Top 10 Skillful Kings in Vietnamese History

An Duong Vuong, also known as Thuc Phan, founded and ruled the country of Au Lac (the second state after Van Lang in Vietnamese history).

A legend is closely associated with this king: it is said that An Duong Vuong built the Co Loa citadel (the capital of Au Lac) with the help of the Golden Turtle God. The god also gave him a claw to make a divine crossbow to resist foreign invaders. At that time, Trieu Da was eager to conquer Au Lac and, unable to succeed in multiple attempts, used a cunning plan. He sent his son, Trong Thuy, to propose to Princess My Chau (An Duong Vuong's daughter).

An Duong Vuong fell into Trieu Da's trap, allowing Trong Thuy to swap the divine crossbow and leading to the loss of the country. This story serves as a valuable lesson about vigilance against the schemes of foreign invaders in the struggle to defend the nation. Despite the tragic ending, the contributions to nation-building and governance by An Duong Vuong are undeniable. Therefore, An Duong Vuong is considered one of the skillful kings in the history of nation-building in Vietnam.

When mentioning the name Ngo Quyen, everyone recalls the historic Battle of Bach Dang, a glorious victory that marked the result of a thousand years of struggle against Northern domination by our people.

Ngo Quyen was born in 898 in Duong Lam, Ba Vi (now Hanoi) and passed away in 944. He is also known as Tiền Ngô Vương, the king who founded the Ngo Dynasty. History recorded his nation-building achievements, notably in the year 938 when he mobilized forces to advance north, defeated Kiều Công Tiễn, and captured Đại La. In 937, the famous Battle of Bach Dang, led by him, defeated the Southern Han army (commanded by Hoằng Thao), setting the stage for 939 when he proclaimed himself king and established the capital in Co Loa (present-day Hanoi).

Although Ngo Quyen only assumed the title of king, changed the era name but did not officially ascend to the throne, history recognizes him as a legitimate king with brilliant strategic talent and military prowess. Thanks to the victory at Bach Dang, our country regained independence, ushering in an era of nation-building, the civilization of Dai Viet, the culture of Thang Long, the era of overthrowing the Song, pacifying the Yuan, expelling the Ming under the rule of the Ly, Tran, and Le dynasties.

Lý Nam Đế (503-548), originally named Lý Bôn or Lý Bí, was the first king of the Early Lý Dynasty (also known as Vạn Xuân). Despite facing early hardships, losing his father at the age of 5 and his mother at 7, he was raised by his uncle. Later, he was taken in by a Buddhist monk for education. Due to his broad knowledge and versatile skills, he earned the respect of the people, becoming a local leader and eventually appointed as the Military Superintendent in Đức Châu (now Đức Thọ district, Hà Tĩnh province).

In 541, Lý Bí officially led a rebellion against the Lương Dynasty (mainly due to the cruel governance of Giao Châu's governor Tiêu Tư) and seized control of the entire Giao Châu region. In 542, when the Lương Dynasty sent troops to suppress, Lý Bí defeated them.

In our history, although the specific details of Lý Bí's victories against Lâm Ấp (a foreign state to the south) are not recorded, it is acknowledged as one of the battles showcasing his military prowess.
Then, in the first month of 544, Lý Bí proclaimed himself Lý Nam Đế, ascending to the throne with the era name Thiên Đức, establishing Vạn Xuân.

Lê Đại Hành (941-1005), originally named Lê Hoàn, was the first and illustrious king of the Tiền Lê Dynasty. His legacy is closely tied to the battles against the Tống (northern front) and the Chiêm (southern front), solidifying the nation's independence and fostering the development of Đại Cồ Việt.

Born in 941 in Xuân Lập, Thọ Xuân, Thanh Hóa, into a poor peasant family, Lê Hoàn's father passed away early. His mother raised him alone, working as a laborer in farming and gathering snails. At the age of 6, after his mother's death, he became an adopted child of a nobleman named Lê.

Known for his extraordinary strength and determination for self-education and training, Lê Hoàn became a versatile figure in both literary and martial arts. During the suppression of the 12 warlords by Đinh Bộ Lĩnh, he played a crucial role, shining as a prominent military leader under King Đinh Tiên Hoàng. Apart from his strategic prowess and unparalleled courage, he was also known for his compassion and love for the soldiers.

