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Đại Việt

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Đại Việt was the official name for several Vietnamese monarchies.

VietnamChampa1
VietnamChampa1

These states ruled in eastern Mainland Southeast Asia from the 10th century to the early 19th century. The political center was located near present-day Hanoi. This historical period is the primary precursor to modern Vietnam. It established the foundation for the nation's historic and cultural identity.

Bản đồ kinh thành Thăng Long, theo Hồng Đức bản đồ sách 洪德版圖冊 (1490)
Bản đồ kinh thành Thăng Long, theo Hồng Đức bản đồ sách 洪德版圖冊 (1490)

The state's history began with the rise of Emperor Đinh Bộ Lĩnh. In 968, he established the realm under the name Đại Cồ Việt. This followed his military campaigns to end the Anarchy of the 12 Warlords.

VuaDinhTienHoang
VuaDinhTienHoang

The name was later shortened to Đại Việt in 1054. This change occurred when Lý Nhật Tôn ascended to the throne. The name "Đại Việt" is a more literary version of the vernacular name. It has been found on brick inscriptions in the ancient capital of Hoa Lư.

Thái Bình Hưng Bảo - Dr. Luke Roberts 01
Thái Bình Hưng Bảo - Dr. Luke Roberts 01

Đại Việt's governance was shaped by many different ruling families. The history is categorized into eight distinct dynasties. These include the Đinh, Early Lê, Lý, Trần, Hồ, Later Lê, Mạc, and Tây Sơn dynasties.

Trần Anh Tông TLĐSXSĐ
Trần Anh Tông TLĐSXSĐ

The state experienced two major historical phases. The first was a unified state lasting from the 960s to 1533. The second was a fragmented state from 1533 to 1802. During this second period, multiple noble clans and dynasties ruled different domains simultaneously.

Diplomacy with Imperial China influenced how the world viewed the region. Through bilateral diplomacy, China used different names for the territory. From 975 to 1164, it was called the Principality of Giao Chỉ. Later, it became known as the Kingdom of Annam.

万国来朝图 Annam (安南国) delegates in Beijing in 1761
万国来朝图 Annam (安南国) delegates in Beijing in 1761

This change happened when Emperor Xiaozong of the Song dynasty recognized its independence. This upgrade from a principality to a kingdom was a significant political shift. The name Annam remained in use until 1804.

Royaume d'Annam 1653 par Jean Somer 04996
Royaume d'Annam 1653 par Jean Somer 04996

The term "Việt" has deep roots in ancient history. Originally, it referred to diverse groups in southern China and northern Vietnam. These groups were collectively known as the Baiyue, or the Hundred Yue.

Le Dynasty Ceramic Plate (9735631777)
Le Dynasty Ceramic Plate (9735631777)

These people practiced slash-and-burn cultivation and lived in stilt houses. They were a diverse ethnolinguistic complex with many different languages. Over time, the term evolved from a description of people into a geopolitical designation. Eventually, the name was localized into the Vietnamese language during the late Tang dynasty.

Geographically, the state underwent significant expansion between the 13th and 18th centuries. The borders grew to encompass territory similar to modern-day Vietnam. This included land along the South China Sea from the Gulf of Tonkin to the Gulf of Thailand.

VietnamChampa1
VietnamChampa1

The state slowly annexed territories from Champa and Cambodia. This process moved the Vietnamese borders toward the south and the west. This expansion helped consolidate the regional power of the monarchy.

Conflict and reunification defined the later years of the state. The period of fragmentation lasted for 262 years. It involved wars between the Lê and Mạc families, and the Trịnh and Nguyễn families.

Tay Do castle North gate
Tay Do castle North gate

The Tây Sơn brothers briefly unified the land in 1786. However, they divided the territory among themselves in 1787. The fragmentation finally ended with a Nguyễn victory. In 1802, the Nguyễn dynasty was founded. In 1804, the name of the country was officially changed to Việt Nam.

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🖼️ Images & Media (20)
File:Later Liang.png
Later Liang.png
File:VuaDinhTienHoang.jpg
VuaDinhTienHoang.jpg
File:Thái Bình Hưng Bảo - Dr. Luke Roberts 01.jpg
Thái Bình Hưng Bảo - Dr. Luke Roberts 01.jpg
File:Ly Cong Uan (BN).jpg
Ly Cong Uan (BN).jpg
File:VietnamChampa1.gif
VietnamChampa1.gif
File:Bia đá Chùa Dạm.JPG
Bia đá Chùa Dạm.JPG
File:Tabula Rogeriana 1929 copy by Konrad Miller.jpg
Tabula Rogeriana 1929 copy by Konrad Miller.jpg
File:Tay Do castle North gate.JPG
Tay Do castle North gate.JPG
File:Bản đồ kinh thành Thăng Long, theo Hồng Đức bản đồ sách 洪德版圖冊 (1490).jpg
Bản đồ kinh thành Thăng Long, theo Hồng...
File:Van Mieu Hanoi 5.jpg
Van Mieu Hanoi 5.jpg
File:Royaume_d'Annam_1653_par_Jean_Somer_04996.jpg
Royaume_d'Annam_1653_par_Jean_Somer_04996.jpg
File:Ordre qui s'observe, dans la marche, de la pompe funebre, a la enterrement des Roys de Tunquin - Tavernier Jean Baptiste - 1692.jpg
Ordre qui s'observe, dans la marche, de...

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