Bảo Đại - Wikipedia

Last emperor of Vietnam (reigned 1926–1945) (lived 1913-1997) In the Vietnamese name below, Nguyễn Phúc is the surname.
Emperor Bảo Đại保大帝
Bảo Đại on throne in Thái Hòa throne hall (太和殿).
Emperor of Đại Nam and Empire of Vietnam
Reign8 January 1926 –25 August 1945
PredecessorKhải Định
SuccessorMonarchy abolishedHồ Chí Minh (as president of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam)
1st Chief of State of Vietnam
Reign13 June 1949 –26 October 1955
PredecessorPosition establishedNguyễn Văn Xuân (as Head of the Provisional Central Government)
SuccessorNgô Đình Diệm
1st Prime Minister of the State of Vietnam
Reign14 July 1949 –21 January 1950
PredecessorPosition established
SuccessorNguyễn Phan Long
Supreme Advisor to the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam
Reign10 September 1945 –16 March 1946
PredecessorPosition established
SuccessorPosition abolished
BornNguyễn Phúc Vĩnh Thụy (阮福永瑞)(1913-10-22)22 October 1913Doan-Trang-Vien Palace, Imperial City of Huế, Annam, French Indochina
Died31 July 1997(1997-07-31) (aged 83)Val-de-Grâce, Paris, France
BurialPassy Cemetery
Spouse Nam Phương ​(m. 1934⁠–⁠1963)​Bùi Mộng ĐiệpLê Thị Phi ÁnhChristiane Bloch-Carcenac Monique Baudot ​(m. 1972⁠–⁠1997)​
Issue See List
  • Legitimate[1]
  • Bảo Long (1936–2007)
  • Phương Mai (1937–2021)
  • Phương Liên (1938–)
  • Phương Dung (1942–)
  • Bảo Thăng (1943–2017)
  • Unrecognized
  • Phương Thảo (1946–)
  • Phương Minh (1949–2012)
  • Bảo Ân (1951–)
  • Bảo Hoàng (1954–1955)
  • Bảo Sơn (1957–1987)
  • Phương Từ (1955)
  • Patrick-Édouard Bloch-Carcenac (1958–)
Era dates
Bảo Đại (保大) (1926–1945)
HouseNguyễn Phúc
FatherKhải Định
MotherHoàng Thị Cúc
ReligionConfucianismMahayana BuddhismRoman Catholicism
SignatureEmperor Bảo Đại 保大帝's signature

Bảo Đại (Vietnamese: [ɓa᷉ːwɗâːjˀ], chữ Hán: 保大, lit. "keeper of greatness", 22 October 1913 – 31 July 1997),[2] born Nguyễn Phúc (Phước) Vĩnh Thụy (chữ Hán: 阮福永瑞), was the 13th and final emperor of the Nguyễn dynasty, the last ruling dynasty of Vietnam.[3] From 1926 to 1945, he was de jure emperor of Annam and Tonkin, which were then protectorates in French Indochina, covering the present-day central and northern Vietnam. Bảo Đại ascended the throne in 1932.

The Japanese ousted the Vichy French administration in March 1945 and ruled through Bảo Đại, who proclaimed the Empire of Vietnam. He abdicated in August 1945 after Japan surrendered.

From 1949 to 1955, Bảo Đại was the chief of state of the anti-communist State of Vietnam. Viewed as a puppet ruler, Bảo Đại was criticized for being too closely associated with France and spending much of his time outside Vietnam. He was eventually ousted in a referendum in 1955 by Prime Minister Ngô Đình Diệm, who was supported by the United States.

Early life

On April 28, 1922, when he was 9 years old, he was established as Crown Prince. On June 15, 1922, he and Khai Dinh went to France to participate in a goods exhibition in Marseille. This was the first time he had gone to a country in Western Europe.

Bảo Đại was born as Nguyễn Phúc Vĩnh Thụy (阮福永瑞) on 22 October 1913 with the childhood name Mệ Vững and the only child of emperor Khải Định and his concubine Hoàng Thị Cúc. However; there are still many questions about Bảo Đại's background. According to historical records, Khải Định was said to be prefer to homosexual and dislike to get closed to women. At that time, Vietnam had been ruling by the Nguyễn dynasty since 1802. Then, the French colonial government completely conquered the country in 1883 and split Vietnam into three areas: the protectorates of Annam and Tonkin and the colony of Cochinchina, then be the part of Federation of Indochina. The Nguyễn dynasty was given nominal rule of Annam and Tonkin.[citation needed]

  • Crown Prince Vĩnh Thụy in 1920 Crown Prince Vĩnh Thụy in 1920
  • Bao Dai & his mom Bao Dai & his mom
  • Young crown prince Vĩnh Thụy (right) boarding the Azay-le-Rideau steamer bound for Marseille to attend colonial exhibition in France, 1922. Young crown prince Vĩnh Thụy (right) boarding the Azay-le-Rideau steamer bound for Marseille to attend colonial exhibition in France, 1922.
  • Emperor Khải Định, Prince Vĩnh Thụy (middle) and Albert Sarrault in Marseille, 1922. Emperor Khải Định, Prince Vĩnh Thụy (middle) and Albert Sarrault in Marseille, 1922.

On April 28, 1922, at the age of 9, he was investitured as Crown Prince of East Palace (Đông Cung Hoàng Thái Tử, 東宮皇太子). On June 15, 1922, he and his father led the delegation to France to participate in a colonial exhibition (Exposition nationale coloniale) in Marseille. This was the first time he went to an oversea trip in Western Europe.

Education in France

In June 1922, prince Vĩnh Thụy was adopted by the former governor of Resident-Superior of Annam, Jean François Eugène Charles and his wife, then they sent him to France to study at the Lycée Condorcet. In February 1924, he returned to Vietnam to attend the 40th birthday anniversary of his father, then returned to France to continue his studying at Hattemer School in November. He was the first Vietnamese monarch received full western education that would shape his vision about his reign in the future.

Young prince Vinh Thuy (2nd right to left) at emperor Khải Định's 40th birthday anniversary.

Ascending throne

On November 6, 1925, Emperor Khải Định died and prince Vinh Thuy returned to Vietnam to attend the funeral. On 8 January 1926, Vinh Thuy took the enthronement ceremony and became the 13th emperor of Nguyễn dynasty at 12 years old and took the era name Bảo Đại ("Protector of Grandeur" or "Keeper of Greatness"). He did not yet rule the country directly but through his appointed regent " Tôn Thất Hân" while returning to France to continue his study in March of the same year.[4][5]

  • Enthronement ceremony of the emperor at the Imperial City, Huế. Enthronement ceremony of the emperor at the Imperial City, Huế.
  • Bao Dai in coronation date, 8/1/1926. Bao Dai in coronation date, 8/1/1926.
  • Mandarins at coronation ceremony Mandarins at coronation ceremony
  • Mandarins in coronation ceremony of Bảo Đại, 8/1/1926 Mandarins in coronation ceremony of Bảo Đại, 8/1/1926

Return to France

The imperial court also sent a Confucian scholar to France to teach the emperor Chữ Hán and Vietnamese etiquette, but French teachers later barred him from doing his duty. After returning to Vietnam to rule, Bảo Đại himself admitted that "he almost knew nothing about the history of his dynasty and country even the colonial rule events."

Crown prince Vĩnh Thụy (right) and his cousin Vĩnh Cẩn in Paris (1926) during studying in France.
Bảo Đại in Paris, 1926

At France, his adoptive father "Jean François Eugène Charles" (former governor of Annam) who was responsible for the emperor's education. When Bao Dai travelled to study in France, emperor Khai Dinh entrusted Charles to look after his son. Every day at noon and after school, Bao Dai went to Charles's house at the Rue des Bourdonnais and was not allowed to go anywhere until the evening. Beside of managing Bảo Đại's studies at school, Charles he also took Bao Dai on vacation in Vichy or at his private residence in Prades during the summer. Charles likely considered Bao Dai as the part of his family and monitor schedule of Bao Dai strictly to train him to become the future ruler. After morning classes, he had to spent time on doing homework very diligently with the other fellow countrymen.

In 1930, Bao Dai started to study at Sciences Po in Paris and lived in his private home at Rue 13 Lamballe Street. According to the newspaper L'Asie Nouvelle (New Asia), Bao Dai developed interesting in sports such as tennis, golf and skiing. To the conservative Vietnamese monarchy, this was the new revolution in the imperial family where the former emperors did not participate in any activities of commoners. The newspaper described him feel more comfortable and suitable with western lifestyle and entertainments in Paris like clubbing and partying rather than political activities or ruling his own country.

