Triệu Việt Vương - Wikipedia

King of Vạn Xuân

Triệu Việt Vương趙越王
King of Vạn Xuân
Reign	548–555 co-reigned with Lý Thiên Bảo, 555–571 as sole ruler
Predecessor	Lý Nam Đế
Successor	Hậu Lý Nam Đế
Born	26 January 524Zhu Jian, Jiaozhou, Liang China
Died	571
Issue	?
Names Triệu Quang Phục (趙光復) Regnal name Dạ Trạch Vương (夜澤王)
Dynasty	Early Lý dynasty
Father	Triệu Tục
Mother	Nguyễn Thị Hựu

Triệu Việt Vương (Chữ Hán 趙越王, 524–571), born Triệu Quang Phục (趙光復), was a king of the Vietnamese Early Lý dynasty in the 6th century. He was co-ruler alongside Lý Thiên Bảo from 548 until Lý Thiên Bảo's death in 555, upon which he became sole sovereign until his death in 571. Unlike the other rulers of the early Lý Dynasty, Triệu Việt Vương did not belong to the Lý family, and instead obtained his high position by being the commanding general of Vạn Xuân, where he was best known for leading a resistance against the Liang dynasty that tried to regain Vạn Xuân. He was a pioneer in waging guerrilla war tactics.[1]

Early life

[edit]

Little is recorded about Triệu Việt Vương's (born Triệu Quang Phục) early life, other than the fact that he was the son of Triệu Tục, a senior military leader under Lý Nam Đế.[2] He was born on 26 January 524 in Zhu Jian (today Hưng Yên province).

Rise to power

[edit]

Part of a series on the
History of Vietnam
Prehistoric Paleolithic Sơn Vi culture 20,000 BC–12,000 BC Mesolithic Hoabinhian 12,000 BC–10,000 BC Neolithic Bắc Sơn culture 10,000 BC–8,000 BC Quỳnh Văn culture 8,000 BC–6,000 BC Đa Bút culture 4,000 BC–3,000 BC Bronze and Iron Ages Phùng Nguyên culture 2,000 BC–1,500 BC Đồng Đậu culture 1,500 BC–1,000 BC Gò Mun culture 1,000–800 BC Dong Son culture (1,000 BC–100 AD) Sa Huỳnh culture (1,000 BC–200 AD) Óc Eo culture (1–630 AD)
Ancient Hồng Bàng dynasty myth–258 BC Thục dynasty 257 BC–179 BC Triệu dynasty 204 BC–111 BC
Dominated Han conquest 111 BC 1st Chinese domination 111 BC–40 AD Trung sisters' rebellion 40–43 2nd Chinese domination 43–544 Early Lý dynasty 544–602 3rd Chinese domination 602–938 Battle of Bạch Đằng 938
Dynastic Ngô dynasty 939–965 Anarchy of the 12 Warlords 965–968 Đinh dynasty 968–980 Anterior Lê dynasty 980–1009 Later Lý dynasty 1009–1225 Trần dynasty 1225–1400 Hồ dynasty 1400–1407 4th Chinese domination 1407–1428 Later Lê dynasty 1428–1527 Mạc dynasty 1527–1592 Later Lê Restoration 1533–1789  Đàng Ngoài  Đàng Trong Tây Sơn dynasty 1778–1802 Nguyễn dynasty 1802–1945 French conquest 1858–1887
Colonial French Cochinchina 1862–1949 French Annam 1883–1949 French Tonkin 1883–1949 French Indochina 1887–1945 First World War 1914–1918 Japanese occupation 1940–1945   Famine 1944–1945 Empire of Vietnam 1945   August Revolution
Modern Democratic Republic of Vietnam 1945–1976 Civil conflicts 1945–1949 Southern Resistance 1945–1946 First Indochina War 1946–1954 State of Vietnam 1949–1955 Republic of Vietnam 1955–1975 Vietnam War 1955–1975 Republic of South Vietnam 1975–1976 Socialist Republic of Vietnam 1976–now   Cambodian–Vietnamese War 1978–1989   Sino-Vietnamese War 1979   Sino-Vietnamese conflicts 1979–1991   Đổi Mới 1986–now
Peripheral Funan 68–627 Champa 192–1832 Cát Tiên archaeological site 300–800 Chenla 550–781 Nanzhao 738–902 Khmer Empire 802–1431 Dali Kingdom 937–1253 Nung-Zhuang kingdom 1042–1052 Ngưu Hống 1061–1432 Jarai kingdoms 1100–1904 Sip Song Chau Tai 1600–1954 Principality of Hà Tiên 1707–1832
By topic Agriculture Dynasties Economy Historical capitals Immigration Military Monarchs Names Naval Women Indochina Wars
Vietnam portal
v t e

