Trịnh Tùng

TrÃ¡Â»Ânh TÃÂ¹ng (19 December 1550 Ã¢ÂÂ 17 July 1623), also known as TrÃ¡Â»Ânh TÃÂ²ng and later given the title BÃÂ¬nh An VÃÂ°ÃÂ¡ng (Ã¥Â¹Â³Ã¥Â®ÂÃ§ÂÂ), was the de facto ruler of ÃÂÃ¡ÂºÂ¡i ViÃ¡Â»Ât from 1572 to 1623. TrÃ¡Â»Ânh TÃÂ¹ng is the first official TrÃ¡Â»Ânh lord, although his fatherÃ¢ÂÂTrÃ¡Â»Ânh KiÃ¡Â»ÂmÃ¢ÂÂwas de facto ruler of Dai Viet before him, TrÃ¡Â»Ânh KiÃ¡Â»Âm never claimed himself as TrÃ¡Â»Ânh lord. Therefore, TrÃ¡Â»Ânh KiÃ¡Â»Âm is not considered as the first TrÃ¡Â»Ânh lord.

TrÃ¡Â»Ânh TÃÂ¹ng was reputed to be from the first generation of the TrÃ¡Â»Ânh lords who ruled Vietnam from 1545 to 1789; however, since he was so young when the family first came to power, TrÃ¡Â»Ânh TÃÂ¹ng theoretically belonged to the second generation. The TrÃ¡Â»Ânh family wielded the military power of the country and took turns as regents to the figurehead LÃÂª kings who nominally reigned over the country. TrÃ¡Â»Ânh KiÃ¡Â»Âm, TÃÂ¹ng's father, was given the title of 'Duke' during his life and after his death was conferred with the title of ThÃÂ¡i VÃÂ°ÃÂ¡ng, which means "Great Prince". From the time of TrÃ¡Â»Ânh TÃÂ¹ng onwards, members of the TrÃ¡Â»Ânh family were given the title of Prince while in power. Also known with the title of Lord, they had the right to choose the crown prince and had power over political and military matters. During his rule, the war with the MÃ¡ÂºÂ¡c dynasty was successfully completed.

History

TrÃ¡Â»Ânh TÃÂ¹ng was the second son of TrÃ¡Â»Ânh KiÃ¡Â»Âm. In 1572, upon the death of his father, TrÃ¡Â»Ânh TÃÂ¹ng's elder brother, TrÃ¡Â»Ânh CÃ¡Â»Âi, took command. Immediately challenged by TrÃ¡Â»Ânh TÃÂ¹ng, TrÃ¡Â»Ânh CÃ¡Â»Âi lost a battle to the MÃ¡ÂºÂ¡c, and thus TrÃ¡Â»Ânh TÃÂ¹ng took control of the situation. He proved to be a very capable leader and in 1571, the LÃÂª Loyalist Army captured the Eastern capital ThÃÂng Long from emperor MÃ¡ÂºÂ¡c MÃ¡ÂºÂu HÃ¡Â»Â£p. However, a counteroffensive the next year drove them out. In the midst of this reversal, the nominal LÃÂª emperor, LÃÂª Anh TÃÂ´ng, fled to NghÃ¡Â»Â An Province. TrÃ¡Â»Ânh TÃÂ¹ng appointed a new emperor (LÃÂª ThÃ¡ÂºÂ¿ TÃÂ´ng), and had the previous king assassinated. The war against the MÃ¡ÂºÂ¡c continued for the next twenty years until 1592, when the Eastern Capital (Dong kinh) was reconquered. MÃ¡ÂºÂ¡c MÃ¡ÂºÂu HÃ¡Â»Â£p was captured during the retreat and subsequently executed.

Further military actions took place against the army of the MÃ¡ÂºÂ¡c in the years 1593 and 1594. The Royal (TrÃ¡Â»Ânh) army was lent assistance in this battle by Tung's uncle NguyÃ¡Â»Ân army.

In formal recognition for his defeat of the MÃ¡ÂºÂ¡c, TrÃ¡Â»Ânh TÃÂ¹ng was given the title Pacifying Prince (BÃÂ¬nh An VÃÂ°ÃÂ¡ng) in 1599.

In 1619, Emperor LÃÂª Kinh TÃÂ´ng, and TÃÂ¹ng's own son, TrÃ¡Â»Ânh XuÃÂ¢n schemed against TrÃ¡Â»Ânh TÃÂ¹ng so the emperor could reclaim actual Imperial power but the plot was discovered, the emperor was forced to garrotte himself and a new emperor was put in his place (LÃÂª ThÃ¡ÂºÂ§n TÃÂ´ng). This led NguyÃ¡Â»Ân PhÃÂºc NguyÃÂªn to a formal ending of his relations with the court which, after seven more years, led to the TrÃ¡Â»ÂnhÃ¢ÂÂNguyÃ¡Â»Ân War.

By 1623, TrÃ¡Â»Ânh TÃÂ¹ng was growing old. He tried to secure his succession by dividing rule between his two sons in order to avoid conflict. His attempt was not successful.

"Jealousy broke out in his family even before his death, as not only both his sons but also one of his brothers tried to (take) his power. TrÃ¡Â»Ânh TÃÂ¹ng was taken ill to his brother's house and there his younger son was murdered. The elder, called TrÃ¡Â»Ânh TrÃÂ¡ng, hearing of this, ran away to the province of Thanh HÃÂ³a, taking with him the king and the royal family. TrÃ¡Â»Ânh TÃÂ¹ng was then driven away from his brother's place, and, abandoned by the servants who had carried him away in a sedan chair, died alone on the road. So ended the life of a statesman who had more capacity and energy than any other man mentioned in the whole of Annamese history..."

Sources

A Glimpse of Vietnam's History (retrieved May 2006)

Trịnh Tùng

History

Sources

See also