The young man enjoyed this way of life and it was uneasy to change and adapt with the conservative Vietnamese lifestyle after returning home. In 1932, although there was a proclamation of returning of the Emperor to his country posted at Meridian Gate with millions of Vietnamese people looked forward to it, he was still hesitant because it seemed that he had not yet made up his mind to return to his country.

Luxury life

According to historical records, young Bảo Đại was described as the playboy and the car enthusiast. He also owned many types of cars at the age of 16. The young man had some high-speed cars to drive on the streets of Paris city and on the highway from Cannes to Deauville. He himself was a good and fast driver, comfortable and calm when accelerating, understanding clearly engine's features to impress the others.

The French colonial government was also aware of Bao Dai 's lack of the responsibility as the emperor and lack of enthusiasm for returning to Vietnam. Eugène Chatel, secretary of the Governor-General wrote: "I wonder if the emperor was always trying to delay his return to his country, but through some people close to him, they felt that he was not very eager or hurry to return to rule."

The archives of the French Governor-General showed that the Hue imperial court and mandarins was extremely impatient with the absence of the emperor, urging The French colonial government to encourage him to come back to rule. The secretary-general of the Governor-General of Indochina, Eugène Chatel, became increasingly frustrated with Bao Dai's hesitation. Chatel wrote many reports to the Ministry of Colonies to call for the need of magnificent ceremony, demanding more money and easier conditions. The future of the dynasty depended on the emperor's return.

Return to Vietnam and assassination plot

Emperor returned to Vietnam after finishing his study in France

In September 1932, Bao Dai began his long journey to return to Vietnam on the ship named "Président Doumer" with farewell ceremony by Minister of Colonies Albert Sarraut who represented the colonial government in Marseille. All of places where the ship docked on the journey would organise grand receptions except in Penang, Malaysia (Straits Settlements) because French secret service received news about the assassination plot. At this time, the Colonial Committee of the French Communist Party met in secret at 120 rue Chateaudun. Eight people were present including one European and seven Vietnamese that planned to assassinate the emperor before his return. This plot was taken at places in Paris and Marseilse, but it was unsuccessful.

They tried to conduct terrorist assassination the third time in the Malay Peninsula, but it was discovered. On that day, the ship had to secretly anchor far from the reception venue, but the perpetrator did not show up. The ship continued to sail into Vietnamese territorial water, anchored at Cape Saint-Jacques (now Vũng Tàu) with warships protection.

Bao Dai then transferred to a warship named "Dumont d'Urville", which would take him to Đà Nẵng, part of Protectorate of Annam. Besides that, there was two more ships escorted "Dumont d'Urville" together with cannons fired and flying flag hanging as the emperor boarding on the warship. Arriving at Da Nang port, he transferred to a gunboat and sailed up the Han River to the city. Finally, he boarded on train and traveled another 100 kilometers to Hue. The emperor later wrote in his memoirs: "After many years of living in freedom, I felt as if I am now entering a prison..."

Reign

On September 10, 1932, the emperor began to reform and remove some of outdated and conservative customs of the imperial court. The twenty-year-old emperor held the first traditional court audience in which the top officials came to congratulate him on his return after a long absence. However, the emperor spoke in French, shocking and offending both young officials with nationalistic spirit and the older officials imbued with Confucianist learning. Bảo Đại reformed the court such as rearranging internal affairs and administration. Then, he abolished some old customs that the previous emperors had established such as his subjects not having to kowtow and allowed to look directly at the emperor which had been considered as lese-majesté. when the procession arrived, every time the Western officials came to the audience they did not have to clasp their hands and bow but only shook hands with the emperor and native officials did not have to kneel. He banned custom of having excessively long fingernails and long beards by the elderly mandarins.

Emperor in cyclo.
Bảo Đại visits a Catholic church in Hanoi.
Emperor at Nam Giao ceremony.

During the emperor's absence, his grandmothers and his great-grandmother spent a huge amount of money on gambling and they had to use the emperor's private fund to pay off debts but insufficient. To earn the money, those ladies started to sell the officials titles to their creditors who was also the head of the Council of Ministers (Cabinet). This led to the determination of eliminating bribery in imperial court.

On September 19, 1932, Bảo Đại issued the first decree declaring his authority and affirming the absolute monarchy. This document abolished the old regency council established on November 16, 1925, shortly after death of emperor Khải Định. The emperor would manage directly the country's affairs and pay attention to the progress of the country. This received praise from French colonial. Previously, the government was governed by a council appointed by the French, so it was completely dependent on the French protectorate. The emperor did not participate in the council's affair, decision making and treated as figurehead .

However, Resident General of Annam appointed by Paris had the right to veto all decisions of the emperor, even the least important ones. Thus, the country's leadership remained unchanged. Moreover, the French official who had a seat in the cabinet or the Council of Ministers, could agree or disagree with the decisions of the cabinet.

Only a few months after his return, Bảo Đại made a tour of the provinces of Annam that had not happened in previous Emperors' reign. The emperor declared directly that he intended to rule alone without a prime minister, thereby expressing his desire to hold real power not only ceremonial role. Bảo Đại proposed a few reform measures which was less important and moderate in level. He tried to change the direction of the old governance, reform national education, pass a new criminal and civil code, gradually moving the country towards a constitutional monarchy. In particular, he reformed the Annam's House of Representatives and the mandarin system, which later caused opposition from Ngô Đình Diệm.

All taxes were collected and distributed by the French protectorate. The Resident-Superior of Annam would determine the budget of Imperial court and provide the fund to run the government. The Emperor also had an annual allowance from the budget of Annam protectorate which he himself had no right to decide of amount received and each month he needed to have the French governors' signature approved to receive it for spending.

On April 8, 1933, Bảo Đại issued an edict to reorganize the cabinet and take charge himself. He appointed five new ministers who shared the same reformist philosophy as him to replace those. He established the House of Representatives to show his appeals to the French colonial officials and allowed the Tonkin Advisory Council to represent the imperial court in cooperating with the French protectorate government.

Vietnam in World War II

During the second World War in 1940, the Empire of Japan took over French Indochina while their ally Nazi Germany's invasion of France. Although they did not dissolve the French colonial administration, the occupation authorities directed policy from behind the scenes in a parallel of Vichy France. The Japanese promised not to interfere with the imperial court at Huế. However, after ousting the French in 1945, they forced emperor Bảo Đại to declare Vietnamese independence from France as a member of Japan's "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere"; the country then became the Empire of Vietnam.

Bảo Đại, however, appeared to believe that independence was an irreversible course. In 1944, he wrote to General de Gaulle, leader of the Free French:

You have suffered too much during four deadly years, not to understand that the Vietnamese people, who have a history of twenty centuries and an often glorious past, no longer wish, no longer can support any foreign domination or foreign administration...You could understand even better if you were able to see what is happening here, if you were able to sense the desire for independence that has been smoldering in the bottom of all hearts and which no human force can any longer hold back. Even if you were to arrive to re-establish a French administration here, it would no longer be obeyed; each village would be a nest of resistance. every former friend an enemy, and your officials and colonials themselves would ask to depart from this unbreathable atmosphere.[6]

Independence declaration and establishment of Empire of Vietnam

After Japanese coup d'état in French Indochina, the French colonial administration collapsed and the establishment of a new government was supported by Japan as an urgent requirement and the Empire of Vietnam was born in that context. According to the arrangement of the Imperial Japanese Army, emperor Bảo Đại met with Japan's supreme advisor, Ambassador Yokoyama Masayuki at Kien Trung Palace to sign the "Indepencence Declaration of Vietnam" on March 11, 1945 (this declaration was prepared by Japan and they pressured the Nguyễn dynasty's mandarins to sign it the night before). The main content of the declaration signed by Bảo Đại was the abolition of the Patenôtre Treaty signed with France in 1884, the unification of Tonkin, Annam and Cochinchina, and the abolition of all previous protectorate and unequal treaties with France. However, the empire was de facto the client state of Japan with the slogan of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, which was believed to give the Japanese military the right to requisition property throughout Vietnam.

The declaration of Vietnam's independence:

“The Empire of Vietnam's government officially annul all of the French protectorate treaties over Vietnam and the Empire of Vietnam declares that it has restored its independence.

The Empire of Vietnam will henceforth strive to develop as an independent country and as a member of East Asia, will follow and support the commonwealth and prosperity and co-existence of Greater East Asia, in accordance with the principles of the Greater East Asia Joint Declaration.

The Empire of Vietnam declares its intention to cooperate wholeheartedly with the Empire of Japan with trusts in the sincerity of Japan to implement the above-mentioned purposes.”

Declaration of Empire of Vietnam in 1945.
New flag of Empire of Vietnam.

