Le Long Dinh

Lê Ngọa Triều (Vietnamese pronunciation: [le ŋwâˀː tʂjə̂w]) (986–1009), born Lê Long Đĩnh ([le lɔŋ ɗǐˀɲ]; 黎龍鋌) was the last king (1005–1009) of the Anterior Lê Dynasty of Vietnam.

After killing the predecessor and also his brother Lê Long Việt, Lê Long Đĩnh took the throne and named his era Cảnh Thụy.

Tyrannical and brutal reign

According to Đại Việt sử kí toàn thư (Complete Annals of Đại Việt), he was one of the most brutal and sadistic ruler during the era of Vietnam's feudal system. His reign was considered a reign of terror at the time. He is comparable to Roman Emperor Caligula and Commodus in similar cruelty and paranoia. There were some short historic details about it:

• He often executed innocent people who were condemned to death for entertainment purposes by some frightful ways such as tying them with hay to burn to death or ordering an executioner called Liêu Thủ Tâm (廖守心) from Great Song to gradually mutilate victims to death slowly them using dull bladed swords and axes. When the victims cried out in agony, this executioner would manipulate the victims that were not dying. The king is delighted in the deaths of these unfortunate victims.
• After capturing prisoners of war, he ordered his soldiers to march the prisoners along the riversides and crammed them into cages that were tied along the river banks. When the high tides come in at dusk, he would watch them drown slowly.
• The king himself often stuck livestock such as pigs or cows to death before he allowed servants to bring them to prepare them. At court banquets, he killed cats and served them to his guests and court officials and made them devour, he would play around with the decapitated heads in front of the court audience, making them frightened and they dared not complained about the ruler's audacity.

Later life

According to historical records, he had contracted hemorrhoids and often held court while lying down, earning the popular name "Lê Ngọa Triều" ("Ngọa" means "lie" and "Triều" means "court"). He was not given a temple name because his successor usurped the Anterior Lê Dynasty and started the Lý Dynasty.

He held the throne for four years, until 1009, when he died at the age of 24. His son Sạ was but a child so under the management of an official named Đào Cam Mộc (陶甘沐), all officials enthroned L‎ý Công Uẩn without any debate. The Anterior Lê Dynasty finished after three reigns.

References

• Đại Việt sử lược
• Đại Việt sử kí tòan thư
• vi:Lê Ngọa Triều