Bao Long

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Pretender
Bảo Long
Born 4 January 1936(1936-01-04)
Huế
Died July 28, 2007 (aged 71)
Paris
Title(s) Crown Prince
Throne(s) claimed Vietnam
Pretend from 30 July 1997 – 28 July 2007
Monarchy abolished 1955
Last monarch Bảo Đại
Connection with Eldest son
Royal House Nguyễn
Father Bảo Đại
Mother Nam Phuong
Spouse Madame Hebey (or Citi)[1]
Predecessor Bảo Đại
Successor Bảo Thắng

Crown Prince Bảo Long of Vietnam (Chữ nôm 保隆) (January 4, 1936 - July 28, 2007) was the head of the Nguyễn Dynasty, the former ruling house of Vietnam from July 30, 1997 until his death.[1]

Contents

[edit] Early life

Bảo Long was born at Kien-Trung Palace, Huế on January 4, 1936, to Emperor Bảo Đại and his first wife, Empress Nam Phương. On March 7, 1939, he was invested and proclaimed Crown Prince, the official heir to the throne, in a Confucian ceremony at Can-Chanh Palace in Huế.

In 1947, Empress Nam Phuong left Vietnam with the Crown Prince and his siblings. They lived at the Chateau Thorenz outside of Cannes, France, and he grew up as a member of the Roman Catholic Church.

[edit] Education

He received his education at the Roches School in Normandy. He then went to Paris and studied law and political science to prepare him to serve on state affairs.

In 1953, Crown Prince Bảo Long attended the coronation of HM Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom in London as a representative of the Vietnamese Imperial Family.

[edit] Military service

Crown Prince Bảo Long served in the French Foreign Legion in the Algerian War and he highly distinguished himself, earning the Croix de Guerre (Cross of Military Valor) with three stars for his courage in battle.[1] His other decorations are the Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit, the decoration of the Golden Gong 2nd Class, the Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Cambodia, the Order of the Million Elephants and White Parasol of Laos and a commemorative medal for attending the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. After 10 years of service in the French Foreign Legion, he returned to Paris, France where he worked in a bank.[1] He spent the remainder of his life as an investment banker.

[edit] Head of the Imperial Family

In 1997, when the Emperor Bảo Đại died, Bảo Long inherited the position of head of the Nguyễn Dynasty. He remained out of politics and lived quietly in Paris.[2]

During his time as head of the Nguyen Dynasty, Bao Long worked with Prince Bảo Vang, who was appointed Grandmaster of the Order of the Dragon of Annam in 2005. The focus of the order is on humanitarian, educational, and cultural endeavours of the people of Vietnam.[3]

Although the Vietnamese Constitutional Monarchist League wish to restore the Nguyễn Dynasty to the throne under a constitutional monarchy, as in Cambodia and Thailand, Bao Long did not support their political aspirations.[4]

Crown Prince Bao Long died in Paris on July 28, 2007, with his brother, Bao Thang, succeeding him as head of the Nguyễn Dynasty.

At the time of his death, the Crown Prince was married to a woman known only as Madame Hebey (or Citi).[2] They had no children.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Royal Ark
  2. ^ Bao Long memorial
  3. ^ Purpose Order of the Dragon of Annam
  4. ^ Order of the Dragon of Annam

[edit] External links

Bao Long
Born: 4 January 1936 Died: 28 July 2007
Titles in pretence
Preceded by
Emperor Bảo Đại		 — TITULAR —
Emperor of Vietnam
July 30, 1997 – July 28, 2007
Reason for succession failure:
Empire abolished in 1955		 Succeeded by
Prince Bảo Thắng