On April 7, 1945, Bảo Đại signed the Decree No. 5 approving the establishment of Trần Trọng Kim's cabinet. On May 12, he dissolved the House of Representatives of Annam. In June 1945, the Trần Trọng Kim government named the country the Empire of Vietnam, using the 3 striped and yellow flag (Cờ quẻ Ly) as the national flag.

Surrender of Japan

On August 16, 1945, when the Empire of Japan surrendered to the Allies, Trần Trọng Kim declared to protect the cabinet of the Empire of Vietnam. On August 18 he created a National Liberation Committee. Following the advice of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bảo Đại sent a message to the leaders of the Allies (Harry S. Truman, Winston Churchill, Chiang Kai-shek and Charles de Gaulle) requesting recognition of the Empire of Vietnam. On August 18, Bảo Đại sent a message to De Gaulle requesting recognition of the Empire of Vietnam. However, De Gaulle was not interested in Bao Dai's proposal, because he had compromised with Japan, the enemy of France. De Gaulle expected to support a Vietnamese monarchy without Bảo Đại, but instead one by Vĩnh San (former emperor Duy Tân), who was considered a "Gaullist" (an enthusiastic supporter of De Gaulle). All letters that Bảo Đại sent to other countries (the US, China, the UK ...etc...) were also not responded to because, according to the 1943 Cairo Declaration, the Allied countries would not recognize any government established by the Japanese Empire in the occupied areas.

By August 24, the August Revolution had broken out throughout the country. With the encouragement of prime minister Phạm Khắc Hòe, Bảo Đại responded to the Privy Council that he decided to abdicate to avoid being an "obstacle to the liberation of the country".

Abdication

Main articles: Empire of Vietnam and Abdication of Bảo Đại

In 1945, the August Revolution succeeded and the Viet Minh forced the Imperial Vietnamese government to hand over power to them. Emperor Bảo Đại decided to abdicate, then he sent a telegram to the "People's Committee for National Salvation" in Hanoi: "In response to the Committee's call, I am ready to abdicate. Before this decisive moment in the nation's history, 'United we stand, Divided we fall'. I am ready to sacrifice all interests, so that national unity can be achieved, and request that the committee's representatives come to Hue soon for governmental takeover."

On August 22, the Viet Minh seized power in Hanoi and many other places in the country. The emperor still hoped to remain on the throne by cooperating with the Viet Minh to form a new cabinet under a constitutional monarchy. Then he issued an edict inviting the Viet Minh leader to Hue to form a cabinet.

On the morning of August 23, two Viet Minh envoys, Trần Huy Liệu and Cù Huy Cận arrived at the Imperial City of Huế. At the request of these two people, emperor Bảo Đại read the Abdication Declaration before thousands of people gathered at the Meridian Gate and handed over the imperial seal, sword and the other royal treasures to Tran Huy Lieu in afternoon of August 30, 1945. He became citizen "Vĩnh Thụy". This marked the end of a thousand years of Vietnamese monarchy.

Post-abdication life

Participating in Republic

Later, Bảo Đại received the letter from Hồ Chí Minh inviting him to be the supreme advisor of the new government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam that he later accepted.

"The provisional government invites citizen Vĩnh Thụy to Hanoi to be the supreme advisor to the government. If he accepts, there will be necessary instructions so that the advisor can go to Hanoi as soon as possible. Signed: Hồ Chí Minh".

On September 2, at 5:00 am, two days after the abdication ceremony, citizen Vĩnh Thụy left Hue for Hanoi, with the position of advisor to the government and President Hồ Chí Minh waiting for him. The convoy consisted of two cars. The first car carrying Vĩnh Thụy was accompanied by Minister of Labor Le Van Hien. The other car carried Prince Vinh Can, cousin of Bảo Đại. After receiving the seal and sword, Tran Huy Lieu's delegation set off for Hanoi the day before. The new state did not have any cars, so the delegation used the former emperor's two private cars.

  • The National assembly of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam on 2 March 1946, supreme advisor Vĩnh Thụy (Bảo Đại), sixth from right to left, next to President Hồ Chí Minh (middle). The National assembly of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam on 2 March 1946, supreme advisor Vĩnh Thụy (Bảo Đại), sixth from right to left, next to President Hồ Chí Minh (middle).
  • Bảo Đại (right) as the "supreme advisor" to the government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam led by president Hồ Chí Minh (left), September 1945 Bảo Đại (right) as the "supreme advisor" to the government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam led by president Hồ Chí Minh (left), September 1945
  • Members of national assembly of Democratic Republic of Vietnam, Bảo Đại (far right). Members of national assembly of Democratic Republic of Vietnam, Bảo Đại (far right).

After his abdication, Bảo Đại was treated very well and financially supported by the government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. On September 4, 1945, Vĩnh Thụy arrived in Hanoi to take his position. On September 5, President Hồ Chí Minh as well as Chairman of the Provisional Government welcomed the former Emperor Bảo Đại at the Tonkin Palace (now State Guest House). On September 10, President Hồ Chí Minh signed Decree No. 23/SL appointing citizen Vĩnh Thụy as "Supreme Advisor of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of Vietnam". He was one of the 7 members of the Constitution Drafting Committee leaded by Hồ Chí Minh.

On January 6, 1946, Vĩnh Thụy was elected as a delegate to the first National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. On March 7, one day after the signing of Ho–Sainteny Agreement, he was always by President Hồ Chí Minh's side to officially receive French representative Sainteny and pay him a return visit. On March 8, 1946, the Government Council met and decided to send a diplomatic delegation to Chongqing (Republic of China) and France. On March 11, the Government council appointed advisor Vĩnh Thụy as head of the delegation to Chongqing with Nghiêm Kế Tổ, a member of the Vietnamese Nationalist Party; Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Cong Truyen, a representative of the Viet Minh, a member of the Propaganda Committee of the People's Committee of the North; Ha Phu Huong, a representative of the Vietnam Democratic Party (part of Viet Minh), a member of the Propaganda Committee of the People's Committee of the Central Region.

Exile in Hong Kong

On March 16, 1946, Bảo Đại was assigned to join the delegation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam to Chongqing to visit Republic of China. But he did not return home afterwards, but separated from the delegation to Kunming and then Hong Kong. Bảo Đại accepted to go to Chongqing but as a former emperor traveling, not as the leader of the delegation. Therefore, Nghiem Ke To, a member of the Vietnam Nationalist Party, was the head of the delegation.

Later, Pham Khac Hoe was also sent by President Hồ Chí Minh to Hong Kong to persuade Bảo Đại to return but before departing, he heard that Bảo Đại had agreed to side with France, so Hoe cancelled the trip. The Hồ Chí Minh' government also sent a high-ranking government official named Ho Duc Linh to bring gold and foreign currency to Bảo Đại and persuade him to return to the country, but was unsuccessful.

He also frequently visited casinos and dance clubs in Hong Kong under the name "Mr. Wang Kunney". In Hong Kong, Bảo Đại met with many political characters, including General George C. Marshall, the US representative, later brought the agreement with Bảo Đại to President Harry S. Truman. According to the French intelligence agency, Bảo Đại himself asked for their help after he had spent all his money in Hong Kong. The French envoys continued to provide him with financial support, giving Bảo Đại 5,000 Hong Kong dollars each month that made him able to enjoy life of luxury and wealth. He bought an English-style building near Stanley Beach, often receiving guests in Causeway Bay, letting them stay at the Hongkong Hotel or at the Paramount or Saint-Francis. Later, when he sold his private property in Hong Kong, he received a sum of up to one million Indochinese piastres. Shortly after, Bảo Đại wrote a letter back to the country to resign from his position as "Supreme Advisor" in the government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

Return to power and Indochina War

Main articles: State of Vietnam and First Indochina War

Bảo Đại spent nearly a year as "supreme advisor" to the DRV, during which period Vietnam descended into armed conflict between rival Vietnamese factions and the French. He left this post in 1946 after communists abandoned him in China. He moved to Hong Kong, where the French and Việt Minh both attempted unsuccessfully to solicit him for political support.[7]

