Early Lý dynasty

Early Lý Dynasty
House of Early Lý 前李朝
544–602
Map of Vạn Xuân kingdom during Early Lý dynasty
Capital		Long Biên
Government		Monarchy
Kings
•	544–548	Lý Nam Đế (first)
•	571–602	Hậu Lý Nam Đế (last)
History
•	Lý Bí proclaimed himself king	544
•	Surrender of Hậu Lý Nam Đế	602
Preceded by Succeeded by Second Chinese domination of Vietnam Third Chinese domination of Vietnam

History of Vietnam
2879–258 BC Hồng Bàng dynasty 2879–1913 BC • Early Hồng Bàng 1912–1055 BC • Mid-Hồng Bàng 1054–258 BC • Late Hồng Bàng 257–179 BC Thục dynasty 207–111 BC Triệu dynasty 111 BC–40 AD 1st Chinese domination 40–43 Trưng Sisters 43–544 2nd Chinese domination 544–602 Early Lý dynasty 602–938 3rd Chinese domination 939–967 Ngô dynasty 968–980 Đinh dynasty 980–1009 Early Lê dynasty 1009–1225 Later Lý dynasty 1225–1400 Trần dynasty 1400–1407 Hồ dynasty 1407–1427 4th Chinese domination 1407–1413 • Later Trần dynasty 1428–1788 Later Lê dynasty 1527–1592 • Mạc dynasty 1545–1787 • Trịnh clan 1558–1777 • Nguyễn clan 1778–1802 Tây Sơn dynasty 1802–1945 Nguyễn dynasty 1858–1945 French Indochina 1945 Empire of Vietnam From 1945 Republic 1945–1976 • North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) 1955–1975 • South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) From 1976 Unification of Vietnam
Further subjects Champa dynasties (192–1832) Historical capitals Prehistoric and ancient cultures List of monarchs Country's names Economic history Military history

The Early or Anterior Lý Dynasty (Vietnamese: nhà Tiền Lý) was a dynasty which ruled Vietnam from AD 544 to 602. Its founder Lý Bí assumed the title of "Southern Emperor" (Lý Nam Đế). The realm of the Early Lý was known as Vạn Xuân ("Myriad Springs") and their capital was at Long Biên within modern Hanoi, which they renamed Thăng Long.

Political resistance

The sixth century was an important stage in the Vietnamese political evolution toward independence. During this period, the Vietnamese aristocracy became increasingly independent of Chinese authority, while retaining Chinese political and cultural forms. At the same time, indigenous leaders arose who claimed power based on Vietnamese traditions of kingship. A series of failed revolts in the late sixth and early seventh centuries increased the Vietnamese national consciousness. Lý Bí (Lý Nam Đế), the leader of a successful revolt in 543 against the Liang dynasty, was himself descended from a Chinese family that had fled to the Red River Delta during a period of dynastic turbulence in the first century A.D.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]} Lý Bí declared himself emperor of Nam Việt in the tradition of Triệu Đà and organized an imperial court at Long Biên.^[11] Lý Bí was killed in 547, but his followers kept the revolt alive for another fifty years, establishing what is sometimes referred to in Vietnamese history as the Earlier Lý Dynasty.

Statue of Buddha, 6th - 7th century, during Early Lý dynasty. Exhibit in the Museum of the City of Brussels, Belgium.

While the Lý family retreated to the mountains and attempted to rule in the style of their Chinese overlords, a rebel leader who based his rule on an indigenous form of kingship arose in the Red River Delta. Triệu Quang Phục made his headquarters on an island in a vast swamp.^[12] From this refuge, he could strike without warning, seizing supplies from the Liang army and then slipping back into the labyrinthine channels of the swamp. Despite the initial success of such guerrilla tactics, by which he gained control over the Red River Delta, Triệu Quang Phục was defeated by 570. According to a much later Vietnamese revolutionary, General Võ Nguyên Giáp, Vietnamese concepts of protracted warfare were born in the surprise offensives, night attacks, and hit-and-run tactics employed by Triệu Quang Phục.

Anterior Lý Dynasty

Regal Titles

• Lý Nam Đế I (r. 542–548) Lý Nam Đế's pre-throne name was Lý Bí, also known as Lý Bôn.^[13]
• Lý Thiên Bảo (r. 548–555, co-reigned with Triệu Quang Phục)
• Triệu Việt Vương (r. 548–571, 555–571 as sole ruler)
• Lý Nam Đế II (r. 571–602)

Notes

References

• Taylor, Keith Weller. (1983). The Birth of Vietnam (illustrated, reprint ed.). University of California Press. ISBN 0520074173. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
• Tucker, Spencer C. Vietnam. University Press of Kentucky, Feb 25, 1999 - 256 pages