This is a list of wars involving the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and its predecessor states.
Conflict | Van Lang | Opponents | Result |
---|---|---|---|
Âu Việt-Lạc Việt War (258–257 BC) [lower-alpha 1] | Văn Lang under Hung Kings (Lạc Việt) | Âu Việt led by Thục Phán | Victory for Âu Việt |
Conflict | Thuc dynasty | Opponents | Result |
---|---|---|---|
Qin campaign against the Baiyue (221–214 BC) | Baiyue tribes:
| Qin dynasty | Territorial changes
|
Âu Lạc-Nanyue War (207 BC or 179 BC) | Âu Lạc under Thuc dynasty (An Duong Vuong) | Nanyue led by Zhao Tuo (Triệu Đà) | Defeat |
Conflict | Trieu (Zhao) dynasty | Opponents | Result |
---|---|---|---|
Han conquest of Nanyue (111 BC) | Nanyue under Zhao dynasty (Triệu dynasty) | Han dynasty (Western Han) | Defeat
|
Conflict | Jiaozhi | Opponents | Result |
---|---|---|---|
Tây Vu Vương rebellion (111 BC) | Tây Vu Vương's forces in Jiaozhi and Jiuzhen Commanderies | Han dynasty (Western Han) | Defeat
|
Trưng Sisters' Uprising (40 AD) | Trưng sisters' forces in Jiaozhi Commandery | Han dynasty (Eastern Han) | Victory
|
Conflict | Trung Queen | Opponents | Result |
---|---|---|---|
Han invasion of Lingnan (42–43) | Lingnan under Trưng Queen | Han dynasty (Eastern Han) | Defeat
|
Conflict | Event | Jiaozhi/Jiaozhou | Opponents | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chu Đạt's rebellion (157–160) | Chu Đạt's forces in Jiuzhen | Han dynasty (Eastern Han) | Defeat | |
Liang Long's rebellion (178–181) | Liang Long's forces in Hepu, Jiuzhen, Jiaozhi and Rinan | Han dynasty (Eastern Han) | Defeat | |
Sri Mara's rebellion (192) | Sri Mara's forces (Khu Liên) in Xianglin | Han dynasty (Eastern Han) | Victory | |
Lady Triệu's rebellion (248) | Lady Triệu's forces in Jiaozhou | Eastern Wu | Defeat | |
Jiao Province Campaign (263–280) | Jiaozhou under Eastern Wu | Jin dynasty | Victory for Eastern Wu
| |
Jin–Lâm Ấp conflicts (351–415) | First war (351–359) | Jiaozhou under Jin dynasty | Lâm Ấp (Linyi) | Victory for Jin |
Second war (399) | ||||
Third war (413–415) | ||||
Liu Song-Lâm Ấp War (445–446) | Jiaozhou under Liu Song dynasty | Lâm Ấp (Linyi) | Victory for Liu Song
| |
Lý Trường Nhân's rebellion (468) | Lý Trường Nhân's forces in Jiaozhou | Liu Song | Victory
| |
Lý Bí's rebellion (541–544) | Lý Bí's forces in Jiaozhou | Liang dynasty | Victory
|
Conflict | Early Ly dynasty | Opponents | Result |
---|---|---|---|
Vạn Xuân-Lâm Ấp War (543) | Vạn Xuân under Early Lý dynasty | Lâm Ấp | Victory |
Liang–Vạn Xuân War (545–550) | Vạn Xuân under Early Lý dynasty | Liang dynasty | Victory |
Vạn Xuân–Dã Năng War (557–571) | Vạn Xuân led by Triệu Quang Phục | Dã Năng (vi) led by Lý Phật Tử | Territorial and throne changes
|
Sui–Vạn Xuân War (602) | Vạn Xuân under Early Lý dynasty | Sui dynasty | Defeat
|
Conflict | Event | Annan/Jinghai | Opponents | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sui–Lâm Ấp War (605) | Jiaozhi under Sui dynasty | Lâm Ấp | Victory for Sui | |