Postcard depicts the return of Bao Dai from Hong Kong

Eventually a coalition of Vietnamese anti-communists (including future South Vietnamese leader Ngô Đình Diệm and members of political/religious groups such as the Cao Dai, Hòa Hảo, and VNQDĐ) formed a National Union and declared to support Bảo Đại on the condition he would seek independence for Vietnam. This persuaded him to reject Việt Minh overtures and enter into negotiations with the French. On 7 December 1947, Bảo Đại officially signed the first of the Ha Long Bay Accords with France. Despite ostensibly committing France to Vietnamese independence, it was considered minimally binding and transferred no actual authority to Vietnam. The agreement was promptly criticized by National Union members, including Diệm. In a possible attempt to escape the resulting political tension, Bảo Đại travelled to Europe and commenced on a four-month pleasure tour which earned him the sobriquet "night club emperor". After persistent efforts by the French, Bảo Đại was persuaded to return from Europe and sign a second Ha Long Bay Agreement on 5 June 1948. This contained similarly weak promises for Vietnamese independence and had as little success as the first agreement. Bảo Đại once again travelled to Europe whilst warfare in Vietnam continued to escalate.[7] After months of negotiations with French President Vincent Auriol, he finally signed the Élysée Accords on 8 March 1949, which led to the establishment of the State of Vietnam with Bảo Đại becoming the Chief of State (國長, Quốc trưởng) on 14 June 1949; the French also oversaw the creation of the Domain of the Crown where he was still officially considered to be the Emperor, this territory existed until 1955.[7]

However, the country was still only partially autonomous, with France initially retaining effective control of the army and foreign relations. Bảo Đại himself stated in 1950: "What they call a Bảo Đại solution turned out to be just a French solution... the situation in Indochina is getting worse every day".[7]

As Diệm and other hardcore nationalists were disappointed in the lack of autonomy and refused high government posts, Bảo Đại mainly filled his government with wealthy figures strongly connected to France. He then spent his own time in the resort towns of Da Lat, Nha Trang, and Buôn Ma Thuột, largely avoiding the process of governing. All this contributed to his reputation as a French puppet and a rise in popular support for the Việt Minh, whose armed insurgency against the French-backed regime was developing into a full-fledged civil war. Nonetheless, in 1950 he attended a series of conferences in Pau, France where he pressed the French for further independence. The French granted some minor concessions to the Vietnamese, which caused a mixed reaction on both sides.[7]

In addition to the increasing unpopularity of the Bảo Đại government, the communist victory in China in 1949 also led to a further revival of the fortunes of the Việt Minh. When China and the Soviet Union recognized the DRV government, the United States reacted by extending diplomatic recognition to Bảo Đại's government in March 1950. This and the outbreak of the Korean War in June led to U.S. military aid and active support of the French war effort in Indochina, now seen as anti-communist rather than colonialist. Despite this, the war between the French colonial forces and the Việt Minh started to go badly for the French, culminating in a major victory for the Việt Minh at Điện Biên Phủ. This led to the negotiating of a peace deal between the French and the Việt Minh on 21 July 1954, known as the Geneva Accords, which partitioned Vietnam at the 17th parallel. The north side was given to the DRV, with the State of Vietnam receiving the south. Before that, the State of Vietnam gained complete independence from France on June 4. Bảo Đại remained "Head of State" of South Vietnam, but moved to Paris and appointed Ngô Đình Diệm as his prime minister.[7][8]

Second removal from power

Main article: 1955 State of Vietnam referendum

At first, Ngô Đình Diệm exercised no influence over South Vietnam: the Việt Minh still had de facto control of somewhere between sixty and ninety percent of the countryside (by French estimates), whilst the rest was dominated by the various religious sects. Meanwhile, the new capital of Saigon was under the total control of criminal group Bình Xuyên. According to Colonel Lansdale, it had paid Bảo Đại a "staggering sum" for control of local prostitution and gambling and of Saigon's police force.[7]

Bao Dai deposed as Chief of State in Vietnam's national assembly, Saigon, 1955.

Regardless, Diệm's forces embarked on a campaign against the Bình Xuyên, with fighting breaking out in the streets on 29 March 1955. In an attempt to protect his clients, Bảo Đại ordered Diệm to travel to France, but he was disobeyed and Diệm eventually succeeded in pushing his opponents out of the city. Using a divide and conquer strategy, Diệm then employed a mixture of force and bribery to sway the remaining religious sects to his side.[7]

Now with a broad range of support, a new Popular Revolutionary Committee (formed by Diệm's brother Ngô Đình Nhu) was able to call for a referendum to remove Bảo Đại and establish a republic with Diệm as president.[7] The campaign leading up to the referendum was punctuated by personal attacks against the former emperor, whose supporters had no way to refute them since campaigning for Bảo Đại was forbidden.[9]

The referendum was criticized as being fraudulent. The official results showed a tally of 98.9% in favor of a republic, with the number of votes for a republic exceeding the total number of registered voters by 155,025 in Saigon, while the total number of votes exceeded the total number of registered voters by 449,084, and the number of votes for a republic exceeded the total number of registered voters by 386,067.[9]

Bảo Đại was removed from power, with Diệm declaring himself president of the new Republic of Vietnam on 26 October 1955.

Life in exile

He lived in Cannes, then moved to Alsace. In 1963, former Empress consort Nam Phương died in Chabrignac.

In 1957, while in Alsace, he met Christiane Bloch-Carcenac, with whom he had an affair until 1970. From this relationship he gave birth to his last child, Patrick-Édouard Bloch, born in 1958 who is still living in Alsace.[10][11][when?]

Patrick-Édouard Bloch, youngest son of Bảo Đại.

After moving to France, Bảo Đại no longer controlled the economic system to benefit himself as before, many his businesses in Vietnam were confiscated by Ngô Đình Diệm. Being watched by the tax authorities and no longer having financial support from the French government, he had to sell his assets gradually. Around 1960s, Bảo Đại's huge fortune was gradually dwindled. Many castles, expensive planes, luxury cars, etc... had to be sold to pay off the outstanding debts. Bảo Đại only received a small subsidy from President Giscard's government of 8,000 francs/month.

In 1972, after spending all his assets, Bảo Đại lived with Monique Baudot, a French woman 30 years younger than him and they got married in 1982. In 1988, after a period of discussion with the parish priest of Saint-Pierre-de-Chaillot, Bảo Đại converted to Catholicism, taking the Christian name Jean-Robert. In 1988, Bảo Đại was baptised in France as Roman Catholic.[12][13][14]

In 1972, Bảo Đại issued a public statement from exile, appealing to the Vietnamese people for national reconciliation, stating, "The time has come to put an end to the fratricidal war and to recover at last peace and accord".[2] At times, Bảo Đại maintained residence in southern France, and in particular in Monaco, where he sailed often on his private yacht, one of the largest in Monte Carlo harbor. He still reportedly held great influence among local political figures in the Quảng Trị and Thừa Thiên provinces of Huế. The Communist government of North Vietnam sent representatives to France hoping that Bảo Đại would become a member of a coalition government which might reunite Vietnam, in the hope of attracting his supporters in the regions wherein he still held influence. [citation needed]

In 1982, on the occasion of the opening of the imperial Family Association abroad, Bảo Đại visited the United States for the first time. In Sacramento, California, he was awarded with a golden key symbolizing the town and the title of "honorary citizen" of the city by the mayor of Westminster, California. He also visited and congratulated the ceremonies of the Vietnamese Buddhist and Caodaist communities in California and the Vietnamese American communities in Texas. Bảo Đại also took this opportunity to ask the opinions of the Vietnamese communities living in the United States about solutions for national reconciliation. As a result of these meetings, Bảo Đại publicly spoke out against the presence of American troops in South Vietnam, and he criticized President Nguyễn Văn Thiệu's regime in South Vietnam. He called for all political factions to create a free, neutral, peace-loving government which would resolve the tense situation that had taken form in the country.

Throughout Bảo Đại's life in both Vietnam and in France, he remained unpopular among the Vietnamese populace as he was considered a political puppet for the French colonialist regime, for lacking any form of political power, and for his cooperation with the French and for his pro-French ideals. The former emperor clarified, however, that his reign was always a constant battle and a balance between preserving the monarchy and the integrity of the nation versus fealty to the French authorities. Ultimately, power devolved away from his person and into ideological camps and in the face of Diem's underestimated influences on factions within the empire.[15]

Death

Bảo Đại's burial place in the Cimetière de Passy, Paris

Bảo Đại died at a military hospital in Val-de-Grâce, Paris on 30 July 1997. He was interred in the Cimetière de Passy. Bảo Đại lived his last years quietly in a small apartment at 29, rue Fresnel, 16th arrondissement, Paris. All his once-massive wealth and power were gone, and he lived on a monthly allowance of 20,000 Francs from the French government.

He died at 5:00 a.m. on July 31, 1997, at the Val-de-Grâce Military Hospital, at the age of 83. Former Emperor Bảo Đại was the longest-lived emperor of the Nguyễn Dynasty. He was also the longest-lived deposed emperor in the modern world.

Bảo Đại's funeral was held at 11:00 a.m. on August 6, 1997, at the Saint-Pierre-de-Chaillot church at 35 avenue Marceau, 16th arrondissement, Paris and his coffin was buried at Passy Cemetery on Trocadéro hill.

