| Bảo Long 保隆 |
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|---|---|
| Pretender | |
| Born | 4 January 1936 Huế, French Indochina |
| Died | 28 July 2007 (aged 71) Paris, France |
| 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 | Nguyen dynasty |
| Father | Bao Dai |
| Mother | Nam Phuong |
| Spouse | Madame Hebey (or Citi) [1] |
| Predecessor | Bảo Đại |
| Successor | Bảo Thắng |
Bảo Long (4 January 1936 – 28 July 2007) was the last crown prince of Vietnam. He was head of the Nguyen dynasty, the former ruling house of Vietnam from 30 July 1997 until his death.[1]
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Bảo Long was born at Kien-Trung Palace, Huế on 4 January 1936, to Emperor Bao Dai and his first wife, Empress Nam Phương. On 7 March 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.
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 Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom in London as a representative of the Vietnamese Imperial Family.
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.
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 Nguyễn 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 28 July 2007, with his brother, Bảo Thắng, 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). They had no children.
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Bao Long
Born: 4 January 1936 Died: 28 July 2007 |
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| Titles in pretence | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Emperor Bảo Đại |
— TITULAR — Emperor of Vietnam 30 July 1997 – 28 July 2007 Reason for succession failure: Empire abolished in 1955 |
Succeeded by Prince Bảo Thắng |
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