Vũ Văn Dũng (, died 1802), or Võ Văn Dũng, was a general of
Tây Sơn dynasty
The Tây Sơn dynasty (, vi, Nhà Tây Sơn (Chữ Nôm: 茹西山); vi, Tây Sơn triều ( Hán tự: 西山朝) was a ruling dynasty of Vietnam, founded in the wake of a rebellion against both the Nguyễn lords and the Trịnh lords befor ...
,
Vietnam
Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...
. He and
Võ Ðình Tú,
Trần Quang Diệu,
Nguyễn Văn Tuyết
Nguyễn () is the most common Vietnamese surname. Outside of Vietnam, the surname is commonly rendered without diacritics as Nguyen. Nguyên (元)is a different word and surname.
By some estimates 39 percent of Vietnamese people bear this s ...
(Commander Tuyết),
Lê Văn Hưng
Lê Văn Hưng (March 27, 1933 – April 30, 1975) was an infantry general of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam.
Early life
Hưng was born in Hóc Môn, in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam, and was raised by his widowed mother, Trương Thị ...
,
Lý Văn Bưu,
Nguyễn Văn Lộc (Commander Lộc) were known as "Seven Tiger Generals of Tây Sơn dynasty" ( vi, Tây Sơn thất hổ tướng, ).
Positions
At first, Vũ Văn Dũng was subordinate of
Phạm Ngô Cầu (the administrator of Phú Xuân, appointed by a
trịnh lord
Trịnh is a Vietnamese family name, which is also common in some countries such as Korea (Jung, Jeong). A considerable portion of families that bear the surname Trinh are ethnically Vietnamese.
Notable people
*Trịnh Như Khuê, First Cardina ...
). In 1786, the Tây Sơn army captured
Phú Xuân
Phú Xuân (富春) was the historic capital of the Nguyễn lords, the Tây Sơn dynasty, and later became the Nguyễn dynasty's capital (renamed Huế).
History
In 1306, the King of Champa Chế Mân offered Vietnam two Chăm prefectures, Ô ...
and Dũng surrendered to
Nguyễn Huệ
Emperor Quang Trung ( vi-hantu, 光中, 1753 – 16 September 1792) or Nguyễn Huệ ( vi-hantu, 阮惠), also known as Nguyễn Quang Bình ( vi-hantu, 阮光平), was the second emperor of the Tây Sơn dynasty, reigning from 1788 until 17 ...
. He was granted the position ''Đại tư khấu'' ( "Grand Minister of Justice"). Later, he was sent to
Tonkin
Tonkin, also spelled ''Tongkin'', ''Tonquin'' or ''Tongking'', is an exonym referring to the northern region of Vietnam. During the 17th and 18th centuries, this term referred to the domain ''Đàng Ngoài'' under Trịnh lords' control, includi ...
to enlist rebel soldiers by offering amnesty.
Conflicts
After
Nguyễn Quang Toản
Emperor Cảnh Thịnh ( vi-hantu, ), born Nguyễn Quang Toản ( vi-hantu, ; 1783–1802), was the third and last emperor of the Tây Sơn dynasty. He followed his father Quang Trung (Nguyễn Huệ ruled 1788–1792) at the age of 9, and reig ...
became emperor at age 9, his new regent
Bùi Đắc Tuyên replaced Dũng with general
Ngô Văn Sở
Ngô Văn Sở (, died 1795) was a general of the Tây Sơn dynasty.
Born in Tuy Viễn District (modern Tây Sơn District), Bình Định Province, he joined the Tây Sơn army at an early age. In 1787, Vũ Văn Nhậm led an army north into ...
and sent the former back to Phú Xuân. On the way to Phú Xuân,
Trần Văn Kỷ persuaded Dũng to stage a ''coup d'état'' against Tuyên. Dũng,
Phạm Công Hưng
Phạm Công Hưng (范公興, ?–1795) or Phạm Văn Hưng (范文興), was a general of Tây Sơn dynasty, Vietnam.
Phạm Công Hưng was a brother of Phạm Văn Tham and Phạm Ngạn. He also had a sister Phạm Thị Liên, whom wa ...
, and
Nguyễn Văn Huấn
Nguyễn () is the most common Vietnamese surname. Outside of Vietnam, the surname is commonly rendered without diacritics as Nguyen. Nguyên (元)is a different word and surname.