Lý Tự Tiên's rebellion (687) | Lý Tự Tiên's and Đinh Kiến's forces in Annan | Tang dynasty | Defeat | |
Mai Thúc Loan's rebellion (722–723) | Mai Thúc Loan's forces in Annan | Tang dynasty | Defeat | |
Phùng Hưng's rebellion (766–791) | Phùng Hưng's forces in Annan | Tang dynasty | Defeat | |
Javanese raid in Tang's Annan (767) | Annan under Tang dynasty | Javanese raiders from Shailendra dynasty | Victory for Tang | |
Javanese raids in Hoàn Vương (774–787) | First raid (774) | Hoàn Vương (Huanwang Champa) | Javanese raiders from Shailendra dynasty | Victory for Hoàn Vương |
Second raid (787) | Victory for Hoàn Vương | |||
Hoàn Vương–Tang conflicts (803–809) | First war (803) | Annan under Tang dynasty | Hoàn Vương (Huanwang Champa) | Victory for Tang |
Second war (809) | Victory for Tang | |||
Dương Thanh's rebellion (819–820) | Dương Thanh's forces in Annan | Tang dynasty | Defeat | |
Tang–Nanzhao wars (846–866) | First raid (846) | Annan under Tang dynasty | Nanzhao Local rebels in Annan | Victory for Tang |
Second raid (860–861) | Victory for Tang | |||
Siege of Songping (863) | Defeat for Tang
| |||
Tang's offensive (865–866) | Victory for Tang
| |||
Khúc Thừa Dụ's rebellion (905) | Khúc Thừa Dụ's forces in Jianghai Circuit | Tang dynasty | Victory
|
Conflict | Khuc clan/Duong clan | Opponents | Result |
---|---|---|---|
First Jinghai–Southern Han War (930) | Jinghai Circuit under Khúc clan | Southern Han dynasty | Defeat
|
Dương Đình Nghệ's rebellion (931) | Dương Đình Nghệ's forces in Jinghai Circuit | Southern Han dynasty | Victory
|
Second Jinghai-Southern Han War (938) | Ngô Quyền's forces in Jinghai Circuit | Southern Han dynasty | Victory
|
Conflict | Ngo dynasty | Opponents | Result |
---|---|---|---|
Dương Tam Kha's mutiny (944–950) | Ngô Xương Ngập's forces Ngô Xương Văn's forces | Dương Tam Kha's forces | Victory for Ngo king
|
Anarchy of the 12 Warlords (965–968) | 12 Warlords | Đinh Bộ Lĩnh's forces and allies | Victory for Đinh Bộ Lĩnh (Đinh Tiên Hoàng)
|
Conflict | Dinh dynasty | Opponents | Result |
---|---|---|---|
Countercoup against Lê Hoàn (979) | Loyal forces of Đinh Điền (vi), Nguyễn Bặc, Phạm Hạp and Ngô Nhật Khánh | Lê Hoàn's forces Supported by:
| Dynasty change
|
Conflict | Early Le dynasty | Opponents | Result |
---|---|---|---|
Song–Đại Cồ Việt War (981) | Đại Cồ Việt under Early Lê dynasty | Song dynasty | Victory
|
First Champa–Đại Cồ Việt War (982) | Đại Cồ Việt under Early Lê dynasty | Champa | Victory |
First Throne Crisis of Early Lê dynasty (1005) | Lê Long Việt's forces | Lê Long Tích's forces (vi) | Victory for Lê Long Việt
|
Second Throne Crisis of Early Lê dynasty (1005) | Lê Long Việt's royal court | Rebellion forces of Lê Long Cân (vi), Lê Long Kính (vi) and Lê Long Đinh (vi) | Victory for Lê Long Việt |
Conflict | Event | Later Ly dynasty | Opponents | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dali–Đại Cồ Việt War (1014) | Đại Cồ Việt under Later Lý dynasty | Dali Kingdom | Victory
