÂ£o

Legacy

Placenames

The majority of cities and towns in Vietnam have central streets, wards and schools named after him.

Hanoi's Tran Hung Dao street (previously Boulevard Gambetta during the French Indochina time) is a major road in the south of Hoan Kiem District. It links the city's First Ring Road (originally Route Circulaire) to the main hall of the Central Station. Several embassies and government ministries are located on this street.
Hai Phong's Tran Hung Dao road runs along the central park square and links the Haiphong Opera House and the CÃ¡ÂºÂ¥m River.
Da Nang's Tran Hung Dao road is a waterfront boulevard on the eastern side of the HÃÂ n River.
Ho Chi Minh City's Tran Hung Dao road is a thoroughfare of its Chinatown. It also hosts the headquarters of the city police and fire departments. A statue in honor of him is placed at a major square at city downtown.
A statue in Westminster, CA is dedicated to him, with the road Bolsa Avenue given an alternative name "ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i LÃ¡Â»Â TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n HÃÂ°ng ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡o", translating to "TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n HÃÂ°ng ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡o Boulevard".

Shrines

He is revered by the Vietnamese people as a national hero. Several shrines are dedicated to him, and even religious belief and mediumship includes belief in him as a god, ÃÂÃ¡Â»Â©c ThÃÂ¡nh TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n (TÃÂn ngÃÂ°Ã¡Â»Â¡ng ÃÂÃ¡Â»Â©c ThÃÂ¡nh TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n).

Other

The Tran Hung Dao a commissioned in 2018 for the Vietnam People's Navy is named after him.

References

Bibliography

Taylor, K. W. (2013). A History of the Vietnamese (illustrated ed.). Cambridge University Press. . Retrieved 7 August 2013.
Hall, Kenneth R., ed. (2008). Secondary Cities and Urban Networking in the Indian Ocean Realm, C. 1400Ã¢ÂÂ1800. Volume 1 of Comparative urban studies. Lexington Books. . Retrieved 7 August 2013.

External links

Tran Hung Dao (1213Ã¢ÂÂ1300)
Statue of TrÃ¡ÂºÂ§n HÃÂ°ng ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡o, Vietnamese Hero, 19thÃ¢ÂÂ20th. C.
Call of Soldiers Translated and adapted by George F. Schultz