In 979, following the death of Đinh Tiên Hoàng and the invasion of the Tống, Lê Hoàn ascended the throne in 980, supported by the military and Queen Dương Vân Nga, at the age of 40. With outstanding military and strategic acumen, Lê Đại Hành defeated the Tống invaders on the Bạch Đằng River and at Ải Chi Lăng, repelling external threats and stabilizing the dynasty. Thanks to him, the imperial capital Hoa Lư was magnificently expanded, becoming the heart of Đại Cồ Việt.

King Lê Đại Hành is recorded in history as a remarkable military leader, a savvy politician with intelligent policies for the nation's development (promoting agriculture, cultivating fields, digging channels under the Lê dynasty, etc.)

Đinh Tiên Hoàng, born on the 2nd day of the second month in the year of Giap Than (22/3/924) in Kim Lu village, Dai Huu commune, Chau Dai Hoang (now part of Gia Vien district, Ninh Binh province). He was the son of Đinh Cong Tru, Secretary of Chau Hoan (Nghe An) during the Dương Đình Nghệ era (931 - 937) and Ngo Vuong (938 - 944).

A prominent figure in the career of Đinh Bo Linh is suppressing the 12 rebel factions and unifying the country to establish Dai Co Viet. During the preparation for the war, he recruited many talented generals such as Pham Cu Luong, Pham Hap, and especially Le Hoan, later appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of the Đinh dynasty's army, bearing the title of General of the Ten Dao.

The 12 rebel factions were a chaotic period lasting over 20 years (944-968) in our country's history, marking the state of the nation after the death of Ngo Quyen. Đinh Bo Linh, coming from a family of officials, had a deep understanding of military tactics from a young age. When suppressing the rebellion and unifying the country, he cleverly applied political strategies combined with military tactics. In each faction, depending on the terrain, circumstances, and the situation of that faction, Đinh Bo Linh found appropriate ways to deal with military affairs, coordination, or using clever strategies to cope. The result was that by 968, the war ended, and the Vạn Thắng Vương (Victorious King) ascended to the throne, establishing the nation of Dai Co Viet with the capital in Hoa Lu. This victory once again affirmed the trend of unifying the country, the spirit of the people, and the will for independence of the entire nation.

Lê Thái Tổ, originally named Lê Lợi, born in 1385 and passed away in 1433. He was the leader of the Lam Son uprising, securing independence for Dai Viet and establishing the Later Le dynasty.

Lê Lợi grew up during the fall of the Tran dynasty, the uprisings of peasants, and the reform efforts of the Ho family. These changes influenced his thoughts and awareness. However, when the Ming invaded and annexed Dai Viet, his patriotism grew stronger, and he could not stand outside the struggle to save the country for the entire people. Lê Lợi is considered a talented king in history for his intelligence in every battle and the way he regained independence for the country. From the beginning of the war, he realized the decay and helplessness of the Tran dynasty and knew that it was impossible to restore the Later Tran in the context of the national rescue movement at that time.

Because of his talent, credibility, and influence, the Ming army repeatedly used various tactics to entice him, but failed. Then, in 1416, he, along with Nguyen Trai and 17 other comrades, pledged to live and die at Luong Nhai. In 1428, Lê Lợi ascended to the throne, ruling the country for 5 years (1428-1433), overcoming the consequences of the Ming era, rebuilding the country, and laying a solid foundation for independence and national unity.

Lý Thánh Tông, born in 1023 and passed away in 1072, real name Lý Nhật Tôn, was born in the capital Thang Long (present-day Hanoi). History records his imprint as a king skilled in both literature and martial arts, a wise ruler, benevolent to the people, treating prisoners well.

Lý Thánh Tông is the eldest son of Lý Thái Tông, with significant contributions to his nation-building career, such as changing the country's name to Dai Viet, constructing the Temple of Literature, pacifying Chiem, defeating the Song, and gaining control of three Chiem Thanh districts.

His actions for the country are highly appreciated in inheriting his father's achievements, leaving a legacy, and contributing to the economic development of the Ly dynasty. He is the king who initiated the prominent Dai Viet title.

