Dục Đức facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Emperor Dục Đức育德帝 |
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Tomb of Dục Đức in Huế
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| Emperor of Đại Nam | |||||||||||||||||
| Reign | 20 July 1883 – 23 July 1883 | ||||||||||||||||
| Predecessor | Tự Đức | ||||||||||||||||
| Successor | Hiệp Hòa | ||||||||||||||||
| Regent | Tôn Thất Thuyết, Nguyễn Văn Tường & Trần Tiễn Thành | ||||||||||||||||
| Emperor of the Nguyễn dynasty | |||||||||||||||||
| Reign | 20 July 1883 – 23 July 1883 | ||||||||||||||||
| Predecessor | Tự Đức | ||||||||||||||||
| Successor | Hiệp Hòa | ||||||||||||||||
| Born | 23 February 1852 Imperial City, Huế, Đại Nam |
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| Died | 6 October 1883 (aged 31) Imperial City, Huế, Đại Nam |
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| Burial | An Lăng (安陵) | ||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | Empress Từ Minh | ||||||||||||||||
| Issue | 19 including 11 sons and 8 daughters Nguyễn Phúc Bửu Lân |
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| House | Nguyễn Phúc | ||||||||||||||||
| Father | Nguyễn Phúc Hồng Y (son of Thiệu Trị) | ||||||||||||||||
| Mother | Trần Thị Nga | ||||||||||||||||
| Religion | Ruism, Buddhism | ||||||||||||||||
Dục Đức (chữ Hán: 育德) was an emperor of Vietnam who ruled for only three days. He was the fifth emperor of the Nguyễn dynasty. His short reign lasted from July 20 to July 23, 1883. Dục Đức was also the father of Emperor Thành Thái, who later ruled Vietnam from 1889 to 1907.
Early Life of Dục Đức
Dục Đức was born on February 23, 1852, with the name Nguyễn Phúc Ưng Ái. When he was 17, his name was changed to Nguyễn Phúc Ưng Chân. He was the second son of Nguyễn Phúc Hồng Y, who was the fourth brother of Emperor Tự Đức.
Emperor Tự Đức did not have any children of his own. So, he adopted Dục Đức and two of his cousins, Chanh Mong (who later became Emperor Đồng Khánh) and Duong Thien (Kiến Phúc).
After Emperor Tự Đức passed away, three powerful officials, known as regents, decided that Dục Đức would be the next emperor. These regents were Nguyễn Văn Tường, Tôn Thất Thuyết, and Tran Tien Thanh. However, this decision was not easy. Some people believed that Emperor Tự Đức had actually chosen Kiến Phúc to be his successor. But a group of influential women in the palace supported Dục Đức. They convinced the regents to change the will and make Dục Đức the new emperor.
His Short Reign and Passing
Dục Đức ruled for only three days before the same regents who had chosen him removed him from power. He was then put in prison. The exact reasons for his removal are not fully clear.
Some historical accounts suggest that Dục Đức did not follow proper court rules during his coronation ceremony. This might have led the regents to reveal parts of Emperor Tự Đức's will that suggested Dục Đức was not suitable to rule. He was then put in prison and later died there. Some stories even say he was given poison, which was a very harsh punishment. He was buried in a simple, unmarked grave.
However, other historians from that time do not mention him being executed. They say he was left to die in captivity, which seems more likely since he lived for another three months after being removed. The real reason for his overthrow might have been political. The regents may have worried that Dục Đức would try to take away their power, which they had enjoyed under the previous, weaker emperor.
After Dục Đức was imprisoned, the regents chose his 34-year-old uncle, Hiệp Hòa, to be the next emperor. Hiệp Hòa was Emperor Tự Đức's half-brother. The regents might have skipped over Dục Đức's adopted brothers to avoid upsetting the powerful palace women who had supported Dục Đức.
One senior official, Phan Đình Phùng, openly protested the regents' actions. But he was quickly arrested and lost his position. During his brief rule, Emperor Hiệp Hòa also tried to reduce the regents' influence. However, he failed and was soon removed from power and sentenced to die as well.
Many modern Vietnamese historians believe that emperors from Dục Đức to Bảo Đại were largely controlled by others. They were often seen as "puppet emperors" because they were influenced by the French colonialists who were gaining power in Vietnam.
After several more years of unrest, Dục Đức's young son, Thành Thái, became emperor in 1889. Emperor Thành Thái later built a special mausoleum and shrine complex for his father in Huế. This complex is known as the Tomb of Dục Đức. Over time, it became a family tomb, where Thành Thái and other members of the Nguyễn dynasty were also buried.