By some estimates 39 percent of Vietnamese people bear this s ...
besieged the regent's house, arrested him, and imprisoned him. Dũng then ordered
Nguyễn Quang Thùy
Nguyễn Quang Thùy () was a Vietnamese prince alive during the Tây Sơn dynasty.
Background
A son of Nguyễn Huệ, Thùy was also a half-brother of Nguyễn Quang Toản. After Toản ascended the throne in 1792, Thùy was granted the roya ...
to arrest Sở in Tonkin, while Huấn was sent to
Quy Nhơn
Quy Nhon ( vi, Quy Nhơn ) is a coastal city in Bình Định province in central Vietnam. It is composed of 16 wards and five communes with a total of . Quy Nhon is the capital of Bình Định province. As of 2019 its population was 457,400. His ...
to capture Tuyên's son
Bùi Đắc Trụ.
Sở, Trụ, and Tuyên were taken to Phú Xuân, where they were executed by being drowned in the
Perfume River
The Perfume River ( or ; ) is a river that crosses the city of Huế, in the central Vietnamese province of Thừa Thiên-Huế. In the autumn, flowers from orchards upriver from Huế fall into the water, giving the river a perfume-like aroma, ...
in front of emperor Toản, who could do nothing but weep. After the coup, general
Trần Quang Diệu retreated from
Diên Khánh
Diên Khánh is a Commune-level town (Vietnam), township () and capital of Diên Khánh District, Khánh Hòa Province, Vietnam. It was established in 1981.
References
Communes of Khánh Hòa province
Populated places in Khánh Hòa provinc ...
and marched north to An Cựu. Toản was afraid that a civil war might break out at any moment, and sent an army led by Dũng and
Nguyễn Văn Danh
Nguyễn () is the most common Vietnamese surname. Outside of Vietnam, the surname is commonly rendered without diacritics as Nguyen. Nguyên (元)is a different word and surname.
By some estimates 39 percent of Vietnamese people bear this su ...
to defend against Diệu in case he attacked.
Later, the crisis was settled by Hưng, and Diệu was persuaded to reconcile with Dũng, and came back to Phú Xuân. Dũng was granted the position ''Đại tư đồ'' ( "Grand Minister Over the Masses"), and became a regent along with Diệu, Huấn, and Danh.
['']Việt Nam sử lược
( vi-hantu, 越南史略, french: Précis d'Histoire du Việt-Nam, lit. "Outline History of Vietnam"), was the first history text published in the Vietnamese and the Vietnamese alphabet. It was compiled by Vietnamese historian Trần Trọng Kim ...
'', Quyển 2, Tự chủ thời đại, Chương 12['' Đại Nam chính biên liệt truyện'', vol. 30]
Nguyễn Ánh
Gia Long ( (''North''), ('' South''); 8 February 1762 – 3 February 1820), born Nguyễn Phúc Ánh (阮福暎) or Nguyễn Ánh, was the founding emperor of the Nguyễn dynasty, the last dynasty of Vietnam. His dynasty would rule the unif ...
besieged Quy Nhơn in 1799. He was sent to reinforce together with Trần Quang Diệu. When they marched to Thạch Tân, they found the road was blocked by
Nguyễn Văn Thành
Nguyễn Văn Thành ( chữ Hán: 阮文誠; 1758 – 1817) was a Vietnamese general who was governor of Gia Định Province. He conflicted with the emperor Nguyễn Phúc Ánh or Gia Long, on several occasions, including using money reserved f ...
. The army under Dũng stayed at Chung Xá. In the night, a soldier saw a
sambar deer
The sambar (''Rusa unicolor'') is a large deer native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia that is listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List since 2008. Populations have declined substantially due to severe hunting, local ins ...
pass by, and shouted: "''
con nai!''" (a sambar deer!) It was misheard as "''
Đồng Nai!''" (army of
Đồng Nai!) by other soldiers, and shouted everywhere. The Tây Sơn army melted away in all directions, and was pursued by the
Nguyễn
Nguyễn () is the most common Vietnamese name, Vietnamese surname. Outside of Vietnam, the surname is commonly rendered without diacritics as Nguyen. wiktionary:nguyên, Nguyên (元)is a different word and surname.
By some estimates 39 perc ...
army. Though they used to be political opponents, Diệu finally decided to conceal the fact. Dũng was thankful, and made friends with him.
