Triệu Dynasty
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The Triệu Dynasty (Vietnamese: Nhà Triệu) is the name given in Vietnam to the lineage of kings of the kingdom of Nam Việt (Nanyue), which ruled over parts of southern China and northern Việtnam, and, in some contexts, by extension the era of Nam Việt rule, or even the kingdom itself. It is regarded by some as the first dynasty to rule what is now Việtnam. There are, however, many unresolved questions about this era.
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[edit] Historical Accounts
There are two major views on the categorization of the dynasty.
1) Triệu Đà (chữ Nho:趙佗; Chao Tuo in Cantonese; Zhao Tuo in Chinese) was a general of the Tần Quốc (Qin Dynasty), who made himself the king of Nam Việt (Nanyue), established in the area of Lingnan (chữ Nho:嶺南), which today comprises Quảng Đông (Guangdong), Quảng Tây (Guangxi), Hồ Nam (Hunan), Giang Tây (Jiangxi) and other nearby areas of southern mainland China. He conquered the state of Âu Lạc, a country named by Thục Phán An Dương Vương. He favored local Việt customs.[1]
2) It is well documented that his independent rule of Nam Việt were acts of defiance of the Western Han Dynasty and he severed all ties with China, killed all Chinese employees appointed by the central government and favored local Việt customs.[2] The Triệu Dynasty ended when the Hán (Han) seized and occupied Nam Việt after the fall of Triệu Dương Vương (Triệu Đà's great-grandson) in 111 BCE. According to this view of history, the First Chinese domination commenced in 111 BCE and lasted until the revolt of the Trưng sisters (or Hai Bà Trưng) which occurred around 40 CE.
[edit] Triệu Vũ Vương or Zhao Wu Di (207-136 BCE)
In the legends of Trọng Thủy and Mỵ Châu (also known as "The Magic Bow"), Triệu Đà married his son Trọng Thủy to An Dương Vương's daughter Mỵ Châu in an attempt to steal a magical bow from his in-laws. He thus defeated An Dương Vương in 207 BCE and used the bow to seize control of Âu Lạc. Having seized Âu Lạc, Triệu Đà united it with the other states, and controlled and renamed the whole country Nam Việt or Nanyue. Triệu Đà proclaimed himself Triệu Vũ Vương and ruled this country until 136 BCE.
[edit] Administration and rule
Knowing the Âu Lạc's people were famous for their fierce fighting and struggle for independence, Triệu Đà divided the state into two regions: Cửu Chân and Giao Chỉ. Giao Chỉ now encompasses most of northern Việtnam. He allowed each region to have representatives to the central government and thus his administration was quite relaxed and had a feeling of being decentralized. However, he remained in control. Being a talented general and cunning diplomat, he sought a peaceful relationship with China which was in turmoil with the seated Tần (Qin) fighting the strong Hán and Lưu (Liu) insurgents.
[edit] Triệu Văn Vương or Zhao Wen Di (136-124 BCE)
Triệu Đà was succeeded by his grandson, Triệu Mạt (Trọng Thủy and Mỵ Châu's son), who took the imperial name Triệu Văn Vương (Zhao Wen Di) 136 BC 124 BCE. During Triệu Văn Vương reign, he quell the abhorrence of the Mân Việt (Minyue) towards the Han, and the Han bigotry toward the Mân Việt as to honor the diplomacy set up by Triệu Vũ Vương and Hán Võ Đế (Han Wu Di). Hán Võ Đế realizing that Triệu Văn Vương (Zhao Wu Di) is a great diplomat, therefore, he also offered to "help" by sending his military ostensibly to suppress his citizen, but with an eye of seizing the country of Nam Việt should an occasion arise.
The imperial Hán officials suggested to Hán Võ Đế that it would be in their best interest to have Triệu Văn Vương's crowned prince live and study in the Imperial Han's court. Triệu Vũ Vương took this as a good gesture of Hán Võ Đế, whom he had view as a brother, to strengthen the relationship between Hán and Nam Việt.
