Tu Duc

Emperor Tu Duc was the 4th Emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty of Vietnam and reigned from 1847-1883.

Biography

The son of Emperor Thieu Tri, Prince Nguyen Hong Nhiem was born on September 22, 1829, and succeeded his father on the throne, with the reigning title of "Tu Duc", but family troubles caused his era to have a violent start. Thieu Tri had passed over his more moderate eldest son, Hong Bao, to give the throne to Tu Duc, known for his staunch Confucianism and opposition to foreigners and innovation. As a result, and due to the repressive policies of the previous Nguyen Dynasty emperors, there was now a great deal of dissatisfaction with Nguyen rule and a legitimate royal figure to rally this opposition.

Related Topics:
Thieu Tri - September 22 - 1829 - Nguyen Dynasty

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Crown Prince Hong Bao became the leader of a rebellion against Tu Duc, consisting of Confucian scholars who were angered that the family hierarchy had been dishonored (by passing over the eldest son) some remaining supporters of the Le Dynasty (who many still considered the legitimate dynasty of Vietnam) as well as the usual peasants angry over Nguyen taxation and the usual corrupt mandarins as well as the Catholic missionaries and Christian converts who had been so persecuted by Minh Mang and Thieu Tri. With swift military force, Tu Duc suppressed the rebellion and was set to execute his brother, but was dissuaded by his mother, Dowager Empress Tu Du, and Hong Bao killed himself in prison.

Related Topics:
Le Dynasty - Vietnam - Mandarins - Catholic - Christian - Minh Mang - Thieu Tri

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Emperor Tu Duc continued the policies of his predecessors, shutting Vietnam off from the outside world and refusing all efforts to modernize the country. Accounts of his personal life show a gentle and educated man, but his policies brought on conflict with Europe that Vietnam could not win. He oppressed all foreigners in Vietnam, especially the Christian community, calling their religion a "perverse doctrine". The Christian mandarin Nguyen Truong To, tried to convince Tu Duc that this was a suicidal policy, but he did not listen, confident that France was too involved with the chaos in Europe in 1848 to respond, but he was mistaken.

Related Topics:
Vietnam - Christian - Europe - 1848

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France responded with a large military expeditionary force and attacked up from southern Vietnam. The Nguyen army fought bravely for some time, but their antiquated weapons and tactics were no match for the French, who suffered more from the climate and disease than from enemy resistance. With French forces moving closer against him, Tu Duc called upon his Chinese over-lord, the Qing Emperor, for help and so ensued the Sino-French War. The fighting around Hanoi against China and the Black Flag pirates ended with France victorious and China gave up their position as feudal master of Vietnam and recognized France as the ruling power over the region.

Related Topics:
France - Sino-French War - Hanoi

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To make matters worse, Emperor Tu Duc had to deal with renewed internal rebellions which had become commonplace for the Nguyen Dynasty. There were literally hundreds of small rebellions and uprisings against Nguyen rule. Oppression of the Christian missionaries was also the biggest source of trouble, including the execution of a Spanish bishop which led to the fall of Saigon to the French. By an order of 1848 Tu Duc commanded all Vietnamese Catholic converts to renounce their religion, otherwise they would be branded on the face with the mark of a heretic and surrender all of their rights and privelages. This oppression rallied most of the European powers against Vietnam, and Tu Duc by doing this had given up any hope of Vietnam gaining help as a victim from the outside world.

Related Topics:
Nguyen Dynasty - Saigon

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When further rebellions broke out as the French were advancing on the capital, Tu Duc feared that his authority was crumbling. He preferred to make a deal with the French so that he could crush the rebellion since while France may demand humiliating concessions, the rebels would most likely depose and/or kill him. He signed away the southern most of Vietnam, Cochinchina, to be a French colony and accepted the status of a French protectorate for his country. This caused a huge uproar, and many, such as the famous mandarin Truong Cong Dinh, refused to recognize the treaty and fought on in defense of their country, denouncing Tu Duc for surrendering any part of their homeland.

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Emperor Tu Duc did not live to see the worst effects of colonialism on his country, but he is often regarded as the last Emperor of Vietnam, since he was the last to rule independently. A case of small pox left him impotent so he had no children despite a huge harem of wives he kept in his palatial tomb. According to legend, he died cursing the French with his dying breath.

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Preceded by:Emperor Thieu Tri

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Nguyen Dynasty

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Succeeded by:

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Emperor Duc Duc

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