[
Hearing the news of defeat, Quy Nhơn surrendered to the Nguyễn lords, who renamed it Bình Định. Dũng and Trần Quang Diệu stayed at Quảng Nam. Sometime later, the boy-emperor heard Trần Viết Kết and Hồ Công Diệu speak evil of Trần Quang Diệu and ordered Dũng to kill Trần Quang Diệu. But Dũng showed the emperor's letter to Trần Quang Diệu, who then marched to Phú Xuân. The boy-emperor had to arrest Kết and Hồ Công Diệu and transfer them to Trần Quang Diệu.][
In 1800, an army under Trần Quang Diệu besieged Bình Định province. At the same time, a navy led by Dũng sealed off the ]Thị Nại Port
Thị Nại Port ( vi, Cảng Thị Nại, links=no) is the second largest port in Bình Định Province, Vietnam
Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeas ...
. After hearing about this, Nguyễn Ánh led a navy to reinforce Bình Định. In January of 1801, the Nguyễn army reached the Thị Nại Port. Two Nguyễn generals, Võ Di Nguy and Lê Văn Duyệt
Lê Văn Duyệt)., group=n (1763 or 1764 – 30 July 1832) was a Vietnamese general who helped Nguyễn Ánh—the future Emperor Gia Long—put down the Tây Sơn wars, unify Vietnam and establish the Nguyễn dynasty. After the Nguyễn came ...
, were sent as vanguards to attack the Tây Sơn navy. Nguy was killed in action; Duyệt fought bravely, and set fire to Tây Sơn naval vessels. Dũng had to abandon the Thị Nại Port, and joined Diệu's army.
Nguyễn Ánh left Nguyễn Văn Thành to fight against Diệu and Dũng, and directly attacked the Tây Sơn dynasty capital Phú Xuân
Phú Xuân (富春) was the historic capital of the Nguyễn lords, the Tây Sơn dynasty, and later became the Nguyễn dynasty's capital (renamed Huế).
History
In 1306, the King of Champa Chế Mân offered Vietnam two Chăm prefectures, Ô ...
, capturing it. Diệu and Dũng tried to recapture the capital, but the road was blocked by Duyệt, so they had to besiege the city's citadel more actively. The siege of Bình Định continued for over a year to June 1801, when the citadel's food provisions were exhausted. Võ Tánh
Võ Tánh (wikt:武, 武 wikt:性, 性, ?—1801) was an 18th-century Vietnamese military commander, best known for his role as a general of Nguyễn Ánh, who unified modern-day Vietnam and ruled as Emperor Gia Long.
Early life
Võ Tánh was bor ...
, the Nguyễn general guarding the citadel, committed suicide. The Tây Sơn army captured the citadel, which they then used as a base camp to attack the Nguyễn lords.[
]
Capture and death
An army of 30 thousand men under the boy-emperor marched south to recapture the lost territory, but were badly defeated in a battle at the mouth of Nhật Lệ River
The Nhật Lệ River is a river in Đồng Hới city, Quảng Bình Province, Vietnam. The Nhật Lệ River is 152 km long, of which the Kiến Giang River is 58 km in length, and the Long Đại River is 77 km long. The river ...
. The child emperor fled to Thăng Long
Hanoi or Ha Noi ( or ; vi, Hà Nội ) is the capital and second-largest city of Vietnam. It covers an area of . It consists of 12 urban districts, one district-leveled town and 17 rural districts. Located within the Red River Delta, Hanoi is ...
. Diệu and Dũng abandoned Quy Nhơn and retreated to Laos
Laos (, ''Lāo'' )), officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic ( Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ, French: République démocratique populaire lao), is a socialist ...
, planning to march to Nghệ An and then to Thăng Long.[ But Nghệ An was also captured by the Nguyễn army. Finally, Dũng was captured in Nông Cống District][ and transferred to ]Huế
Huế () is the capital of Thừa Thiên Huế province in central Vietnam and was the capital of Đàng Trong from 1738 to 1775 and of Vietnam during the Nguyễn dynasty from 1802 to 1945. The city served as the old Imperial City and admi ...
, where he was beheaded.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vu, Van Dung
1802 deaths
Tây Sơn dynasty generals
People executed by Vietnam by decapitation
Executed Vietnamese people