| |
Throne crisis of Later Lý dynasty (1028) | Crown Prince Lý Phật Mã's forces | Rebellion forces of Đông Chinh Vương, Vũ Đức Vương and Dực Thánh Vương | Victory for Lý Phật Mã
| |
Nong Quanfu's rebellion (1038–1041) | Đại Cồ Việt under Later Lý dynasty | Nong Quanfu's Changqi Kingdom | Victory
| |
Second Champa–Đại Cồ Việt War (1044) | Đại Cồ Việt under Later Lý dynasty | Champa | Victory | |
Nong Zhigao rebellions (1048–1055) | Đại Cồ Việt under Later Lý dynasty | Nong Zhigao's Dali Kingdom and later Nantian Kingdom | Victory
| |
First Champa–Đại Việt War (1069) | Đại Việt under Later Lý dynasty | Champa | Victory
| |
Đại Việt–Song War (1075–1077) | Đại Việt's invasion of Song (1075–1076) | Đại Việt under Later Lý dynasty | Song dynasty | Victory
|
Song's counterattack (1077) | Indecisive
| |||
Đại Việt–Khmer Wars (1128–1150) | First Khmer's campaign (1128) | Đại Việt under Later Lý dynasty | Khmer Empire | Defeat |
Khmer–Champa's joint campaign (1132) | Khmer Empire Champa | Defeat
| ||
Second Khmer's campaign (1137) | Khmer Empire | Defeat | ||
Quách Bốc's rebellion (1209) | Đại Việt under Later Lý dynasty | Quách Bốc's forces | Victory
| |
Nguyễn Nộn's rebellion (1213–1219) | Đại Việt under Later Lý dynasty | Nguyễn Nộn's forces (vi) | Victory
|
Conflict | Event | Tran dynasty | Opponents | Results |
---|---|---|---|---|
Second Champa–Đại Việt War (1252) | Đại Việt under Trần dynasty | Champa | Victory | |
First Đại Việt–Mongol War (1257–1258) | Đại Việt under Trần dynasty | Mongol Empire | Victory
| |
First Đại Việt–Yuan War (1285) or Second Đại Việt–Mongol War | Yuan's advance (January – May) | Đại Việt under Trần dynasty Champa | Yuan dynasty | Defeat
|
Đại Việt's counteroffensive (May – June) | Victory
| |||
Second Đại Việt–Yuan War (1287–1288) or Third Đại Việt–Mongol War | Yuan's advance (1287 – January 1288) | Đại Việt under Trần dynasty | Yuan dynasty | Defeat
|
Battle of Bạch Đằng River (1288) | Victory
| |||
Đại Việt–Muang Sua Wars (1294–1301) | First war (1294) | Đại Việt under Trần dynasty | Muang Sua | Victory
|
Second war (1297) | ||||
Third war (1301) | ||||
Third Champa–Đại Việt War (1311) | Đại Việt under Trần dynasty | Champa | Victory | |
Fourth Champa–Đại Việt War (1318) | Đại Việt under Trần dynasty | Champa | Victory | |
Fifth Champa–Đại Việt War (1367–1368) | Đại Việt under Trần dynasty | Champa | Defeat
| |
Coup against Dương Nhật Lễ (1369–1370) | Dương Nhật Lễ's royal court | Trần Phủ's forces | Throne change
| |
Sixth Champa–Đại Việt War (1371) | Đại Việt under Trần dynasty | Champa | Defeat
| |
Seventh Champa–Đại Việt War (1377) | Đại Việt under Trần dynasty | Champa | Defeat
| |
Eighth Champa–Đại Việt War (1378) | Đại Việt under Trần dynasty | Champa | Defeat
| |
Ninth Champa–Đại Việt War (1382) | Đại Việt under Trần dynasty | Champa | Victory
| |