During the 530s, Vietnam was a province of the Chinese Liang dynasty. It was governed by Xiao Zi (蕭諮), a nephew of the Liang emperor, Emperor Wu. Xiao Zi's rule was marked by corruption and cruelty.[3] In late 540, a local magistrate, Lý Bôn, rallied local Việt officials and soldiers to support his cause for independence. Among them was Triệu Tục, whose frustrations with Xiao Zi’s incompetence spurred him into joining the group. After hearing news of the rebellion, Emperor Wu, the Liang Emperor, sent an army southward in attempt to crush the rebellion led by Lý Bí.[4] Lý Bôn made use of tactical withdrawals against the Liang forces, who were defeated by Lý’s army, according to historical Chinese sources. In 548, Lý Bôn was killed by Lǎo (ms. 獠) tribesmen (a Tai-Kadai ethnic group)[5] while on retreat from the Hong River Plain.[6] Facing inevitable defeat and dwindling military supplies, Triệu Túc realized he could not endure the long campaign, and consequently appointed his trusted son, Triệu Quang Phục, to lead the resisting forces after the emperor's death. By this time, Triệu Quang Phục had followed his father's footsteps in establishing himself as a notable resistance leader in the Hong River Plain.

Resistance against the Liang dynasty

[edit]

Recognizing the superior strength of the Liang army, Triệu Quang Phục often retreated to more favorable terrain, mainly in the swamps and marshlands. He stationed his army in the forests for tactical advantage, where he was able to employ guerrilla warfare and wage a war of attrition against the Liang army.[7] Triệu would rest his army during the day and attack the Liang army at night, seizing goods and killing many Chinese soldiers. Afterwards, he would quickly retreat back to his stronghold before the Chinese could reassemble their army to counter-attack.[2]

After the assassination of Lý Nam Đế in 548, his elder brother, Lý Thiên Bảo, became the de facto ruler of Vạn Xuân. Lý Thiên Bảo died of an illness in 555 and left no heirs, which prompted the military and officials to elect Triệu Quang Phục as leader and de facto ruler. He took the regnal name Triệu Việt Vương. However, his election was not undisputed, as other prominent family members of Lý Nam Đế challenged Triệu Quang Phục's leadership. While Triệu Quang Phục claimed rightful succession through the approval of the court officials, military, and general populace, the Lý family claimed rightful leadership through primogeniture, since they were still considered the rightful ruling family.

As strong as the Chinese were, they could not make any headway against Triệu Quang Phục’s style of warfare. This indecisive period lasted until 557, when a respite finally came for the Lý forces. Hou Jing revolted against the Liang dynasty, and the leading Liang general in Vietnam, Chen Batian, was recalled back to China to help quell the uprising. The Vietnamese forces, however, had no time to rejoice at the news of this temporary reprieve.

Civil war

[edit]

Shortly after Lý Thiên Bảo died, his cousin, Lý Phật Tử, claimed the imperial throne and challenged Triệu Việt Vương. A civil war broke out for the throne with no decisive victory. Wary about engaging in internal fighting that would only frustrate the people, Triệu Việt Vương sued for peace. Subsequently, all the lands north of Long Biên would be under Lý Phật Tử's rule, and the land south of Long Biên would belong to Triệu Việt Vương.[citation needed]

In 571, Lý Phật Tự broke the truce and attacked Triệu Quang Phục's domain. Since Triệu Quang Phục's domain was not prepared for this assault, they were easily defeated. His capital was sacked and burned by Lý Phật Tự's forces, however, he managed to escape. During his retreat, Triệu Quang Phục committed suicide. Triệu Quang Phục's remaining forces and territories surrendered and were incorporated into Lý Phật Tự's domains.[8]

Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Kim Biên Vũ Triệu Việt Vương 2008 "Triệu Quang Phục, one of the best generals of king Lý Nam Đế, becomes king Triệu Việt Vương after king Lý passes away."
2. ^ a b Taylor 151
3. ^ Taylor 136
4. ^ Woods 28
5. ^ Churchman, Michael. 2011. "“The People in Between”: The Li and Lao from the Han to the Sui." In Nola Cooke, Li Tana, and James A. Anderson, eds, The Tongking Gulf through History. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania, p. 71-72 of pp. 67-83.
6. ^ Taylor 143
7. ^ Woods 29
8. ^ Anh Thư Hà, Hò̂ng Đức Trà̂n A brief chronology of Vietnam's history - Page 23 2000 "On April 13, 548, Triệu Quang Phục ascended the throne as Triệu Việt Vưong (another name: Dạ Trạch Vương). ... Triệu Việt Vương, Lý Phật Tự proclaimed himself King Lý Nam Đế II, with capital in Phong Châu (Bạch Hạc, Phú Thọ province) ..."

References

[edit]

• Taylor, Keith Weller. (copyright 1983). The Birth of Vietnam. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-07417-3
• Woods, Shelton. (copyright 2002). Vietnam: An Illustrated History. Hippocrene Books, Inc. ISBN 0-7818-0910-X
• Tran Trong Kim. (1953). Viet Nam Su Luoc.

Preceded byLý Thiên Bảo

Ruler of Vietnam 548–571

Succeeded byHậu Lý Nam Đế