Chapter 13 : TÂY SƠN DYNASTY
In late 18th century, both Đàng Ngoài and Đàng Trong fell into crisis due to their prolonged civil war. Complains from villages throughout the country turned into rebels against the governments. Historians named this period “the century of peasant-led insurrections”. The most noticeable was the Tây Sơn insurrection launched in 1771 in the Upper Tây Sơn region (present-day An Khê Town, Gia Lai Province).
After crushing the Nguyễn Lord in Dang Trong (1777), in the year of 1786, the most excellent leader of Tây Sơn, Nguyễn Huệ (1753-1792) directly led an army to the north, defeated the Trịnh Lord and enthroned Lê Chiêu Thống (1765-1793). Then, he brought his troops to Quy Nhơn. Emperor failed to protect his throne, running to China to seek reinforcements from the Qing Court. Snatching this opportunity, the Qing Emperor dispatched a crop of 290,000 soldiers to Đại Việt. On 22 December 1788, Nguyễn Huệ proclaimed himself Emperor Quang Trung in Phú Xuân (Huế) in order to command the struggle against the invaders.
Right after his coronation, Emperor Quang Trung led his troops to the north at lightning speed. For several days, the army crossed over 300km from Phú Xuân to Nghệ An. Here, the Emperor stopped for recruiting new soldiers. On 15 January 1789, he met his general Ngô Văn Sở at the defense line of Tam Điệp-Biên Sơn (Ninh Bình and Thanh Hóa now). On 25 January (the Lunar New Year Eve), he and his troops celebrate the New Year and went into battle.
At the same night, five wings of the Tây Sơn troops marched to Thăng Long. Suffering a sudden attack, the Qing invaders could not fight back. Their garrison posts and camps at Gián Khẩu, Hạ Hồi Ngọc Hồi were captured quickly. In the afternoon of 30 January (the fifth day of the New Year), Emperor Quang Trung and his troops regained Thăng Long, entering the citadel in the warm welcome of local people.
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VIETNAM – A BRIEF HISTORY IN PICTURES
Compiled by: HIẾU MINH – HUYỀN TRANG (in Vietnamese language)
With an introduction of Historian DƯƠNG TRUNG QUỐC
Illustrated by TẠ HUY LONG
Translated by: NGUYỄN XUÂN HỒNG
P/s: Completed by the volunteers: Nguyễn Ngọc Bích – Second-year student of Foreign Trade University; Takanori Kano from Japan; Antoine Roels from Belgium; Linh – The coordinator of SJ Vietnam.