Quang Trung, also known as Nguyễn Văn Huệ, was born in 1753 and passed away in 1792. He was the son of Nguyễn Phi Phúc, a successful trader. Renowned for his strategic military prowess, he is regarded as an all-around talented ruler in the history of our nation.

Nguyễn Huệ had two older brothers, Nguyễn Nhạc and Nguyễn Lữ. The three siblings received education in both literature and martial arts under the tutelage of Master Trương Văn Hiến, earning them the collective name 'Tây Sơn Triplets' for their contributions to the martial arts tradition of Bình Định. Nguyễn Huệ's successful career owes in part to the support of his two brothers.

Throughout history, Quang Trung has been recognized as an all-around ruler with exceptional political acumen and military expertise. Following the success of the Tây Sơn uprising, ending the Trịnh-Nguyễn internal conflict and defeating invasions from Siam (to the South) and the Qing Dynasty (to the North), he was celebrated by the people as a hero in simple clothing, a general with countless victories for the nation. Additionally, during his reign, he implemented progressive reforms for the development of Đại Việt.

Today, in various regions, people have constructed tombs, temples, and numerous monuments to commemorate the significant contributions of King Quang Trung to the entire nation.

Trần Nhân Tông is the eldest son of King Trần Thánh Tông (born in 1258 - passed away in 1308) and also the third emperor of the Trần Dynasty. In history, his legacy shines in three aspects: defending, building, and expanding the nation, specifically:

• Firstly, in defense: the most formidable enemy at the time was the Mongol-Yuan army with a powerful empire, yet Trần Nhân Tông, on two out of three occasions, defeated the Mongol-Yuan invasions. His strategic brilliance is evident in his personnel policies, entrusting Hung Dao Vuong with overall command or utilizing talented generals despite prior mistakes. Especially, after the victory in the resistance war in 1285, Trần Nhân Tông promptly conducted a population census to grasp the national potential. The triumph over the Mongol-Yuan army was undoubtedly the collective achievement of the people, with notable commanders such as Trần Hưng Đạo, Trần Nhật Duật, Trần Quang Khải, Phạm Ngũ Lão... but the skillful leadership of Trần Nhân Tông is undeniable.
• Secondly, nation-building: Trần Nhân Tông implemented insightful and intelligent nation-building policies. He revived the glorious past of the nation by honoring those who contributed to the country, advocated for the development of Nôm script-national language in both the court and societal affairs, and founded the Yên Tử Zen Monastery (a sect with intense spiritual dedication)...
• Thirdly, nation-expanding: Trần Nhân Tông's diplomatic achievement was the alliance with the Cham Emperor (Chế Mân), resulting in Chế Mân ceding two provinces, Ô and Lý, to Đại Việt for the marriage of Princess Huyền Trân (Trần Nhân Tông's only daughter).

In summary, Trần Nhân Tông is recognized as one of the brilliant kings in Vietnamese history for his strategic talent, contributions to defending, building, and expanding the nation with foresight and enlightenment.

Triệu Quang Phục, the son of Triệu Túc and district chief of Chu Dien, joined the rebellion under Lý Nam Đế from the beginning (541). He played a significant role in chasing the Lương army back to their country and was appointed the title of commander-in-chief of the Vạn Xuân country.

In January 547, he withdrew to Dạ Trạch Marsh. This marsh is quite extensive, surrounded by mud on all four sides, dense with trees and grass. In the middle of the ground, people and horses could hardly move, only small wooden boats could navigate the waterlogged grass. Without familiarity, one could easily get lost, and falling into the water meant being bitten to death by poisonous snakes. Quang Phục deployed over 20,000 troops, settled on the land within the marsh, and employed guerrilla tactics. During the day, no smoke or human traces were left, and at night, they used small wooden boats to launch surprise attacks, raiding the enemy's camps for food and weapons to sustain a prolonged resistance.

In 550, during the historical upheaval in the Lương dynasty, Triệu Quang Phục seized the opportunity. The Lương army suffered a decisive defeat and retreated to their country. Triệu Quang Phục entered Long Bien, declared himself king, and adopted the regnal title Triệu Việt Vương.