Responding to the BBC about this event, Ms. Monique said: "Today I am very sad. Of course, first and foremost because my husband has just passed away. But today the history of the Nguyen Dynasty of Vietnam has also ended. I pray for my husband."

Marriages and children

On 20 March 1934, age 20, at the imperial city of Huế, Bảo Đại married Marie-Thérèse Nguyễn Hữu Thị Lan (died 15 September 1963, Chabrignac, France), a commoner from a wealthy Vietnamese Catholic family. After the wedding, she was given the title Empress Nam Phương.

The couple had five children, two sons and three daughters:

  • Crown Prince Bảo Long (4 January 1936 – 28 July 2007)
  • Princess Phương Mai (1 August 1937 – 16 January 2021)
  • Princess Phương Liên (born 3 November 1938)
  • Princess Phương Dung (born 5 February 1942)
  • Prince Bảo Thăng (9 December 1943 – 15 March 2017).

Although Bảo Đại later had additional children with other women, these are the only ones listed in the clan genealogy.[1]

Mistresses

  • Lady Mộng Điệp Lady Mộng Điệp
  • Bao Dai and Lady Mộng Điệp Bao Dai and Lady Mộng Điệp

Nam Phương was granted the title of empress in 1945. By one count, Bảo Đại had relationships with eight women and fathered 13 children. Those named "Phương" are daughters, while those named "Bảo" are sons.[16]

Name Title Issue Note
Nguyễn Hữu Thị Lan Empress Nam Phương Crown Prince Bảo Long (1936–2007)

Princess Phương Mai (1937–2021)

Princess Phương Liên (b. 1938)

Princess Phương Dung (b. 1942)

Prince Bảo Thăng (1943–2017)

The emperor's first wife. "Nam Phương" translates as "Southern virtue".
Bùi Mộng Điệp Thứ phi Phương Thảo (b. 1946)

Bảo Hoàng (1954–1955)

Bảo Sơn (1957–1987)

Called thứ phi phương Bắc ("Northern secondary consort").
Lý Lệ Hà Mistress Won Vietnam's first beauty contest in 1938 in Hà Đông. She publicly dated Bảo Đại in Hanoi in 1946. The couple later lived together in Hong Kong, according to her account.[17]
Variously called Huang Xiaolan, Hoàng Tiểu Lan, Jenny Woong, and Trần Nỷ Mistress Phương An Mixed Chinese-Vietnamese Hong Kong actress who had an affair with Bảo Đại 1946 when he was in Hong Kong.[16]
Lê Thị Phi Ánh Thứ phi Phương Minh (1949–2012)

Bảo Ân (b. 1953)

Sister-in-law of Prime Minister Phan Văn Giáo
Vicky Mistress Phương Từ (1955) This daughter by a French woman has "a half European Asian beauty."[16]
Christiane Bloch-Carcenac Mistress Patrick-Édouard Bloch-Carcenac (b. 1958) Affair occurred in 1957–1970
Monique Baudot Imperial princess

Self-styled Empress Thái Phương

Second wife. She was a French citizen whom Bảo Đại married in 1972.

Evaluation of Bảo Đại

In Vietnam

The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) considered him to be a traitor. After he was once again helped by France as the Head of State of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh said in an interview with Chinese media: "Vĩnh Thụy brought the French invading army back to Vietnam and killed more compatriots. Vĩnh Thụy is a true traitor. The French colonists conspired to restore slavery in Vietnam. Vĩnh Thụy is the confidant of the colonists. Although Vietnamese law is very tolerant to those who have lost their way, they will severely punish the traitorous orphans. The Vietnamese people are determined to defeat all colonial conspiracies and fight for true independence and reunification."[18][19]

On one hand, Bảo Đại remains a highly discussed figure. The CPV labels him a traitor, but does not treat him as harshly as subsequent leaders of the later South Vietnam; his role continues to be studied, ranging from a somewhat sympathetic figure to the Việt Minh to a moderate figure who tried to avoid war, given Bảo Đại himself agreed to abdicate in 1945 to give power for the Việt Minh.[20]

Vietnamese diaspora

Most Overseas Vietnamese, who are ardently anti-communist, didn't consider Bảo Đại positively, partly due to his weak-willed reputation and inability to confront with the communist threat, as well as his reclusive life and his perceived cowardice.[21][22] His role is also studied by the diaspora, although recent studies had questioned the perception due to perceived bias by both the Vietnamese diaspora and the CPV.[23]

Pictures

  • Young crown prince Vĩnh Thụy. Young crown prince Vĩnh Thụy.
  • Abd Al Rahman Barjach Pasha, governor of Rabat, meeting with Bảo Đại and prince Vĩnh Cẩn during their Morocco trip in 1932. Abd Al Rahman Barjach Pasha, governor of Rabat, meeting with Bảo Đại and prince Vĩnh Cẩn during their Morocco trip in 1932.
  • Young emperor. Young emperor.
  • Emperor Bảo Đại. Emperor Bảo Đại.
  • Crown of Bảo Đại used in coronation Crown of Bảo Đại used in coronation
  • Bảo Đại was portrayed by actor Huỳnh Anh Tuấn (vi) in the 2004 Vietnamese miniseries Ngọn nến Hoàng cung (A Candle in the Imperial Palace).[24]
  • On 13 May 2017, a watch owned by Bảo Đại, a unique Rolex ref. 6062 triple calendar moonphase watch made for him while he was working in Geneva, became one of the most expensive watches ever sold, selling for a then record price of US$5,060,427 at a Phillips auction in Geneva.[25][26]

Bảo Đại coins

Main article: Bảo Đại Thông Bảo

The last cash coin ever produced in the world bears the name of Bảo Đại in Chữ Hán. There are three types of this coin. Large cast piece with 10 văn inscription on the reverse, medium cast piece with no reverse inscription, and small struck piece. All were issued in 1933.

  • Bảo Đại Thông Bảo 10 văn Bảo Đại Thông Bảo 10 văn
  • Bảo Đại Thông Bảo plain reverse Bảo Đại Thông Bảo plain reverse
  • Struck Bảo Đại Thông Bảo Struck Bảo Đại Thông Bảo

Quotes

  • In 1945 when the Japanese colonel in charge of the Hue garrison told Bảo Đại that he had (in line with the orders of the Allied commander) taken measures ensuring the security of the Imperial Palace and those within it against a possible Việt Minh coup, Bảo Đại dismissed the protection declaring "We do not wish a foreign army to spill the blood of our people."[27]
  • He explained his abdication in 1945 saying "We would prefer to be a citizen of an independent country rather than Emperor of an enslaved one."[27]
  • When, after World War II, France attempted to counter Hồ Chí Minh's popularity and gain the support of the U.S. by creating an associated state with him, he said "What they call a Bảo Đại solution turns out to be just a French solution."[28]
  • In a rare public statement from France in 1972, Bảo Đại appealed to the people of Vietnam for national reconciliation, saying "The time has come to put an end to the fratricidal war and to recover at last peace and accord."[29]

Honours

National honours

  • Sovereign and Grand Master of the Imperial Order of the Dragon of Annam.
  • Sovereign and Grand Master of the Imperial Order of Merit of Annam (revived and expanded as the National Order of Vietnam on 10 June 1955).

Foreign honours

  • Thailand: Knight of the Most Illustrious Order of the Royal House of Chakri (Kingdom of Thailand, 1939).
  •  France: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Legion of Honour (10 September 1932).
  •  Cambodia: Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Cambodia.
  •  Laos: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Million Elephants and the White Parasol.
  •  Belgium: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown (1935).
  •  Morocco: Knight Grand Cross of the Sharifian Order of Al-Alaoui (Kingdom of Morocco).
  •  Johor: Member First Class of the Royal Family Order of Johor [DKI] (21 March 1933).