Tenth Champa-Đại Việt War (1390) | Đại Việt under Trần dynasty | Champa | Victory
|
Conflict | Event | Ho dynasty | Opponents | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
Champa–Đại Ngu Wars (1400–1407) | First Đại Ngu campaign (1400) | Đại Ngu under Hồ dynasty | Champa | Defeat |
Second Đại Ngu campaign (1402) | Victory
| |||
Third Đại Ngu campaign (1403) | Defeat
| |||
Champa campaign (1407) | Đại Ngu under Hồ dynasty | Champa Ming dynasty | Defeat
| |
Đại Ngu–Ming War (1406–1407) | Đại Ngu under Hồ dynasty | Ming dynasty | Defeat
|
Conflict | Jiaozhi | Opponents | Result |
---|---|---|---|
Later Trần rebellion (1407–1414) | Later Trần rebels in Jiaozhi | Ming dynasty | Defeat
|
Lam Sơn uprising (1418–1427) | Lam Sơn's rebels in Jiaozhi | Ming dynasty | Victory
|
Conflict | Event | Later Le dynasty | Opponents | Results |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ngưu Hống rebellion (1431–1432) | Đại Việt under Later Lê dynasty | Ngưu Hống led by Đèo Cát Hãn | Victory | |
Eleventh Champa–Đại Việt War (1446) | Đại Việt under Later Lê dynasty | Champa | Victory
| |
First throne crisis of Later Lê dynasty (1459–1460) | Lê Nghi Dân's coup d'état forces | Loyal forces of Nguyễn Xí, Đinh Liệt and Lê Lăng | Throne change
| |
Twelfth Champa–Đại Việt War (1471) | Đại Việt under Later Lê dynasty | Champa | Victory | |
Đại Việt–Lan Xang War (1479–1484) or White Elephant War | Đại Việt under Later Lê dynasty | Lan Xang Lanna Muang Phuan | Defeat (see analysis)
| |
Second throne crisis of Later Lê dynasty (1509) | Lê Uy Mục's royal court | Lê Oanh's rebel forces | Throne change
| |
Trần Tuân's rebellion (1511–1512) | Đại Việt | Trần Tuân (vi) | Victory | |
Internal crisis of Later Lê dynasty (1516–1526) | Trịnh Duy Sản's coup d'état (1516) | Lê Tương Dực's royal court | Rebel forces of Trịnh Duy Sản (vi), Trịnh Duy Đại and Lê Y | Throne change
|
Trần Cảo's rebellion (1516–1521) | Đại Việt under Later Lê dynasty | Trần Cảo's rebel forces | Victory
| |
Trịnh Tuy's coup d'état (1518–1522) | Lê Chiêu Tông's royal court < Mạc Đăng Dung's forces | Trịnh Tuy's rebel forces | Throne change
| |
Mạc Đăng Dung's coup d'état (1522–1526) | Lê Chiêu Tông's royal court Trịnh Tuy's forces | Mạc Đăng Dung's rebel forces | Dynasty change
|
Conflict | Mac dynasty | Opponents | Result |
---|---|---|---|
First Lê-Mạc War (1533–1592) | Northern dynasty under Mạc dynasty | Southern dynasty under Restored Lê dynasty Trịnh clan Nguyễn clan Bầu clan | Dynasty change |
Throne crisis of Mạc dynasty (1546–1547) | Mạc Phúc Nguyên's forces | Mạc Chính Trung's forces | Throne change
|
During this period, there existed 3 dynasties and 3 lordships: Mạc dynasty (1527–1677), Restored Lê (1533–1789), and Tây Sơn dynasty (1778–1802); Trịnh lords (1545–1787), Nguyễn lords (1558–1802), and Bầu lords (1527–1689); each with varying degrees of power and control over the country. This period is considered to be one of the most complicated periods in the history of Vietnam.
