Portrait of the Nguyễn Dynasty Emperors: From the First to the Third Emperor
Gia Long – The First Emperor of the Nguyễn Dynasty
Gia Long was the first emperor of the Nguyễn Dynasty, ascending the throne after the Tây Sơn period. He chose Phú Xuân (Huế) as the imperial capital – a place his ancestors, the Nguyễn lords, had previously selected as their administrative center, although it had not yet been an official capital.
The emperor focused on laying the foundations of the new dynasty:
- Administration: Established the Six Ministries to manage personnel, finance, rituals, military affairs, justice, and public works.
- Military and diplomacy: Reorganized and strengthened the military while adopting a strategic and prudent foreign policy.
- Education and talent recruitment: Emphasized examinations and education to select talented individuals for the imperial court.
Regarding territorial organization, Gia Long divided the country into three regions:
- Bắc Thành (northern region),
- Gia Định Thành (southern region),
- Trực doanh in the central region, under direct imperial administration.
This period marked the most systematic and detailed development of the Vietnamese state apparatus up to that time.
One of Gia Long’s greatest achievements was initiating the construction of the Huế Imperial City, including city planning, building walls and gates, and military installations. Although the project was only completed during the reign of his son, Minh Mạng, it was Gia Long who planned and started the construction.
Apart from Huế, Gia Long also oversaw the construction of Phiên An Citadel in Gia Định (present-day Ho Chi Minh City). Later, his son, Minh Mạng Emperor, ordered the demolition of the old Phiên An Citadel to build a more complete version, associated with historical events such as the case of Lê Văn Duyệt, which you can explore in detail in this article.
Minh Mang - The Second Emperor
Minh Mệnh, personal name Đởm, was born on the 23rd day of the first lunar month in the year Tân Hợi (1789), the fourth son of Emperor Gia Long. In the first lunar month of Canh Thìn (1820), at the age of 30, he ascended the throne, proclaiming the national name Đại Nam and adopting the reign title Minh Mệnh.
He was renowned for his intelligence, diligence, energy, and decisiveness. Upon taking power, Minh Mệnh personally attended court early each day, reviewed all state affairs, and gave his own “châu phê” (imperial annotations) before any decree was carried out. He also introduced a strict rule requiring officials of all ranks to present themselves before him prior to assuming office, allowing the emperor to examine their abilities and offer counsel. A keen seeker of knowledge, he frequently summoned senior mandarins to discuss governance, history, eminent figures, and foreign customs. Dedicated to his duties, Minh Mệnh often worked late into the night, reviewing memorials and reports until the second or third watch. His reign is widely regarded as the most powerful and prosperous period of the Nguyễn dynasty.
1st Picture : Portrait of Emperor Gia Long
Thieu Tri - The Third Emperor
- Date of Birth: May 11, year of Đinh Mão (June 16, 1807)
- Reign Duration: 7 years (1840 – 1847)
Thiệu Trị, personal name Nguyễn Phúc Miên Tông, was the eldest son of Emperor Minh Mệnh among his 78 princes, and thus inherited the throne. He was renowned as a poet and scholar, best remembered for two remarkable works in classical Chinese: Vũ Trung Sơn Thủy (“Mountains and Rivers in the Rain”) and Phước Viên Văn Hội Lương Dạ Mạn Ngâm (“Verses for a Pleasant Night at the Phuoc Vien Literary Gathering”). Uniquely, these poems were not arranged in the conventional way but written in five concentric circles, with each circle containing a certain number of characters. Each poem held 56 characters forming a regulated verse of seven words per line. The layout resembled a Bagua diagram, and the emperor issued riddles on how to read them, revealing 64 different poems within. Modern researchers have discovered as many as 128 possible readings.
Despite his literary brilliance, Emperor Thiệu Trị introduced no major reforms, instead maintaining the administrative, economic, educational, legal, and military policies established under Minh Mệnh. During his reign, he continued Minh Mệnh’s expansionist policy, preserving Đại Nam’s territorial extent at its greatest in history.
2nd Picture : Portrait of Emperor Thieu Tri
