Chapter 8 : HỒ DYNASTY
In late 14th century, the Trần Dynasty fell into decadence and the country was on the verge of a crisis. Power was gradually gathered in the hand of Senior Courtier Hồ Quý Ly (1336-1407). In 1400, Hồ Quý Ly deposed the Trần emperor and founded a new dynasty. He renamed the kingdom Đại Ngu (Great Prosperity) and moved the imperial capital to Tây Đô (nowadays Vĩnh Lộc District, Thanh Hóa Province).
Hồ Quý Ly failed in conquering people’s heart. His son, Hồ Nguyên Trường, even bitterly admitted: “I myself do not fear of fighting [the Chinese invaders] but I am afraid that we are not supported by the mass”. In 1406, an 80,000-strong army sent by the Ming Dynasty from China flooded in Đại Ngu. The Hồ Dynasty was quickly defeated. The Ming ruled over Vietnam for 20 years (1407-1427) during which many insurrections occurred.
Next chapter this way.
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.