Conflict | Later Le dynasty | Opponents | Result |
---|---|---|---|
Second Lê-Mạc War (1592–1677) | Đại Việt under Later Lê dynasty Trịnh lord Nguyễn lord (until 1600) | Mạc dynasty Bầu clan (from 1594) | Victory for Later Lê dynasty
|
Conflict | Trinh lord | Opponents | Result |
---|---|---|---|
Bầu clan's rebellion (1594–1699) | Tonkin under Trịnh lord | Bầu clan | Victory
|
Hoàng Công Chất's rebellion (1739–1769) | Tonkin under Trịnh lord | Hoàng Công Chất's forces | Victory |
Lê Duy Mật's rebellion (1740–1770) | Tonkin under Trịnh lord | Lê Duy Mật's forces | Victory |
Nguyễn Hữu Cầu's rebellion (1743–1751) | Tonkin under Trịnh lord | Nguyễn Hữu Cầu's forces | Victory |
Nguyễn Danh Phương's rebellion (1744–1751) | Tonkin under Trịnh lord | Nguyễn Danh Phương's forces | Victory |
Đại Việt–Luang Phrabang War (1749) [1] | Tonkin under Trịnh lord | ![]() | Defeat
|
Privileged Army Mutiny (1782–1786) | Tonkin under Trịnh lord | Soldiers from Thanh Hóa and Nghệ An provinces | Victory
|
Conflict | Nguyen lord | Opponents | Result |
---|---|---|---|
First Đại Việt–Panduranga War (1611) | Cochinchina under Nguyễn lord | Panduranga | Victory
|
Dutch East India Company's attack (1643) | Cochinchina under Nguyễn lord | ![]() | Victory
|
Second Đại Việt–Panduranga War (1653) | Cochinchina under Nguyễn lord | Panduranga | Victory
|
First Đại Việt-Cambodia War (1658) | Cochinchina under Nguyễn lord ![]() | ![]() | Victory
|
Second Đại Việt-Cambodia War (1674) | Cochinchina under Nguyễn lord ![]() | ![]() | Victory
|
Third Đại Việt–Panduranga War (1693–1697) | Cochinchina under Nguyễn lord | Panduranga | Defeat
|
Third Đại Việt-Cambodia War (1699) | Cochinchina under Nguyễn lord | ![]() | Victory
|
Fourth Đại Việt-Cambodia War (1708) | ![]() Cochinchina under Nguyễn lord | ![]() ![]() | Victory
|
First Đại Việt-Siam War (1718) | Cochinchina under Nguyễn lord | ![]() | Defeat
|
Fifth Đại Việt-Cambodia War (1753–1756) | Cochinchina under Nguyễn lord | ![]() | Victory
|
Second Đại Việt-Siam War (1771–1772) | Cochinchina under Nguyễn lord ![]() | ![]() ![]() | Defeat
|
Tây Sơn uprising (1771–1777) | Cochinchina under Nguyễn lord | Tây Sơn rebels | Dynasty change
|
Conflict | Trinh lord | Nguyen lord | Result |
---|---|---|---|
First Trịnh-Nguyễn War (1627) | Tonkin | Cochinchina | Defeat to Trịnh |
Second Trịnh-Nguyễn War (1633–1640) | Tonkin | Cochinchina | Defeat to Trịnh |
Third Trịnh-Nguyễn War (1643) | Tonkin | Cochinchina | Defeat to Nguyễn |
Fourth Trịnh-Nguyễn War (1648) | Tonkin | Cochinchina | Defeat to Trịnh |
Fifth Trịnh-Nguyễn War (1655–1660) | Tonkin | Cochinchina | Defeat to Nguyễn |
Sixth Trịnh-Nguyễn War (1661–1662) | Tonkin | Cochinchina | Defeat to Trịnh |
Seventh Trịnh-Nguyễn War (1672) | Tonkin | Cochinchina | Defeat to Trịnh
|
Eighth Trịnh-Nguyễn War (1774–1775) | Tonkin Supported by: | Cochinchina | Defeat to Nguyễn
|
Conflict | Tây Sơn dynasty and allies | Opponents | Brief description |
---|---|---|---|
Tây Sơn–Trịnh War (1775–1786) | ![]() | Tonkin under Trịnh lords | Dynasty change
|
First Tây Sơn-Nguyễn War (1777–1785) | ![]() | Nguyễn lord's loyalists in Cochinchina | Territorial change
|
Third Đại Việt-Siam War (1785) | ![]() | ![]() Nguyễn Ánh's forces | Victory
|
Sixth Đại Việt-Cambodia War (1785) | ![]() | ![]() | Victory |
Nguyễn Huệ–Nguyễn Nhạc conflict (1787) | ![]() | ![]() | Indecisive
|
Tây Sơn-Lê War (1787–1789) | ![]() | Tonkin under Later Lê dynasty Supported by: | Dynasty change
|
Second Tây Sơn-Nguyễn War (1787–1802) | ![]() Supported by:
| Nguyễn Ánh's forces in Cochinchina Supported by:
| Dynasty change
|
Đại Việt–Qing War (1788–1789) | ![]() | ![]() Lê Chiêu Thống's forces | Victory
|
Đại Việt-Vientiane War (1791) | ![]() | ![]() Muang Phuan Lê's loyalists | Victory
|