Reign symbols

Symbols created and / or used during the reign of Bảo Đại
Symbol Image Description
Emperor of the Nguyễn dynasty
8 imperial seals created for Emperor Bảo Đại.[30] See Seals of the Nguyễn dynasty.
Personal standard of emperors Khải Định and Bảo Đại Flag ratio: 2:3.
Personal coat of arms of Bảo Đại. A sword per fess charged with the ramparts of the Purple Forbidden City in Huế, inscribed with two Traditional Chinese (Hán) characters (保大) and supported by a single dragon.Influences:
Bảo Đại Thông Bảo(保大通寶) The last cash coins issued by a government in both Vietnam and the world.
Bảo Đại Bảo Giám(保大寳鑑) A series of silver coins bearing his reign era.
Chief of State of Vietnam
Seal as the chief of state of Vietnam. A seal with the inscriptions "Quốc-gia Việt-Nam", "Đức Bảo Đại Quốc-trưởng" written in Latin script and "保大國長" in seal script.
Personal standard Flag ratio: 2:3. Influences:

References

  1. ^ a b Bao Dai had two sons and three daughters, according to the genealogy of the Nyugen Phuc clan. Only his children by Nam Phuong are listed. His obituary in The Independent says he had two sons and two daughters while the New York Times says two sons and four daughters. (''Nguyễn Phúc tộc thế phả, 1995, p. 330).
  2. ^ a b Philip Shenon (2 August 1997). "Bao Dai, 83, of Vietnam; Emperor and Bon Vivant". The New York Times. p. 1 10. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  3. ^ Nghia M. Vo Saigon: A History 2011 – Page 277 "Bảo Đại was born in 1913, the 13th and last monarch of the Nguyễn dynasty. He ruled from 1926 to 1944 as emperor of Annam and emperor"
  4. ^ Chapman, Jessica M. (September 2006). "Staging democracy: South Vietnam's 1955 referendum to depose Bao Dai". Diplomatic History. 30 (4): 687. doi:10.1111/j.1467-7709.2006.00573.x.
  5. ^ Currey, Cecil B. (2011). Tucker, Spencer C. (ed.). The encyclopedia of the Vietnam War : a political, social, and military history (2nd ed.). Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO. pp. 94-95. ISBN 9781851099610.
  6. ^ McAlister, John T. (1968). Vietnam, the Origins of the Revolution (1885-1946) (PDF). Washington, DC: American University, Center for Research in Social Systems. p. 88.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i United States. Department of Defense (1971). The Pentagon papers : the Defense Department history of United States decisionmaking on Vietnam / 1. Vol. 1. Mike Gravel. Boston: Beacon Pr. ISBN 0-8070-0527-4. OCLC 643945604.
  8. ^ Interview with Ngô Đình Luyến. WGBH Media Library and Archives. 31 January 1979.
  9. ^ a b Direct Democracy
  10. ^ oral communication (Patrick-Edward Bloch-Carcenac) and sections of the "Dernières Nouvelles d'Alsace" (D.N.A), n°. 264 of 10 November 1992 and from 7 August 2007.
  11. ^ "RENAISSANCE DE HUE – Site de maguy tran – pinterville" (in French). Archived from the original on 20 March 2015.
  12. ^ Pearson, Richard (2 August 1997). "BAO DAI, FORMER EMPEROR OF VIETNAM, DIES". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 8 January 2024. During his years in French exile, Bao Dai converted from Buddhism to Roman Catholicism and lost the greater part of his fortune.
  13. ^ de Rochebouët, Béatrice (28 October 2022). "Enchères: sous le sceau du dernier empereur du Vietnam" [Auction: under the seal of the last emperor of Vietnam]. Le Figaro (in French). Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2024. Et, sur son initiative, reçut en 1988 le baptême catholique. [And, on his initiative, he received Catholic baptism in 1988.]
  14. ^ "BẢO ĐẠI (NGUYỄN PHÚC VĨNH THỤY, JEAN-ROBERT, 1913–1997)". indochine.uqam.ca. University of Quebec in Montreal. Retrieved 8 January 2024. The former emperor died there, after having remarried a French woman in 1972 and converted to Catholicism in 1988.
  15. ^ D. Fineman (1997). A Special Relationship: The United States and Military Government in Thailand, 1947–1958. University of Hawaii Press. p. 111. ISBN 9780824818180.
  16. ^ a b c Viet, Dan, "vua Bảo Dại co bao nhieu vọ con?," Nghệ Thuật Xưa
  17. ^ "'Gái quê' thành vũ nữ đa tình nức tiếng", Người đưa tin, 17 January 2013.
  18. ^ Trang, Tâm (4 July 2013). "Những cuộc trả lời phỏng vấn báo chí của Bác Hồ (Phần 4)". Trang tin điện tử Ban quản lý lăng Chủ tịch Hồ Chí Minh (in Vietnamese). Archived from the original on 4 December 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  19. ^ Trả lời điện phỏng vấn của Dân quốc nhật báo (1949)(1), Hồ Chí Minh toàn tập, Tập 5 (1947–1949) Archived 8 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine, Nhà Xuất bản Sự thật, Hà Nội, 1985, trang 211, 212.
  20. ^ "Chính phủ cách mạng lâm thời tiếp nhận sự thoái vị của Bảo Đại". Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  21. ^ "Kiến nghị đòi lại ấn "Kim Bảo Tỷ" và kiếm "Khải Định Niên Chế" cho Nhà nước Việt Nam | Tiếng Dân". 28 October 2022. Archived from the original on 12 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  22. ^ "Tạp chí Việt Nam - Bảo Đại : Từ hoàng đế Việt "lực bất tòng tâm" đến "thường dân" Pháp". RFI (in Vietnamese). 23 October 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  23. ^ "Vua Bảo Đại và kết cục buồn cho Việt Nam". BBC News Tiếng Việt (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  24. ^ VnExpress. "'Ngọn nến hoàng cung' - chất nhân văn nhẹ nhàng". vnexpress.net (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  25. ^ "ROLEX Ref. 6062". Philipps.
  26. ^ Naas, Roberta. "Bao Dai Rolex Sells For More Than $5 Million At Phillips Auction, Setting A New World Record". Forbes. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  27. ^ a b D. G. Marr (1997). Vietnam 1945: The Quest for Power. London, England: University of California Press. ISBN 9780520212282.
  28. ^ H. R. McMaster (1998). Dereliction of Duty: Johnson, McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Lies That Led to Vietnam. New York, NY: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780060929084.
  29. ^ P. Shenon (2 August 1997). "Bao Dai, 83, of Vietnam; Emperor and Bon Vivant". The New York Times.
  30. ^ VietNamNet Bridge (10 February 2016). "No royal seal left in Hue today. VietNamNet Bridge – It is a great regret that none of more than 100 seals of the Nguyen emperors are in Hue City today". VietNam Breaking News. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2021.

Further reading

  • Anh, Nguyên Thê. "The Vietnamese Monarchy under French Colonial Rule 1884–1945." Modern Asian Studies 19.1 (1985): 147–162 online.
  • Chapuis, Oscar. The Last Emperors of Vietnam: From Tu Duc to Bao Dai (Greenwood, 2000).
  • Chapman, Jessica M. "Staging democracy: South Vietnam's 1955 referendum to depose Bao Dai." Diplomatic History 30.4 (2006): 671–703. online
  • Hammer, Ellen J. "The Bao Dai Experiment." Pacific Affairs 23.1 (1950): 46–58. online
  • Hess, Gary R. "The first American commitment in Indochina: The acceptance of the 'Bao Dai solution', 1950." Diplomatic History 2.4 (1978): 331–350. online
  • Lockhart. Bruce McFarland (1993). The End of the Vietnamese Monarchy. Lac Viet Series. Vol. 15. New Haven, CT: Yale Center for International and Area Studies. ISBN 9780938692508.
  • Szalontai, Balázs. "The 'Sole Legal Government of Vietnam': The Bao Dai Factor and Soviet Attitudes toward Vietnam, 1947–1950." Journal of Cold War Studies (2018) 20#3 pp 3–56. online[dead link]

Other languages

  • Bảo Đại's memoirs have been published in French and in Vietnamese; the Vietnamese version appears considerably longer.
  • Bảo Đại (1980). Le dragon d'Annam (in French). Paris: Plon. ISBN 9782259005210.
  • Bảo Đại (1990). Con rong Viet Nam: hoi ky chanh tri 1913–1987 (in Vietnamese). Los Alamitos, CA: Nguyen Phuoc Toc (distributed by Xuan Thu Publishing). OCLC 22628825.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Emperor Bảo Đại.
  • Newspaper clippings about Bảo Đại in the 20th Century Press Archives of the ZBW

