Nghe An in the Le Dynasty

Fate, place name and government

April 15, Mau Than year (1428),Le Loiascended the throne as Emperor (Le Thai To), changed the era name to Thuan Thien, named the country Dai Viet, and called the capital Thang Long Dong Kinh.

In the year of Mau Than (1428), the Le dynasty divided the country into 5 regions: East, West, South, North and Hai Tay (the southern region from Thanh Hoa onwards). Under the region were towns, roads, prefectures, districts, counties and communes. Nghe An and Dien Chau belonged to Hai Tay region.

In the year of Binh Dan (1446), Le Thanh Tong divided the country into 12 regions. In the year of Ky Suu (1469), it was divided into 12 governorates, with prefectures, districts, communes, villages, offices, pages, and books under them. Hoan Chau and Dien Chau combined to form Nghe An Governorate, including the prefectures of Duc Quang, Anh Do, Dien Chau, Ha Hoa, Tra Lan, Quy Chau, and Lam An.

Vietnam territory during the early Le dynasty (1428-1527). Photo: wikipedia

In the early Le Dynasty, each province had a Hanh Khien in charge of administration, justice and military affairs, and a General in charge of the army. During the reign of Le Thanh Tong, each Thua Tuyen had two offices: Thua Ti in charge of administration and justice, headed by Thua Ti Chinh Su; Do Ti in charge of military affairs, headed by Tong Binh. In the year Tan Mao (1471), an additional Hien Sat office was established to oversee justice, headed by Hien Sat Su.

The headquarters of Nghe An in the early Le Dynasty was located in Lam Thanh. During the later Le Dynasty, the Thua Ti and Hien Ti remained in Lam Thanh, the Tran Ti moved to Dinh Cau (Ky Anh) and later moved to Dung Quyet (Hung Nguyen).

In the stream of power

Nghe An, from 1469 to 1831, was an administrative unit. Throughout the Later Le Dynasty until the Tay Son Dynasty, Nghe An was almost always the site of the extremely complex and harsh flow of power in Dai Viet politics at that time.

During the early Le Dynasty (1428 - 1527), talented kings such as Le Thai To, Le Thai Tong, Le Thanh Tong, Le Hien Tong, with their progressive state and social organization, superior policies on economy, culture, foreign affairs... made Dai Viet develop rapidly in all aspects. At the end of the 15th century, Dai Viet was the most powerful country in Southeast Asia, its territory reached Phu Yen today, it defeated Bon Man, Lan Xang, Lao Qua, Xaiyna Chakhaphat, and expanded its territory to the West...

But then, since the reign of King Le Uy Muc, the Le dynasty gradually weakened. In the year Dinh Hoi (1527), Mac Dang Dung forced King Le Cung Hoang to abdicate and established the Mac dynasty. After the Mac dynasty ruled the country for 6 years, the politics of Dai Viet changed.

In the year of Ky Suu (1529), Nguyen Kim fled to the mountains of Thanh Hoa and then to Ai Lao. In the year of Quy Ty (1533), he found the descendant of the Le dynasty, Le Duy Ninh, and enthroned him as King Le Trang Tong. Many scholars and generals began to gather with Nguyen Kim to fight against the Mac dynasty. Nguyen Kim was now the Grand Tutor Hung Quoc Cong, overseeing everything. This situation is called the Southern and Northern dynasties in history books.

By the year of Ky Hoi (1539), Nguyen Kim had captured Loi Duong district in Thanh Hoa. In the year of Canh Ty (1540), he entered Nghe An, beginning to re-establish his position in Dai Viet territory.

In the year At Ty (1545), Nguyen Kim was poisoned to death by the traitor general Duong Chap Nhat. His son-in-law Trinh Kiem took over the power.

During the years 1545-1580, the two sides were at stalemate, with fighting breaking out mainly in Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, and Son Nam.

After Trinh Kiem passed away, his son Trinh Tung rose up and took over the military power of the Southern Dynasty from his brother Trinh Coi. In 1573, he overthrew King Le Anh Tong and made King Le The Tong a puppet, while he himself controlled all military and national affairs. At the end of the year Nham Thin (1592), Trinh Tung attacked Thang Long and destroyed the Mac Dynasty. The remnants of the Mac Dynasty fled to Cao Bang and remained in power until 1677.

In November 1558, Nguyen Hoang was ordered to guard Thuan Hoa with a broad authority to "arbitrarily handle all local matters, regardless of size". Nguyen Hoang left to preserve his life and to plan for his long-term career. During his time guarding Thuan Quang (1558 - 1613), Nguyen Hoang devoted all his efforts to consolidating his power, winning people's hearts with a gentle way of governing to lay the foundation for building his own country. And Thuan Hoa became the land where the Nguyen family built their career.

Scene of the Le Dynasty court in 1684-1685 painted by Samuel Baron.

After defeating the Mac dynasty, Lord Trinh Tung began to consider eliminating the Nguyen dynasty in the South, which was ruled by Nguyen Hoang - Governor of Thuan Hoa - Quang Nam. Political situationDang Ngoai - Dang Trongformed. From 1627 to 1672, there were 7 wars. The civil war was continuous, Nghe An was a battlefield. The country was divided.

Lam River banks. Photo: Nguyen Book

The battlefield is brutal, the people are miserable.

From the time Nguyen Kim fought against the Mac Dynasty (1533) until the Tay Son uprising and finally the Nguyen Dynasty unified the country (1802), the political situation in Dai Viet was complicated, with forces constantly fighting for power, creating complex and tense political and security situations.

Nghe An, from the beginning to the end of that historical process, has always been an important location that all sides have used, exploited and aimed for.

In the Southern - Northern Dynasties situation (1533 - 1592), the Le - Trinh Dynasty mainly established itself in the Thanh - Nghe region. The war also mainly took place in this region. From 1570 to 1583, the Mac Dynasty attacked Thanh - Nghe 13 times. Many major battles took place in Hoi Thong, Cuong Gian (Nha Nghi, Nghi Xuan); Quy Hop, Trinh Cao (Huong Khe), Cua Sot (Thach Ha)...

During the Dang Trong - Dang Ngoai war, Nghe An was the battlefield, especially from the South of Lam River to Ngang Pass, which was the most fierce battle zone. At one point, Nguyen troops occupied all 7 districts of Nghe An (1655).

In the context of continuous war, the people were miserable, from the beginning of the 16th century, a peasant uprising movement against the tyranny appeared. In the year of Nham Than (1512), in Nghe An there was a great uprising by Le Hi, Trinh Hung, Le Minh Triet. In the 18th century, Nghe An was not the starting place, but due to its important and dangerous geographical location, the people had a tradition of patriotism and indomitable struggle, so many leaders retreated to this area to establish bases or build forces such as Nguyen Huu Cau (Quan He), Le Duy Mat...

The uprisings in Nghe An as well as the whole country were eventually suppressed and failed, but they shook the harsh ruling regime of the Le - Trinh feudal group, signaling larger-scale uprisings to meet the people's need to be liberated from brutal oppression, escape hundreds of years of civil war and unify the country.

Nguyen Thanh