Conflict | Vietnam and allies | Opponents | Result | Leader |
---|---|---|---|---|
Insurgency in the Central Highlands (1975–1992) | ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Victory | Lê Duẩn (until July 1986) Trường Chinh (July–December 1986) Nguyễn Văn Linh (1986–1991) Đỗ Mười (from) |
Cambodian-Vietnamese border skirmish (1975–1978) | ![]() | ![]() | Victory
| Lê Duẩn |
Insurgency in Laos (1975–2007) | ![]() Pro-government Hmong people | Anti-government Hmong insurgents | Victory to Laos | Lê Duẩn (until July 1986) Trường Chinh (July–December 1986) Nguyễn Văn Linh (1986–1991) Đỗ Mười (1991–1997) Lê Khả Phiêu (1997–2001) Nông Đức Mạnh (from 2001) |
Cambodian–Vietnamese War (1978–1989) | ![]() ![]() Post-invasion: 1979–1989: ![]() ![]() 1989–1991: ![]() Supported by: | ![]() Post-invasion: ![]()
| Victory
| Lê Duẩn (until July 1986) Trường Chinh (July–December 1986) Nguyễn Văn Linh (from 1986) |
Vietnamese border raids in Thailand (1979–1989) | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() Supported by: | Victory
| |
Sino–Vietnamese War (1979) | ![]() | ![]() | Stalemate
| Lê Duẩn |
Sino-Vietnamese border conflicts (1979 – 1991) | ![]() | ![]() | Stalemate
| Lê Duẩn (until July 1986) Trường Chinh (July–December 1986) Nguyễn Văn Linh (1986–1991) Đỗ Mười (from 1991) |
Thai–Laotian Border War (1987–1988) | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Victory to Laos
| Nguyễn Văn Linh |
Johnson South Reef Skirmish (1988) | ![]() | ![]() | Defeat
| |
Cambodian Internal Conflict (1993–1998) | ![]() Supported by: | ![]() | Victory to Cambodia
| Đỗ Mười (until 1997) Lê Khả Phiêu (from 1997) |
The history of Vietnam can be traced back to around 20,000 years ago. The first modern humans to arrive and settle in the area of modern-day Vietnam are known as the Hoabinhians, who can be traced as the ancestors of modern-day Negritos. Archaeological findings from 1965, which are still under research, show the remains of two hominins closely related to the Sinanthropus, dating as far back as the Middle Pleistocene era, roughly half a million years ago.
The Nguyễn dynasty was the last Vietnamese dynasty, which was preceded by the Nguyễn lords and ruled the unified Vietnamese state independently from 1802 to 1883 before being a French protectorate. During its existence, the empire expanded into modern-day southern Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos through a continuation of the centuries-long Nam tiến and Siamese–Vietnamese wars. With the French conquest of Vietnam, the Nguyễn dynasty was forced to give up sovereignty over parts of southern Vietnam to France in 1862 and 1874, and after 1883 the Nguyễn dynasty only nominally ruled the French protectorates of Annam as well as Tonkin. They later cancelled treaties with France and were the Empire of Vietnam for a short time until 25 August 1945.
The Northern and Southern dynasties in the history of Vietnam, spanning from 1533 to 1592, was a political period in the 16th century during which the Mạc dynasty, established by Mạc Đăng Dung in Đông Đô, and the Revival Lê dynasty based in Tây Đô were in contention. For most of the period, these two dynasties fought a lengthy war known as the Lê–Mạc War.
The Tây Sơn dynasty (Vietnamese:[təjʂəːn], Vietnamese: Nhà Tây Sơn, Chữ Nôm: 茹西山, lit. 'House of Tây Sơn'; Vietnamese: triều Tây Sơn, officially Đại Việt, was a dynasty of Vietnam. It was founded after three Nguyễn brothers from the village of Tây Sơn rebelled against the Lê dynasty, Nguyễn lords, and Trịnh lords. The Tây Sơn were led by these three brothers, referred to by modern Vietnamese historians as the Tây Sơn brothers because of their origin in the district of Tây Sơn. The Tây Sơn was later succeeded by the Nguyễn dynasty.