[edit] Triệu Minh Vương or Zhao Ming Di (124-112 BCE)
Triệu Anh Te was the crown prince when his father, Triệu Vǎn Vương, died. Triệu Anh Te's appointment to the position of Triệu Minh Vương (Emperor Zhao Ming) was a conciliatory measure to the Emperor in Trường An (Chang'an) Citadel as a sign of respect. This crowned prince, Triệu Anh Te, lived most of his life in China. In China he had fathered a son by a Hán woman name Cu Thi; In one popular theory, she was Hán Võ Đế own daughter. He named the son Triệu Hưng. Only when his father, Triệu Văn Vương, died did Triệu Anh Te receive permission to go home for his father's funeral. This happened in 124 BCE. Triệu Anh Te ascended the throne as Triệu Minh Vương. Not much is known about Triệu Minh Vương's reign, probably because it is a short one and he was subservient to the Hán emperor. Even so, it was recorded that was quite a lady's man and were sought after by many Royal Hán princesses. His Chinese-born son, Triệu Hưng, was only about 6 years old when Trieu Minh Vương died. Owing to Triệu Hưng's extreme youth, his mother Cu Thi, became the Empress Dowager.
Trieu Minh Vương's death precipitated the events that would lead to the seizure and domination of Nam Việt by the Hán forces.
[edit] Triệu Ai Vương or Zhao Ai Di (113-112 BCE)
Triệu Hưng, just an infant of 6 year-old, ascended the throne under the imperial name of Triệu Ai Vương (Emperor Zhao Ai). Soon thereafter, the Hán emperor Võ Đế (Wu Di) summoned him and his mother, Cu Thi, to an audience to pay homage in the Hán's Imperial Court. The Hán held Cu Thi and Triệu Ai Vương under the pretext that the young Emperor needed their protection. By acquiescing to this gesture, both the Empress Dowager and the young emperor Triệu Ai Vương gave the public the impression that they were just puppets in the hands of the Hán court. With Triệu Ai Vương in his hands and Nam Việt's Empress Dowager beheaded, Hán Võ Đế prepared his army for a invasion.
In 112 BCE, Hán Võ Đế sent two of his grand commanding generals, Lộ Bác Đức and Dương Bộc along with 5 thousand of his greatest army to invade Nam Việt's border.
[edit] Triệu Dương Vương or Zhao Yang Di (111 BCE)
Nam Việt's, Quan Thái-phó (senior prime minister), Lữ Gia (Lü Jia) sent out the Defense Force to meet the Hán at the border to repel the invasion. The army was strong, but smaller in number. Meanwhile, inside the country, The word has spread that Triệu Dương Vương is in the hand of Hán Võ Đế. The Việt feared that if they resist, their Emperor would be harm by the hands of the Hán Emperor. The country is now in a state of chaos. With Hán Võ Đế kept sending more and more reinforcement for his army at the border, the Nam Việt's army was unable to hold their position. Lữ Gia saw that Nam Việt must have a new King in order to calm its people and to stir up Việt (Yue) patriotism to fight. Triệu Kiến Ðức, Triệu Minh Vương's eldest son from one of his concubines, took the burden of leading his people to war. Triệu Kiến Ðức took the title of Triệu Dương Vương (Emperor Zhao Yang).
With its King being too young and inexperienced; leading an untrained, however brave army. Nam Việt was only able to keep their strong-hold for awhile. Hán crushed the Yue (Việt) army along with Lữ Gia (Lü Jia) and his King (Trieu Duong Vuong), both resisted 'til the end. Nam Việt as the prefecture of Giao Chỉ (Chinese: 交趾; Jiaozhi) of the imperial Hán, was divided into 9 quận (District). The Imperial Hán now had total control and domination over Nam Việt until the time of the revolt of the Trưng Sisters, Hai Bà Trưng, led by Trưng Trắc and Trưng Nhị.
[edit] Sources
- Viet Nam Su Luoc by Trần Trọng Kim
- Viet Su Toan Thu by Pham Van Son
[edit] References
[edit] See also
| Preceded by An Dương Vương |
Dynasty of Vietnam 207-111 BC |
Succeeded by First Chinese domination (History of Vietnam) |
