Nguyen Dynasty - Origins

Origins

For more information, see Nguyễn Lords and Trịnh Lords.

History of Vietnam

2879–258 Hồng Bàng Dynasty 257–207 Thục Dynasty 207–111 Triệu Dynasty 111–39 1st Chinese domination 40–43 Trưng Sisters 43–544 2nd Chinese domination 544–602 Early Lý Dynasty 602–938 3rd Chinese domination 939–967 Ngô Dynasty 968–980 Đinh Dynasty 980–1009 Early Lê Dynasty 1009–1225 Later Lý Dynasty 1225–1400 Trần Dynasty 1400–1407 Hồ Dynasty 1407–1427 4th Chinese domination 1428–1527 Later Lê Dynasty 1527–1592 Mạc Dynasty 1533–1788 Restored Lê Dynasty 1545–1787 • Trịnh Lords 1558–1777 • Nguyễn Lords 1778–1802 Tây Sơn Dynasty 1802–1945 Nguyễn Dynasty 1858–1945 • French imperialism from 1945 Republic Further subjects

The Nguyễn family had been one of the major families in Vietnamese history, dating back to the days of the Hero–Emperor Lê Lợi. Due to a civil war and the weakness of the Later Lê Dynasty, the Nguyễn and the Trịnh (another of the major families) joined together in opposition to the Mạc. Nguyễn Kim, the leader of this alliance, was assassinated in 1545 by a servant of the Mạc. Kim's son-in-law Trịnh Kiểm, took over the alliance because Kim's sons were too young. In 1558, Nguyễn Hoàng, the eldest son of Nguyễn Kim was given lordship over the southern, newly conquered provinces of Vietnam. He ruled from the city of Huế for the rest of his life and established the dominion of the Nguyễn Lords in the southern part of the country. While the Nguyễn Lords, like the Trịnh, paid tribute to the Lê Emperor, the reality was they ruled, not the king. Nguyễn Hòang and his successors continually expanded their territory by making Kampuchea a protectorate, and by invading Laos, Champa and many small countries in the area. The Nguyễn lords styled themselves as "lord" (Chúa in Vietnamese).