The Lê dynasty, also known in historiography as the Later Lê dynasty, officially Đại Việt, was the longest-ruling Vietnamese dynasty, having ruled from 1428 to 1789, with an interregnum between 1527 and 1533. The Lê dynasty is divided into two historical periods: the Initial Lê dynasty before the usurpation by the Mạc dynasty, in which emperors ruled in their own right, and the Revival Lê dynasty, in which emperors were figures reigned under the auspices of the powerful Trịnh family. The Revival Lê dynasty was marked by two lengthy civil wars: the Lê–Mạc War (1533–1592) in which two dynasties battled for legitimacy in northern Vietnam and the Trịnh–Nguyễn Wars between the Trịnh lords in North and the Nguyễn lords of the South.
Lê Quý Đôn (chữ Hán:, né Lê Danh Phương, on his pen name is Doãn Hậu允厚, and Quế Đường桂堂 was an 18th-century Vietnamese poet, encyclopedist, and government official. His pseudonym was Quế - Đường. He was a native of Duyen Ha village in present-day Thái Bình Province. He is considered one of the most outstanding and prolific Vietnamese polymaths of the early modern period.
The Nguyễn lords, also known as the Nguyễn clan, were a feudal nobility clan that ruled southern part of Đại Việt during the Revival Lê dynasty and ancestors of Nguyễn dynasty's emperors. The territory they ruled was known contemporarily as Đàng Trong and known by Europeans as Kingdom of Cochinchina and by Imperial China as Kingdom of Quảng Nam, in opposition to the Trịnh lords ruling northern Đại Việt as Đàng Ngoài, known as Kingdom of Tonkin by Europeans and Kingdom of Annam by Imperial China in bilateral diplomacy. They were officially called King of Nguyễn in 1744 when lord Nguyễn Phúc Khoát self-proclaimed himself to elevate his status equally to Trịnh lords's title known as King of Trịnh . Both Nguyễn and Trịnh clans were de jure subordinates and fief of the Lê dynasty. However, The de jure submission of the Nguyễn lords to the Trịnh lords ended in 1600.
Vietnamese clothing is the traditional style of clothing worn in Vietnam by the Vietnamese people. The traditional style has both indigenous and foreign elements due to the diverse cultural exchanges during the history of Vietnam. This all eventually led to the birth of a distinctive Vietnamese style of clothing, including the birth of the unofficial national dress of Vietnam, the áo dài.
The Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư is the official national chronicle of the Đại Việt, that was originally compiled by the royal historian Ngô Sĩ Liên under the order of the Emperor Lê Thánh Tông and was finished in 1479 during the Lê period. The 15-volume book covered the period from Hồng Bàng dynasty to the coronation of Lê Thái Tổ, the first emperor of the Lê dynasty in 1428. In compiling his work, Ngô Sĩ Liên based on two principal historical sources which were Đại Việt sử ký by Lê Văn Hưu and Đại Việt sử ký tục biên by Phan Phu Tiên. After its publication, Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư was continually supplemented by other historians of the royal court such as Vũ Quỳnh and Phạm Công Trứ. Today the most popular version of Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư is the Nội các quan bản edition which was completed in 1697 with the additional information up to 1656 during the reign of the Emperor Lê Thần Tông and the Lord Trịnh Tráng. Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư is considered the most important and comprehensive historical book. The chronicle, which was modeled after Sima Qian’s Records of the Grand Historian, provides a chronological history beginning with the legendary Hồng Bàng dynasty and continuing to the founding of the house of Lê in 1428.
Emperor Quang Trung or Nguyễn Huệ, also known as Nguyễn Quang Bình, or Hồ Thơm was the second emperor of the Tây Sơn dynasty, reigning from 1788 until 1792. He was also one of the most successful military commanders in Vietnam's history. Nguyễn Huệ and his brothers, Nguyễn Nhạc and Nguyễn Lữ, together known as the Tây Sơn brothers, were the leaders of the Tây Sơn rebellion. As rebels, they conquered Vietnam, overthrowing the imperial Later Lê dynasty and the two rival feudal houses of the Nguyễn in the south and the Trịnh in the north.