Photos of Bảo Đại's summer palaces

  • Web citation
  • Images
Bảo Đại House of Nguyễn PhúcBorn: 22 October 1913 Died: 31 July 1997
Regnal titles
Preceded byKhải Định Emperor of Vietnam 8 January 1926 – 25 August 1945 Last Emperor (abdicated)
Political offices
Preceded byNguyễn Văn Xuânas president Head of state of Vietnam 13 June 1949 – 30 April 1955 Succeeded byNgô Đình Diệmas president
Preceded byKhải Định Head of the House of Nguyen Phuc 8 January 1926 – 31 July 1997 Succeeded byBảo Long
  • v
  • t
  • e
Emperors of the Nguyễn dynasty
  • Gia Long
  • Minh Mạng
  • Thiệu Trị
  • Tự Đức
  • Dục Đức
  • Hiệp Hòa
  • Kiến Phúc
  • Hàm Nghi
  • Đồng Khánh
  • Thành Thái
  • Duy Tân
  • Khải Định
  • Bảo Đại
  • v
  • t
  • e
Nguyễn dynasty topics
Overview
  • Sovereign state (1802–1883)
  • French protectorates of Annam and Tonkin (1883–1945)
  • Empire of Vietnam (1945)
History
Sovereign Việt Nam / Đại Nam(Nhà Nguyễn thời độc lập)
  • Nguyễn lords
  • Đàng Trong
  • Nam tiến
    • Six Provinces of Southern Vietnam
  • Citadel of Saigon
  • Nguyễn dynasty's persecution of Catholics in the 19th century
    • Tự Đức's Catholic persecution
  • Văn Thân movement
French protectorate(s)(Pháp thuộc, 法屬)
  • French conquest of Vietnam
  • Cần Vương
  • Great Hanoi Rat Massacre
  • Hanoi Exhibition
  • Đông Du
  • Duy Tân Hội
  • Hanoi Poison Plot
  • History of Vietnam during World War I
  • Việt Nam Quang Phục Hội
  • Vietnamese Revolutionary Youth League
  • Việt Nam Quốc Dân Đảng
  • Le Travail movement
  • Communist Party of Vietnam
    • Phú Riềng Đỏ
    • Việt Minh
  • French Indochina in World War II
Japanese period
  • Japanese invasion of French Indochina
  • Japanese coup d'état in French Indochina
  • Vietnamese famine of 1944–1945
  • Abdication of Bảo Đại
  • Declaration of independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam
Government
Emperors
  • Gia Long (1802–1820)
  • Minh Mạng (1820–1841)
  • Thiệu Trị (1841–1847)
  • Tự Đức (1847–1883)
  • Dục Đức (1883)
  • Hiệp Hòa (1883)
  • Kiến Phúc (1883–1884)
  • Hàm Nghi (1884–1885)
  • Đồng Khánh (1885–1889)
  • Thành Thái (1889–1907)
  • Duy Tân (1907–1916)
  • Khải Định (1916–1925)
  • Bảo Đại (1925–1945)
Ministries & agencies
  • Censorate
  • Court of Judicial Review
  • Court of Imperial Entertainments
  • Court of the Imperial Stud
  • Court of Imperial Sacrifices
    • Office of the National Altars
  • Hàn lâm viện
  • House of People's Representatives of Annam
  • Imperial Clan Court
  • Imperial Household Department
  • Quốc Tử Giám
  • Lục bộ
  • Ministry of Education
  • Nội các
  • Viện cơ mật
Symbols
  • Coat of arms
  • Đăng đàn cung
  • Flags
    • Provincial flags
  • Names of the Nguyễn dynasty state (Việt Nam / Đại Nam)
  • Seals of the Nguyễn dynasty
  • Vietnamese dragon
Provincial administration
  • Đề Đốc
  • Tuần phủ
  • Tổng Trấn
French administration
  • Khâm sứ Trung Kỳ
  • Thống sứ Bắc Kỳ
Prominent mandarins
  • Bạch Xuân Nguyên
  • Cao Xuân Dục
  • Jean-Baptiste Chaigneau
  • Jean Marie Despiau
  • Hoàng Cao Khải
  • Hoàng Diệu
  • Hoàng Kế Viêm
  • Michael Hồ Đình Hy
  • Lê Chất
  • Ngô Đình Diệm
  • Ngô Đình Khả
  • Ngô Đình Khôi
  • Nguyễn Trường Tộ
  • Nguyễn Huỳnh Đức
  • Nguyễn Văn Tâm
  • Nguyễn Văn Tồn
  • Nguyễn Văn Nhơn
  • Phan Văn Thúy
  • Phạm Quỳnh
  • Phạm Thận Duật
  • Phan Đình Phùng
  • Phan Thanh Giản
  • Phan Thanh Liêm
  • Nguyễn Tri Phương
  • Thân Văn Nhiếp
  • Nguyễn Ngọc Thơ
  • Thoại Ngọc Hầu
  • Tôn Thất Đính
  • Tôn Thất Thuyết
  • Trần Trọng Kim
  • Trần Cao Vân
  • Đặng Huy Trứ
  • Trương Định
  • Trương Minh Giảng
  • Trương Tấn Bửu
  • Nguyễn Văn Tường
  • Philippe Vannier
Military
Battles and wars
  • Tây Sơn wars
    • French assistance to Nguyễn Ánh
  • Vietnamese invasions of Cambodia
  • Cambodian rebellion (1811–1812)
  • Cambodian rebellion (1820)
  • Ja Lidong rebellion
  • Phan Bá Vành's Rebellion
  • Anouvong's Rebellion against Siam
  • Siamese–Vietnamese War (1831–1834)
  • Nduai Kabait rebellion
  • Nông Văn Vân's Rebellion
  • Katip Sumat's Jihad
  • Ja Thak Wa uprising
  • Lê Văn Khôi revolt
  • Cambodian rebellion (1840)
  • Siamese–Vietnamese War (1841–1845)
  • Bombardment of Tourane (1847)
  • Cochinchina campaign
  • Tonkin campaign
    • Garnier Expedition
    • Sino-French War
  • Ba Dinh uprising / Cần Vương
  • Yên Thế Insurrection
  • Pacification of Tonkin
  • Thái Nguyên uprising
  • Vue Pa Chay's revolt
  • Yên Bái mutiny
  • Uprising of the Nghệ-Tĩnh soviets
  • August Revolution
Prominent military personnel
  • Hoàng Kế Viêm
  • Lê Văn Duyệt
  • Lê Văn Khôi
  • Nguyễn Cư Trinh
  • Nguyễn Huỳnh Đức
  • Nguyễn Văn Thành
  • Nguyễn Văn Tồn
  • Nguyễn Văn Nhơn
  • Nguyễn Tri Phương
  • Phan Văn Thúy
  • Trương Minh Giảng
Special administrative regions
  • Champa
    • Principality of Thuận Thành
  • Principality of Hà Tiên
  • Sip Song Chau Tai
  • Thủy Xá and Hỏa Xá
  • Trấn Ninh
  • Trấn Tây Thành
Palaces & mausoleums
Palaces
  • Imperial City of Huế
    • Meridian Gate
Tombs
  • Thien Tho Mausoleum
  • Khiêm Mausoleum
  • An Mausoleum
  • Ứng Mausoleum
Society & culture
  • Áo dài
  • Đại Nam nhất thống chí
  • Đại Nam thực lục
  • Hoàng Lê nhất thống chí
  • Khâm định Việt sử Thông giám cương mục
  • Khăn vấn
  • Woodblocks of the Nguyễn Dynasty
Education
  • Imperial Academy, Huế
  • Imperial examination
    • Confucian court examination system in Vietnam
  • Quốc Học – Huế High School for the Gifted
  • Société d’Enseignement Mutuel du Tonkin
  • Tonkin Free School
Currency
Cash coins
  • Tự Đức Thông Bảo
  • Tự Đức Bảo Sao
  • Khải Định Thông Bảo
  • Bảo Đại Thông Bảo
Currency units
  • Văn
  • Mạch
  • Quán
  • Tiền
Colonial currencies
  • French Indochinese piastre
Laws
  • Hương ước
Treaties
  • Saigon (1862)
  • Huế (1863)
  • Saigon (1874)
  • Huế (1883)
  • Huế (1884)
Orders, decorations, and medals
  • Bai
  • Imperial Order of the Dragon of Annam
  • Kim Khánh
Other topics
  • Domain of the Crown
  • Economy of the Nguyễn dynasty until 1884
