Minh Mang

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Minh Mạng (1791-1841) was the second emperor of the Nguyễn Dynasty of Vietnam, reigning from 14 February 1820 until 20 January, 1841. He was a younger son of Emperor Gia Long, whose eldest son, Crown Prince Canh, had died during the Nguyễn war to take the throne. His temple name, Thanh To, was chosen after his father. He was well known for his opposition to French involvement in Vietnam and his rigid Confucian orthodoxy.

Like all of the early Nguyễn emperors, he had to deal with numerous peasant revolts such as the one lead by Phan Bá Vành, but managed to suppress them. However, the most serious threat came from one of his father's most trusted lieutenants and a national hero in Vietnam, Le Van Duyet. Duyet had won the victory for the Nguyễn forces at Qui Nhơn and was made regent in the south by Gia Long with full freedom to rule and deal with foreign powers. Duyet had opposed the enthronement of Minh Mạng, who was violently against the influences of foreigners and Christianity, because that would be a betrayal of the same people who had helped Gia Long to the throne.

Le Van Duyet, however, died before Minh Mạng could act against him, but in a humiliating show of vengeance, in 1832 Minh Mạng had Duyet's tomb violated and his remains desecrated in public. The act, especially degrading in a Confucian society, caused Duyet's son, Le Van Khoi to lead a rebellion against Minh Mạng. It was a desperate position for the Nguyễn Dynasty as it was taken as an opportunity by Thailand to also invade the southern part of Vietnam. The Nguyễn forces were only barely able to repel the attack and suppress the rebels, after which violent reprisals occurred.

Although those who met Emperor Minh Mạng always agreed he was personally a very wise and gentle man, his harsh policies had a dangerous impact on his country. His strict belief in Confucian society meant that no innovation of any kind was allowed during his reign, and when rebellions broke out, his first reaction was to blame the Christian missionaries and their Vietnamese converts. He issued laws banning the spread of the new religion and had hundreds of Christians put to death. This gave France the excuse to become involved in Vietnam and, in 1858, French troops briefly occupied Tourane, demanding that the persecutions stop. This was the start of France's campaign in the following years to occupy and colonize Vietnam for almost 100 years.

In the end, Minh Mạng died and left the throne to his son, Emperor Thiệu Trị, who was just as rigidly a Confucianist and anti-foreign as his father had been. Nevertheless, during his reign Minh Mạng had established a more efficient government, stopped a Thai invasion and built many national monuments in the imperial city of Huế. His legacy is one of success for himself, but his policies also brought Vietnam much trouble after he was gone.