| Nguyễn Lữ | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Đông Định vương | |||||
 | |||||
| Reign | 1786–1787 | ||||
| Born | ? Bình Định, Đàng Trong, Đại Việt | ||||
| Died | 1787 Quy Nhơn, Đại Việt | ||||
| |||||
| House | Tây Sơn dynasty | ||||
| Father | Hồ Phi Phúc (or Nguyễn Phi Phúc) | ||||
Nguyễn Lữ (chữ Hán: 阮侶; died 1787), also known by the title of Đông Định vương (東定王, "king of Eastern Conquering"), was the one of the Tây Sơn brothers who formed short-lived Tây Sơn dynasty of Vietnam.
Biography
Lữ had two brothers: Emperor Thái Đức, common name Nguyễn Nhạc; and Emperor Quang Trung, common name Nguyễn Huệ. According to Đại Nam chính biên liệt truyện, the three brothers, listed from eldest to youngest, were Nguyễn Nhạc, Nguyễn Lữ, Nguyễn Huệ; However, other source reported that he was the youngest one among Tây Sơn brothers. He had two nicknames: thầy Tư Lữ (Fourth Master Lữ ) and Đức ông Bảy (Virtuous Sir Seven).
After defeating the Nguyễn Lords and seizing Saigon in 1783 Nguyễn Lữ became king of the South, while Nguyễn Nhạc was crowned king of central Vietnam. Two generals, Đặng Văn Chân and Phạm Văn Tham, were left in Gia Định to assist him.
A civil war broke out between Nguyễn Nhạc and Nguyễn Huệ in 1787, the main forces withdrew from Gia Định, and marched north to support Nhạc. Getting the information, Nguyễn Ánh returned to Vietnam. Nguyễn Lữ was afraid, and retreated to Biên Hòa, leaving Phạm Văn Tham to defend Saigon. Ánh forged a letter from Nhạc to Lữ, and sent it to Tham. In the letter, Nhạc described Tham as an overbearing man, and ordered Lữ to kill Tham. After receiving the letter, Tham marched to Biên Hòa, with a white flag in front of the army, to justify his wrongful treatment. But the white flag was mistaken for Tham's surrender to Nguyễn lord, Nguyễn Lữ abandoned his troops and his fief, fled to Quy Nhơn and sought refuge with his elder brother Nguyễn Nhạc. Not long after he died there.
See also
Footnote
- Nguyễn Lữ was referred to as Ong Tinh Wuang (Thai: องติเวือง) in Siamese records; Ong Tinh Wuang derived from the Vietnamese word Ông Định vương ("Sir Định vương").
References
- เจ้าพระยาทิพากรวงศ์ (ขำ บุนนาค). "16. ทัพพระยานครสวรรค์ไปตีเมืองไซ่ง่อน". พระราชพงศาวดารกรุงรัตนโกสินทร์ รัชกาลที่ 1.
- Tương quan Xiêm – Việt cuối thế kỉ XVIII
- Nghia M. Vo Saigon: A History 2011 Page 30 "The three brothers Nguyễn Nhạc, Nguyễn Lữ, and Nguyễn Huệ led the revolt against the Nguyễn lords. Born from the Hồ family, they were related to Hồ Quý Ly, the 15th-century regent of the Thăng Long (Hà Nội) court. Between 1653 and ... "
- Lonely Planet Vietnam - Nick Ray, Yu-Mei Balasingamchow 2010 Page 32 "In 1783 they captured Saigon and the South from the Nguyen Lords, killing the reigning prince and his family. Nguyễn Lữ became the king of the South, while Nguyen Nhac was crowned king of central Vietnam. Continuing their conquests, the Tay Son"
- Việt Nam sử lược, Quyển 2, Tự chủ thời đại, Chương 12
- Đại Nam chính biên liệt truyện, vol. 30