  • Esplanade of Sacrifice to the Heaven and Earth
  • House of Nguyễn Phúc
  • Long Wall of Quảng Ngãi
  • Postage stamps and postal history of Annam and Tongking
  • Thoại Hà Canal
  • Vĩnh Tế Canal
  • Tôn Thất
  • Vietnamese nationalism
  • v
  • t
  • e
Monarchs of Vietnam
2800s BC–43 AD
  • Kinh Dương Vương
  • Lạc Long Quân
  • Hùng Quốc Vương
  • Hùng Diệp Vương
  • Hùng Hy Vương
  • Hùng Huy Vương
  • Hùng Chiêu Vương
  • Hùng Vi Vương
  • Hùng Định Vương
  • Hùng Nghi Vương
  • Hùng Trinh Vương
  • Hùng Vũ Vương
  • Hùng Việt Vương
  • Hùng Anh Vương
  • Hùng Triệu Vương
  • Hùng Tạo Vương
  • Hùng Nghị Vương
  • Hùng Duệ Vương
  • Hùng XVII
  • Hùng XVII
  • An Dương Vương
  • Triệu Vũ Đế
  • Triệu Văn Đế
  • Triệu Minh Vương
  • Triệu Ai Vương
  • Triệu Dương Vương
  • Trưng Sisters
713–1945
  • Mai Thúc Loan
  • Mai Thúc Huy
  • Phùng Hưng
  • Phùng An
  • Lý Nam Đế
  • Triệu Việt Vương
  • Đào Lang Vương
  • Hậu Lý Nam Đế
  • Khúc Tiên Chủ
  • Khúc Trung Chủ
  • Khúc Hậu Chủ
  • Dương Đình Nghệ
  • Kiều Công Tiễn
  • Ngô Quyền
  • Dương Tam Kha
  • Hậu Ngô Vương
  • Đinh Tiên Hoàng
  • Đinh Phế Đế
  • Lê Đại Hành
  • Lê Trung Tông
  • Lê Ngoạ Triều
  • Lý Thái Tổ
  • Lý Thái Tông
  • Lý Thánh Tông
  • Lý Nhân Tông
  • Lý Thần Tông
  • Lý Anh Tông
  • Lý Cao Tông
  • Lý Thẩm
  • Lý Huệ Tông
  • Lý Nguyên Vương
  • Lý Chiêu Hoàng
  • Trần Thái Tông
  • Trần Thánh Tông
  • Trần Nhân Tông
  • Trần Anh Tông
  • Trần Minh Tông
  • Trần Hiến Tông
  • Trần Dụ Tông
  • Hôn Đức Công
  • Trần Nghệ Tông
  • Trần Duệ Tông
  • Trần Phế Đế
  • Trần Thuận Tông
  • Trần Thiếu Đế
  • Hồ Quý Ly
  • Hồ Hán Thương
  • Giản Định Đế
  • Trùng Quang Đế
  • Thiên Khánh Đế
  • Lê Thái Tổ
  • Lê Thái Tông
  • Lê Nhân Tông
  • Lê Nghi Dân
  • Lê Thánh Tông
  • Lê Hiến Tông
  • Lê Túc Tông
  • Lê Uy Mục
  • Lê Tương Dực
  • Lê Quang Trị
  • Lê Chiêu Tông
  • Lê Bảng
  • Lê Do
  • Lê Cung Hoàng
  • Mạc Thái Tổ
  • Mạc Thái Tông
  • Mạc Hiến Tông
  • Mạc Chính Trung
  • Mạc Tuyên Tông
  • Mạc Mậu Hợp
  • Mạc Toàn
  • Mạc Kính Chỉ
  • Mạc Kính Cung
  • Mạc Kính Khoan
  • Mạc Kính Vũ
  • Lê Trang Tông
  • Lê Trung Tông
  • Lê Anh Tông
  • Lê Thế Tông
  • Lê Kính Tông
  • Lê Thần Tông
  • Lê Chân Tông
  • Lê Huyền Tông
  • Lê Gia Tông
  • Lê Hi Tông
  • Lê Dụ Tông
  • Lê Duy Phường
  • Lê Thuần Tông
  • Lê Ý Tông
  • Lê Hiển Tông
  • Lê Mẫn Đế
  • Trịnh Kiểm
  • Trịnh Tùng
  • Trịnh Tráng
  • Trịnh Tạc
  • Trịnh Căn
  • Trịnh Cương
  • Trịnh Giang
  • Trịnh Doanh
  • Trịnh Sâm
  • Trịnh Cán
  • Trịnh Khải
  • Trịnh Bồng
  • Nguyễn Hoàng
  • Nguyễn Phúc Nguyên
  • Nguyễn Phúc Lan
  • Nguyễn Phúc Tần
  • Nguyễn Phúc Thái
  • Nguyễn Phúc Chu
  • Nguyễn Phúc Chú
  • Nguyễn Phúc Khoát
  • Nguyễn Phúc Thuần
  • Nguyễn Phúc Dương
  • Nguyễn Nhạc
  • Nguyễn Huệ
  • Nguyễn Quang Toản
  • Gia Long
  • Minh Mạng
  • Thiệu Trị
  • Tự Đức
  • Dục Đức
  • Hiệp Hòa
  • Kiến Phúc
  • Hàm Nghi
  • Đồng Khánh
  • Thành Thái
  • Duy Tân
  • Khải Định
  • Bảo Đại
  • v
  • t
  • e
Heads of the House of Nguyễn Phúc since 1945
  • Emperor Bảo Đại (1945–1997)
  • Crown Prince Bảo Long (1997–2007)
  • Prince Bảo Thăng (2007–2017)
  • Prince Bảo Ngọc (2017–present)
Royal coat of arms of Vietnam
  • v
  • t
  • e
Vietnam Heads of state of Vietnam since 1945
Empire of Vietnam (1945)
Empire of Vietnam
Empire of Vietnam
  • Bảo Đại
Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam; 1945–1976)
  • North Vietnam
    North Vietnam
  • Ho Chi Minh
  • Huỳnh Thúc Kháng1
  • Tôn Đức Thắng
  • State / Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam; 1949–1975)
    South Vietnam
    South Vietnam
    • Bảo Đại
    • Ngô Đình Diệm
    • Dương Văn Minh2
    • Nguyễn Khánh2
    • Provisional Leadership Committee
    • Dương Văn Minh2
    • Phan Khắc Sửu2
    • Nguyễn Văn Thiệu2
    • Trần Văn Hương
    • Dương Văn Minh
    Socialist Republic of Vietnam (1976–present)
    Vietnam
    Vietnam
  • Tôn Đức Thắng
  • Nguyễn Hữu Thọ1
  • Trường Chinh3
  • Võ Chí Công3
  • Lê Đức Anh
  • Trần Đức Lương
  • Nguyễn Minh Triết
  • Trương Tấn Sang
  • Trần Đại Quang
  • Đặng Thị Ngọc Thịnh1
  • Nguyễn Phú Trọng
  • Nguyễn Xuân Phúc
  • Võ Thị Ánh Xuân1
  • Võ Văn Thưởng
  • Võ Thị Ánh Xuân1
  • Tô Lâm
  • Lương Cường
  • 1acting
  • 2military
  • 3Chairman of the Council of State
    • v
    • t
    • e
    Vietnam Prime ministers of Vietnam since 1945
    Empire of Vietnam (1945)
    Empire of Vietnam
    Empire of Vietnam
    • Trần Trọng Kim
    Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam; 1945–1976)
    North Vietnam
    North Vietnam
  • Ho Chi Minh
  • Huỳnh Thúc Kháng1
  • Phạm Văn Đồng
  • Republic of Cochinchina (1946–1949)
    Republic of Cochinchina
    Republic of Cochinchina
  • Nguyễn Văn Thinh
  • Lê Văn Hoạch
  • Nguyễn Văn Xuân
  • Trần Văn Hữu
  • Provisional Central Government of Vietnam (1948–1949)
  • Nguyễn Văn Xuân
  • State / Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam; 1949–1975)
    South Vietnam
    South Vietnam
    • Bảo Đại
    • Nguyễn Phan Long
    • Trần Văn Hữu
    • Nguyễn Văn Tâm
    • Bửu Lộc
    • Phan Huy Quát
    • Ngô Đình Diệm
    • Nguyễn Ngọc Thơ2
    • Nguyễn Khánh2
    • Nguyễn Xuân Oánh1, 2
    • Nguyễn Khánh2
    • Trần Văn Hương2
    • Nguyễn Xuân Oánh1, 2
    • Phan Huy Quát2
    • Nguyễn Cao Kỳ2
    • Nguyễn Văn Lộc
    • Trần Văn Hương
    • Trần Thiện Khiêm
    • Nguyễn Bá Cẩn
    • Vũ Văn Mẫu
    Socialist Republic of Vietnam (1976–present)
    Vietnam
    Vietnam
  • Phạm Văn Đồng
  • Phạm Hùng
  • Võ Văn Kiệt1
  • Đỗ Mười
  • Võ Văn Kiệt
  • Phan Văn Khải
  • Nguyễn Tấn Dũng
  • Nguyễn Xuân Phúc
  • Phạm Minh Chính
  • 1acting
  • 2head of a military government
  • Authority control databases Edit this at Wikidata
    International
    • ISNI
    • VIAF
    • GND
    • FAST
    • WorldCat
    National
    • United States
    • France
    • BnF data
    • Italy
    People
    • Trove
    • Deutsche Biographie
    • DDB
    Other
    • IdRef
    • NARA
    • Yale LUX

    Từ khóa » Head Bảo Hoàng