Top 10 Notorious Kings in Vietnamese History

Lê Long Đĩnh (986 - 1009), the 5th son of King Lê Đại Hành, was the last ruler of the Pre-Lê Dynasty in Vietnamese history. His mysterious death at the age of 24 marked the end of the Pre-Lê Dynasty, and power fell into the hands of the Lý Dynasty. According to historical records, he was a king known for his debauchery, cruelty, and a penchant for violence, typical of a despotic monarch.

In historical records, Lê Long Đĩnh is portrayed as a king immersed in debauchery, cruelty, and tyranny, considered a typical example of a despotic ruler. Despite this, in some places, people have built shrines to worship him. Recent opinions suggest that some of Long Đĩnh's behaviors were exaggerated, focusing too much on the issue of excessive debauchery, leading to rumors about his health, particularly hemorrhoids, a folk tale during the Later Lê period.

Some argue that the brutal actions of Lê Long Đĩnh were exaggerated by later historical accounts. Even the Tong Shu (a historical document compiled by China, collecting materials from the contemporary Tong Dynasty) wrote, 'Chi Trung is only 26 years old but is cruel and lawless, not followed by the people in the country.' This shows that the infamous reputation of Lê Long Đĩnh transcended national borders, making it unlikely to be fabricated.

Lê Long Đĩnh was infamous for his cruel pastimes, such as placing beeswax on the head of a monk and lighting it until it bled or torturing prisoners in gruesome ways. Due to his excessive indulgence, he suffered from severe hemorrhoids, preventing him from sitting. During court ceremonies, he had to lie down while attending.

Today, Lê Long Đĩnh is worshipped alongside his father, King Lê Đại Hành, at four locations:

• The Temple of King Lê Đại Hành at the Ancient Capital of Hoa Lư (Ninh Bình)
• The Royal Tomb in Liêm Cần, Thanh Liêm (Hà Nam)
• The Yến Communal House in Thanh Hà, Thanh Liêm (Hà Nam)
• The national monument of An Lãng family, Văn Tự commune, Thường Tín, Hanoi.
  

Trần Dụ Tông (1336 – 1369) reigned as the 7th king of the Trần Dynasty for 28 years from 1341-1369. His era marked the beginning of the decline of the Trần Dynasty.

Trần Dụ Tông had a penchant for gambling, often summoning the wealthy to the court for gambling sessions with the king. Additionally, he enjoyed singing and frequently indulged in alcohol, hosting lively parties with nobles and princesses, where theatrical performances were staged, and rewards were given to the best performers or those who outdrank the king.

Due to neglect of agriculture for several years, causing missed harvests, and heavy tax collection for extravagances, the domestic talent and resources dwindled, leaving the treasury empty. After Trần Dụ Tông's death, the Trần Dynasty continued its downward spiral towards the brink of collapse, marking the decline of one of the most prosperous dynasties in Vietnamese history.

Lý Cao Tông (1173-1210) ascended as the 7th emperor of the Lý Dynasty at the age of 3 and held the throne until adulthood from 1175-1210. His era marked the irreversible decline of the Lý Dynasty, also known as Cao Tông Trung Suy. The Complete Book of Đại Việt Chronicles states, 'The king indulged excessively in pleasure, the governance was unclear, enemies rose like bees, and famine persisted for many years, leading to the downfall of the Lý Dynasty.'

While young, Lý Cao Tông was virtuous, but as he grew older and assumed ruling power, he became obsessed with hunting, neglecting governance and law. He embezzled from the people to build a series of palaces, seemingly unaware of the uprising of bandits. This led to domestic chaos, deep-seated resentment, and numerous uprisings.

During his 37-year reign, Lý Cao Tông witnessed the irreversible decline of the Lý Dynasty due to his extravagant lifestyle. Before his death, he issued a royal edict expressing remorse and apologizing to his subjects.

Lê Uy Mục (1488 –1509) was the 8th king of the Early Lê dynasty. He was the cruelest and most lascivious emperor in Vietnamese history, often referred to as the Demon King.

Upon ascending the throne, Lê Uy Mục ruthlessly eliminated those who opposed his accession, including the Queen Mother, Minister of Rites Đàm Văn Lễ, and Historiographer Nguyễn Quang Bật. Neglecting state affairs, he indulged in nightly revelries with palace attendants, killing them all when intoxicated. His reign fell into the hands of eunuchs and corrupt officials, tarnishing the royal court. Uy Mục systematically killed high-ranking officials and even suspected his own family members, causing widespread fear and rebellion.

A wave of discontent among the populace and officials arose against the injustice of Uy Mục. Eventually, General Giản Tu Công Lê Oanh overthrew and killed this tyrant after a 4-year rule.

Trần Phế Đế (1361 – 1388) was the 11th king of the Trần dynasty in Đại Việt. He ascended to the throne from 1377 to 1388. He was the son of King Trần Duệ Tông and the grandson of Thái thượng hoàng Trần Nghệ Tông through a maternal uncle. Throughout Trần Phế Đế's reign, Thượng hoàng Trần Nghệ Tông held real power in ruling the nation.

He was criticized as the 'Inebriated King, weak and incapable, unable to handle affairs, and authority increasingly fell into the hands of subordinates, causing instability, even in his own body' (according to Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư). His impotence and weakness made the situation irredeemable.

The Trần dynasty's influence declined disastrously during Trần Phế Đế's reign: the Champa invaders raided and plundered as he cared little, only hiding his wealth, increasing taxes to fill the empty treasury... He allowed Hồ Quý Ly to rise to power, leading to the gradual downfall of the Trần dynasty.

