Lê dynasty facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Đại Việt Đại Việt Quốc (大越國)
1428–1527 1533–1789
Map of Đại Việt in 1770 under the reign of emperor Lê Hiển Tông which also showed the division of Vietnamese territory among Nguyễn lords in Cochinchina, Trịnh lords in Tonkin.
New territory of Đại Việt (dark green) after invasion of Champa in 1471 and invasion of Laos in 1479.
Status	Internal imperial system within Chinese tributary Ming (1428–1644) