Ngô dynasty
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Tĩnh Hải Quân Tĩnh Hải Quân (靜海軍) | |||||||||
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| 939–965 | |||||||||
 early years of Ngô dynasty | |||||||||
 Circuits of Tĩnh Hải | |||||||||
| Capital | Cổ Loa | ||||||||
| Common languages | Middle Chinese | ||||||||
| Religion | Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism | ||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||
| King/Governor | |||||||||
• 938–944 | Tiền Ngô Vương (First) | ||||||||
• 944–950 | Dương Bình Vương | ||||||||
• 950–965 | Nam Tấn vương & Thiên Sách vương (co-rulers) | ||||||||
| Historical era | Medieval Asia | ||||||||
| December 938 | |||||||||
• Ngô Quyền founded the dynasty | February 1 939 | ||||||||
• Dương Tam Kha seized the throne | 944 | ||||||||
• Prince Ngô Xương Văn overthrew Dương Tam Kha. Ngô Xương Văn and Ngô Xương Ngập both declared as kings | 950 | ||||||||
• Ngô Xương Ngập died. | 954 | ||||||||
• Ngô Xương Văn died. Ngô dynasty ended. | 965 | ||||||||
| 965 | |||||||||
| Currency | Cash coins | ||||||||
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| Today part of | Vietnam China | ||||||||
| Ngô dynasty | |
|---|---|
| Vietnamese name | |
| Vietnamese | Nhà Ngô |
| Hán-Nôm | 吳朝 |
The Ngô Dynasty (939–965) was the first Vietnamese dynasty after the Third Chinese domination of Vietnam. It was founded by Ngô Quyền and was succeeded by the Dinh dynasty.
Around 930, as Ngô Quyền rose to power, northern Vietnam was militarily occupied by the Southern Han and was treated as an autonomous province and vassal state of Later Tang Dynasty, referred to as Tĩnh Hải quân. Every year the Jiedushi of Tĩnh Hải quân had to pay tribute to its Chinese master in exchange for peace and political support. At the beginning of the 10th century, China was domestically plagued and weakened by civil war during what is known as the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. The Chinese were preoccupied with these civil struggles and lost their grip on Tĩnh Hải quân periodically. Tĩnh Hải quân took advantage of this opportunity and proclaimed its independence and seceded from China. Under the rule of Lord Protector Dương Đình Nghệ, the Tĩnh Hải quân state initiated a full blown military campaign for independence.
Background
| History of Vietnam |
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 Vietnam portal |
After defeating the Sui dynasty of China, the Tang dynasty adjusted its administrative divisions and provinces, maintaining Chinese rule in Vietnam. In the late 9th Century, however, civil unrest increased and the rebellion of Huang Chao weaken the Tang dynasty. At the beginning of the 10th Century in 905, a member of the Khúc clan of Vietnam, Khúc Thừa Dụ took advantage of the continuing turmoil in China, seized power from the weakened Tang, and appointed himself Jiedushi (Viet: Tiết độ sứ) establishing a degree of autonomy for Vietnam.
Autonomy in Tĩnh Hải Quân
In 906 the Tang recognized Vietnam as an autonomous state, however a year later the Tang dynasty ended when Zhu Wen overthrew Tang rule establishing the Later Liang Dynasty for himself and ushering in the division of China into the short-lived empires of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. During this time of civil wars in China, the Khúc clan attempted to increase its power and control over Vietnam. In Guangzhou province of south China, however, the former Tang governor, Liu Yan declared himself the emperor of the emergent Southern Han kingdom.
In 917, Khúc Thừa Mỹ succeeded Khúc Hạo as Jiedushi of Tĩnh Hải Quân and reached out to the Liang Dynasty in northern China seeking political support as a vassal state. Such an action angered the Southern Han and in 930 emperor Liu Yan attempted to bring Tĩnh Hải Quân under his control by invading the capital city and taking Khúc Thừa Mỹ captive. Shortly thereafter, however, Dương Đình Nghệ, the Governor of the Ái Châu district of Tĩnh Hải Quân sent troops to rescue Khúc Thừa Mỹ, defeated the Southern Han army, and in the process appointed himself as Jiedushi of Tĩnh Hải Quân.[1] In 937, Dương Đình Nghệ was assassinated by his general Kiều Công Tiễn who declared himself loyal to the Southern Han's emperor. Immediately thereafter, Dương Đình Nghệ's son in law, general Ngô Quyền who was governing the Ái district, initiated hostilities against Kiều Công Tiễn[2]
Battle of Bạch Đằng River
Ngô Quyền (897–944) was Dương Đình Nghệ's most loyal general and son-in-law. He served under Dương Đình Nghệ's command and married one of his daughters. After the murder of father-in-law, Ngô Quyền sought revenge. He launched an attack and defeated Kiều Công Tiễn in 938. The latter, before his death in battle with Ngô Quyền, sent an emissary to Southern Han court to ask for military re-enforcement. The Southern Han state's emperor then sent an army to the South land to assist Kiều Công Tiễn in 938. However, Ngô Quyền's forces were tipped off over the advancing Southern Han army and therefore he quickly mobilized his forces and strategically stationed them in key battle sites.
To defeat the Southern Han army coming to supply aid to his rival, Ngô Vương cleverly planted iron spikes underneath the Bạch Đằng River and timed the attack of the Southern Han navy. The attack began during high tide to conceal the spikes beneath the water. After the Vietnamese held the enemy in check for hours, the tides receded and the spikes impaled the Chinese armada. The Vietnamese forces followed this impalement with ferocious fire attacks, which annihilated hundreds of giant warships. The Southern Han navy and the Prince of Southern Han were killed in the battle.[3] This tactic was repeated again during the Trần Dynasty by Trần Hưng Đạo against the third Mongol invasion of 1288.
Ngô Quyền's reign
The Battle of Bạch Đằng River was the first significant of many victories throughout the centuries at this famous river. Ngô Quyền then ascended to the throne and took the name "Ngô Vương" (吳王 King Ngô) or "Tiền Ngô Vương" (前吳王). He moved the capital back to Cổ Loa.[4] He reigned for only five years, until 944, when he died of illness at age 47. A short reign for an ambitious ruler set the stage for future campaigns for independence. Nevertheless, Ngô Vương ushered in a new Viet era of continuous independence and political autonomy.
Royal Court disputes
Before his death, Ngô Vương's wish was to see his brother-in-law Dương Tam Kha act as regent for his son Ngô Xương Ngập. However Dương Tam Kha usurped the throne and proclaimed himself "Bình Vương" (平王). He took Ngô Xương Ngập's younger brother, Ngô Xương Văn, as his adoptive son and made him heir to the throne. Fearing for his life, Ngô Xương Ngập went into hiding with his retinue in Nam Sách(now Hải Dương province). Dương Tam Kha's reign was unpopular and many revolts and rebellions sprung up across the country.[5]
Ngô Xương Văn & Ngô Xương Ngập co-reign: 950–954
Ngô Xương Văn (吳昌文) deposed Dương Tam Kha in 950 and styled himself "Nam Tấn Vương" (南晉王) Out of respect for his uncle, Ngô Xương Văn did not have him killed, but merely demoted him and sent him into exile. Ngô Xương Văn then searched out his older brother Ngô Xương Ngập in order to share the throne with him. After arriving at the capital, Ngô Xương Ngập styled himself "Thiên Sách Vương" (天策王). Brought back by his younger brother Ngô Xương Văn to the throne, Ngô Xương Ngập soon abused his rights as the oldest son and began to rule Tĩnh Hải quân as dictator, "Thiên Sách Vương" (天策王). The country was ripe for open rivalries between different lords who fought each other to become the next successor.
Ngô Xương Xí's reign: 965–968
After Ngô Xương Văn's death in 965, his son Ngô Xương Xí (吳昌熾) succeeded him. But as he ascended to the throne Ngô Xương Xí was faced with the daunting task of having his rule recognized by the now open rivalry between the 12 lords who fought one another as they vied for control of the country. With the announcement of his rule, the country was thrown into a chaotic period called the Thập Nhị Sứ Quân (十二使君) Rebellion.[6]
"The Anarchy of the 12 Warlords" or "Thập Nhị Sứ Quân Rebellion" (966–968)
The depression of Ngô dynasty caused the uprising of some governors who want to revolt to the royal court. In 951, Duke Đinh Bộ Lĩnh of Hoa Lư district who was the son of Governor of Hoan district Đinh Công Trứ, relied on the difficult geography of mountain area and start his rebellion against the Ngô dynasty. Both king of Tĩnh Hải Quân Ngô Xương Văn & Ngô Xương Ngập launched the military campaign against Đinh Bộ Lĩnh. However, after more than a month, Royal troops failed to succeed and returned to the capital and keep persuading Duke Đinh to give up. In 954 Ngô Xương Ngập died and the leader of Thao Gian district Chu Thái also started to betray Ngô dynasty. Then, Ngô Xương Văn had to use force to suppress the revolt and beheaded Chu Thái. In 965 he was shot by arrows of archeries and died. His son, Ngô Xương Xí took up his leadership but the dynasty gradually fall in the weakness. According to Khâm định Việt sử Thông giám cương mục(Historical record), The Kiều clan and Dương clan revolted against the Ngô and in 966. The country was divided into 12 states and ruled by 12 warlords in which there were also the Ngô royalty (Ngô Xương Văn, Ngô Nhật Khánh).
The 12 warlords were:
- Ngô Xương Xí (the nominal successor whose reign and rule were contested)
- Đỗ Cảnh Thạc
- Trần Lãm (who proclaimed himself Trần Minh Công. It was Trần Lãm who trained Đinh Bộ Lĩnh who soon would emerge and prove himself as the strongest of the 12 lords and eventually found the Đinh Dynasty.
- Kiều Công Hãn (who proclaimed himself Kiều Công Che)
- Nguyễn Khoan (who proclaimed himself Nguyễn Thái Bình)
- Ngô Nhật Khánh
- Lý Khuê
- Nguyễn Thủ Tiệp
- Lý Đường
- Nguyễn Siêu
- Kiều Thuận
- Phạm Bạch Hổ
Foreign relations
Due to the Ngô dynasty's failure to control chieftains and Ngô Quyền's failure to gain Chinese acknowledgement of his legitimacy as a ruler, it was little more than a protectorate of the Song dynasty.[7]
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Notes:
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Citations
- ^ Lu Shipeng,《北屬時期的越南》，Hong Kong Zhongquo University，p. 140─142。
- ^ Đất nước Việt Nam qua các đời, Đào Duy Anh, Nhà xuất bản Nhã Nam, 2016, trang 131
- ^ Ouyang Xiu《History of Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms》，Beijing Zhonghua Book Company，p. 813；司馬光《i Zhi Tong Jian · Hou Jin Ji》，Beijing Zhonghua Book Company，p. 9192─9193.
- ^ Pelley, p. 213., "Vietnamese kings and emperors sought the safety of cities that were easy to defend. Thus the Ngô dynasty retreated to Cổ Loa and the Đinh and Early Lê dynasties took refuge in Hoa Lư."
- ^ 阮廌《輿地志》，收錄於《皇黎抑齋相公遺集》，6頁。
- ^ Burke, p. 16., "Following the death of Ngỏ Quyển, who had driven the Chinese from Vietnam after a thousand years of domination, the Ngô Dynasty disintegrated. Vietnam was beset by a reign of confusion as twelve Warring lords fought over who was to rule ...""
- ^ Dar, Ku Boon (2019). "The Tributary Relations between China's Song Dynasty and Vietnam's Dinh, Le and Ly Dynasties: Effects on Their Political Sustainability". Sejarah: Journal of the History Department, University of Malaya. 28 (1): 1–13.
There is also the question of how far the Song dynasty (China) was willing to recognise the independence of the Ngo dynasty (Vietnam) amidst the turmoil in China. [...] The Ngo dynasty (939-965) was unable to control the local chiefs known as Hung Vuong or Su Quan because the ruling power was still in their hands. Since Ngo Quyen failed to gain acknowledgement of his legitimacy as a ruler from China, he could not get the unanimous support of the local authorities. Furthermore, the Ngo dynasty was still recorded as Ngoai Ky (not officially confirmed as a dynasty in Vietnamese history) because he was still known as a 'military governor', and not a king (vuong). These local chiefs possessed their own territories and constantly tried to dominate one another. Ngo Quyen died at the age of 46 before he had time to consolidate his position; Vietnam was little more than a protectorate of the Chinese empire.
References
- Ouyang Xiu. 《Historical Records of the Five Dynasties》. 北京: 中華書局（1995）ISBN 7101003222.
- Sima Guang. 《Zizhi Tongjian》. 北京: 中華書局（1995）ISBN 7101001831.
- Burke, J. Wills (2001). Origines: The streets of Vietnam: A Historical Companion.
- Đại Việt Sử Ký Toàn Thư, by Ngô Sĩ Liên (大越史記全書。吳士連編。内閣官板)
- Đất nước Việt Nam qua các đời, Đào Duy Anh, Nhà xuất bản Nhã Nam, 2016
- Nguyen, Chi D. "Ngo Quyen (938-944)". Vietouch.
- Pelley, Patricia M. (2002). Postcolonial Vietnam: New Histories of the National Past.
- Việt Nam Sử Lược, by Trần Trọng Kim
- Việt Sử Toàn Thư, by Phạm Văn Sơn