52 Facts About Gia Long

Gia Long, born Nguyen Phuc Anh or Nguyen Anh, was the last Nguyen lord and first emperor of the Nguyen dynasty, the last dynasty of Vietnam.

Gia Long defeated the Tay Son rebellion and reinstated the classical Confucian education and civil service system.

Gia Long moved the capital from Hanoi south to Hue as the country's populace had shifted south over the preceding centuries, and built up several fortresses and a palace in his new capital.

However, the historian Choi Byung Wook claims that the notion that Luan was the designated heir was based on fact but was propagated by 19th century Nguyen dynasty historians after Nguyen Anh had taken the throne as Gia Long to establish the emperor's legitimacy.

Gia Long was crucially aided by the efforts of Do Thanh Nhon, a senior Nguyen Lord commander who had organized an army for him, which was supplemented by Cambodian mercenaries and Chinese pirates.

Gia Long managed to escape the pursuing Tay Son fleet to Koh-rong island in the Bay of Kompongsom.

Gia Long managed to procure several shipments of arms and munitions from Mauritius and Pondicherry.

Gia Long's soldiers served in Siam's war against Bodawpaya of Burma.

Anh arrived at Ha Tien then to Long Xuyen, but he failed in his first attempt to recapture Gia Dinh, having failed to convince the local warlord in the Mekong Delta, Vo Tanh to join his assault.

Gia Long eventually succeeded in taking My Tho, made it the main staging point for his operations, and rebuilt his army.

The exact magnitude of foreign aid and the importance of their contribution to Gia Long's success is a point of dispute.

The area around Saigon, known as Gia Long Dinh, began to be referred to as its own region, because Nguyen Anh's presence was becoming entrenched, distinguishing and associating the area with a political base.

Gia Long introduced European infantry training, formations and tactics while facilitating various methods of manufacturing and using European-style artillery, thereby making cannonry and projectiles a central part of the military.

Gia Long's enemies had regularly raided the south and looted the annual rice harvests, so Nguyen Anh was keen to strengthen his defence.

Gia Long took a deep personal interest in the naval program, directly supervising the work and spending several hours a day at the dockside.

Gia Long became the first Vietnamese ruler to reign over territory stretching from China in the north, all the way to the Gulf of Siam and the Ca Mau peninsula in the south.

Gia Long's then petitioned the Qing dynasty of China for official recognition, which was promptly granted.

Gia Long's rule was noted for its strict Confucian orthodoxy.

Gia Long moved the capital from Hanoi in the north to Hue in central Vietnam to reflect the southward migration of the population over the preceding centuries.

Gia Long decided to join the Imperial Chinese Tributary System.

Gia Long sent an embassy to Qing China and requested to change his country's name to Nam Viet.

Gia Long explained that the word Nam Viet derived from An Nam and Viet Thuong, two toponyms mentioned in ancient Chinese records were located in northern and southern Vietnam respectively, to symbolize the unification of the country.

However, Gia Long copied the Imperial Chinese system, basing it on the Chinese Confucian model and attempting to create a Vietnamese Imperial tributary system.

In 1805, Gia Long used "Trung Quoc", the very same word and characters used to refer to China, as a name for Vietnam.

Gia Long handled the northern and southern regions of Vietnam cautiously, not wanting them to be jarred by rapid centralization after centuries of national division.

When Gia Long unified Vietnam, Eng was given investiture by Siam in order to hold out Vietnamese influence, but in 1803, a Cambodian mission paid tribute to Vietnam in attempt to placate Gia Long, something that became an annual routine.

Gia Long responded by sending an ambassador bearing the book of investiture, together with a seal of gilded silver.

In 1813, Gia Long responded by sending a large military contingent that forced the Siamese and Ang Snguon out of Cambodia.

Pigneau's aborted deal with France allowed Gia Long to keep his country closed to western trade.

Gia Long had purchased arms from British firms in Madras and Calcutta on credit, prompting the British East India Company to send John Roberts to Hue.

Gia Long kept four French officers in his service after his coronation: Philippe Vannier, Jean-Baptiste Chaigneau, de Forsans and the doctor Despiau.

Gia Long abolished all large landholding by princes, nobles, and high officials.

Gia Long dismantled the 800-year-old practice of paying officials and rewarding or endowing nobles with a portion of the taxes from a village or a group thereof.

Gia Long organized a postal service to operate along the highways and public storehouses were built to alleviate starvation in drought-affected years.

Gia Long enacted monetary reform and implemented a more socialized agrarian policy.

Gia Long was convinced of their effectiveness and during his 18-year reign, a further 11 citadels were built throughout the country.

However, in 1819, a new phase of shipbuilding was launched, with Gia Long personally supervising the dockyards.

In 1804, Gia Long promulgated edicts establishing similar schools in the provinces, as well as guidelines to regulate their staff and curriculum.

Gia Long appointed Directors of Education to oversee the provincial education system and the selection process for the entrance examinations to the National Academy, beginning in 1802.

Gia Long explained to his court in 1814 that the goal was to create a cadre of classically educated, politically loyal administrators:.

In 1807, Gia Long opened the first civil service examinations held under the Nguyen dynasty, staged at regional level.

Gia Long promulgated a new legal code to replace the system that had existed since the Hong Duc era of Le Thanh Tong in the 15th century.

Now that Vietnam was unified, the center of gravity of the country moved further south, following centuries of southerly migration and conquest, so Gia Long moved the seat of government from Hanoi to Hue.

Gia Long rebuilt the old citadel of Phu Xuan into a fortress stronghold.

Gia Long tolerated the Catholic faith of his French allies and permitted unimpeded missionary activities out of respect to his benefactors.

Gia Long was known for his disdain for Buddhism, the religion practiced by the majority of the population.

Gia Long repealed the changes enacted by Quang Trung and reverted to the prior Confucian orthodoxy.

Gia Long had many wives, but the most famous consorts are Empress Thua Thien, Empress Thuan Thien, and Consort Le Ngoc Binh.

Gia Long bore him two sons, the first being Nguyen Phuc Chieu, who died shortly after birth in Phu Quoc island, and later Crown Prince Nguyen Phuc Canh.

Gia Long had almost 100 concubines who were daughters of his mandarins; Gia Long did not favor polygamy but he did so to secure the loyalty of his inner circle.

Gia Long chose him for his strong character and his deep aversion to westerners, whereas Canh's lineage had converted to Catholicism and were reluctant to maintain their Confucian traditions such as ancestor worship.

Gia Long told his son to treat the Europeans respectfully, especially the French, but not to grant them any position of preponderance.