Đại Việt, was a Vietnamese monarchy in eastern Mainland Southeast Asia from the 10th century AD to the early 19th century, centered around the region of present-day Hanoi, Northern Vietnam. Its early name, Đại Cồ Việt, was established in 968 by Vietnamese ruler Đinh Bộ Lĩnh after he ended the Anarchy of the 12 Warlords, until the beginning of the reign of Lý Thánh Tông, the third emperor of the Lý dynasty. Đại Việt lasted until the reign of Gia Long, the first emperor of the Nguyễn dynasty, when the name was changed to Việt Nam in 1804. Under rule of bilateral diplomacy with Imperial China, it was known as Principality of Giao Chỉ (975–1164) and Kingdom of Annam (1164–1804) when Emperor Xiaozong of Song upgraded Đại Việt's status from Principality to Kingdom.
The Đại Việt sử ký is the official historical text of the Trần dynasty, that was compiled by the royal historian Lê Văn Hưu and was finished in 1272. Considered the first comprehensive account of the history of Vietnam, the 30-volume book covered the period between 207 BC to 1225 AD in Vietnamese history, from Triệu Đà, the first king of the Triệu dynasty, to Lý Chiêu Hoàng which was the empress regnant and the last ruler of the Lý dynasty. Although it was lost during the Fourth Chinese domination in Vietnam, the contents of the Đại Việt sử ký, including Lê Văn Hưu's comments about various events in the history of Vietnam, were used by other Vietnamese historians as a base for their works, notably the Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư by Ngô Sĩ Liên.
The Đại Việt sử lược or Việt sử lược is an historical text that was compiled during the Trần dynasty. The three-volume book was finished around 1377 and covered the history of Vietnam from the reign of Triệu Đà to the collapse of the Lý dynasty. During the Fourth Chinese domination of Vietnam, the book, together with almost all official records of the Trần dynasty, was taken away to China and subsequently collected in the Siku Quanshu. The Đại Việt sử lược is considered the earliest chronicles about the history of Vietnam that remains today.
Following is the family tree of Vietnamese monarchs from the autonomous period of the Khúc clan (905–923) to the reign of Bảo Đại (1926–1945), the last emperor of the Nguyễn dynasty. Emperors, kings and lords of each monarch are denoted by different colours with the period of their reigns.
Throughout the history of Vietnam, many names were used in reference to Vietnam.
Lê Thuần Tông birth name Lê Duy Tường was the thirteenth and fourth-last emperor of the Vietnamese Lê dynasty under the domination of the Trịnh lords. He reigned from 1732 to 1735 and was succeeded by Lê Ý Tông.
The House of Nguyễn Phúc, also known as the House of Nguyễn Phước, was a ruling family of Vietnam. It ruled from the city of Huế in central Vietnam beginning in 1636. As the Nguyễn lords, they often fought with the Trịnh lords, who were based in Hanoi. They were overthrown by the Tây Sơn dynasty in 1776.
The Revival Lê dynasty, also called the Later Lê Restoration in historiography, officially Great Việt, was a Vietnamese dynasty that existed between 1533 and 1789. The Primal Lê dynasty (1428–1527) and the Revival Lê dynasty (1533–1789) collectively formed the Later Lê dynasty.
The Military of the Nguyễn dynasty were the main military forces of the Nguyễn dynasty from 1802 to August 1945 when it was dismantled by the August Revolution. The Nguyễn military force was initially formed by Nguyễn Hoàng as a division of the military of the Revival Lê dynasty in 1558 starting out with 3000 soldiers. During this period it was the military forces of the domain of the Nguyễn lords and commonly fought the Trịnh lords who controlled northern Vietnam. During the Tây Sơn Rebellion it was expelled out most of the county by the Tây Sơn dynasty. After the exiled Nguyễn Phúc Ánh returned and defeated the Tây Sơn rebels he crowned himself as the Gia Long Emperor and the Nguyễn military became the national military of Vietnam.