Lê Chiêu Thống (1765 – 1793), originally named Lê Duy Khiêm, was the 16th emperor and the last monarch of the Lê dynasty. He held the throne from around late July of the lunar year 1786 to early January 1789.

After numerous upheavals, Lê Chiêu Thống sought asylum with the Qing dynasty, hoping to return to the throne by supporting their military campaign against Quang Trung. However, after Quang Trung defeated the Qing forces in the Battle of Bắc Hà, Lê Chiêu Thống had to flee to China with the defeated army. Frustrated and disillusioned with his failed dream of reclaiming the country, Lê Chiêu Thống fell ill and passed away in 1793, buried by the Qing dynasty with the ceremony of depriving the title.

Lê Tương Dực (1495 - 1516), originally named Lê Oanh, was the 9th emperor of the Lê Sơ dynasty. Self-proclaimed as the ruler after killing Uy Mục, he adopted the reign name Hồng Thuận.

In the early years of his reign, Tương Dực made some attempts to reform the governance, improve education, and restore temples and historical records. However, before long, he descended into debauchery similar to Uy Mục. Particularly in 1516, Tương Dực instructed Vũ Như Tô to construct a 100-compartment palace and initiated a large-scale project known as the Cửu Trùng Đài, which took several years to complete, resulting in numerous casualties. He also ordered the construction of warships for his naked daughters to row and play in West Lake. Additionally, Lê Tương Dực summoned courtiers from the previous dynasty to engage in licentious activities in the palace.

Lê Tương Dực's extravagant lifestyle plunged the governance into chaos, leading to widespread disorder and unrest across the country. Trịnh Duy Sản, a regional lord, borrowed the pretext of fighting invaders to bring troops to the North Gate, killing King Tương Dực and ending his 7-year reign.

Khải Định, the 12th emperor of the Nguyen dynasty in Vietnamese history, ruled from 1916 to 1925. During his reign, Khải Định was perceived as a weak monarch in the face of French influence, showing little interest in state affairs and indulging in extravagant pastimes such as gambling and lavish banquets. He personally designed new costumes for himself and his entourage, displayed a penchant for makeup, and disregarded traditional royal attire. Consequently, he faced criticism in contemporary media and became known to the public for his flamboyant lifestyle.

Notably, during his visit to France for the 1922 Colonial Exhibition in Marseille on May 20, 1922, Phan Chau Trinh wrote a lengthy letter accusing Emperor Khải Định of 7 sins, including the crime of 'extravagant dressing.' Upon his return, Khải Định organized an elaborate celebration, burdening people across the country with the obligation to send congratulatory gifts. After the celebration, facing financial strain, he imposed an additional 30% agricultural tax. All of these measures were undertaken to cater to his lavish spending habits and flamboyant lifestyle.

Đồng Khánh (1864 – 1889), born as Nguyễn Phúc Ưng Thị, was the 9th Emperor of the Nguyen dynasty. Reigning from 1885 to 1889, he gained notoriety as a king compliant to the French.

After ascending the throne, Đồng Khánh obediently followed every request from the French. Openly acknowledging France as the 'supreme nation,' this king even praised the French officials and soldiers for suppressing the Vietnamese nationalist movement. Not stopping there, Đồng Khánh ceded land for the French to expand Mang Cá fortress and signed agreements granting France control over vital Vietnamese ports such as Hai Phong and Da Nang.

During his reign, French colonialists initiated the first steps to establish a prolonged colonial regime in North and Central Vietnam that lasted over 60 years. In return for Đồng Khánh's compliance, the French provided him with an extravagant lifestyle, including lavish parties and ornate costumes adorned with jade and gold...

At the request of France, Emperor Đồng Khánh personally traveled to Quang Binh to lure Emperor Hàm Nghi and officials resisting the French back to the capital, promising to let them govern the provinces of Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, and Ha Tinh. However, the mission was unsuccessful. The French also arranged for Đồng Khánh to visit Bac Ha to win the people's hearts, but public backlash was strong. Therefore, upon reaching Quang Binh, the king feigned illness and returned to the capital. Đồng Khánh's life ended at the age of 25, surrounded by public disillusionment.

Mạc Mậu Hợp, the fifth emperor of the Mạc dynasty in Vietnamese history, ascended the throne in 1562 at the age of 2, becoming the second youngest monarch in history. He ruled until passing the throne to his son, Mạc Toàn, in 1592, a total of 30 years. His life was marked by extravagant and dissolute living, neglect of state affairs, lasciviousness, and sensuality, causing widespread discontent and complaints among the people.

Driven by his insatiable sensual desires, Mạc Mậu Hợp shattered the legacy of his ancestors. It is recounted that Nguyen Thi Nien, the wife of General Bui Van Khue, caught the emperor's eye. On one occasion, he summoned her to his chamber and, captivated by her beauty, attempted to keep her in the palace overnight with intentions to summon Bui Van Khue back to the capital to have him killed. Fearing for her life, Nguyen Thi Nien sent a trusted servant to alert Bui Van Khue. Learning of the situation, Bui Van Khue returned with his troops to Gia Vien, defying the orders of the royal court. Despite several invitations, he refused to come. The emperor then sent a general with troops to inquire about Bui Van Khue's defiance. Bui Van Khue mustered his forces to resist. On December 14, Mac's forces were defeated by the Southern dynasty, and Ngoc Lien fled to Tam Dao. The Mac dynasty came to an end with the death of Mạc Mậu Hợp.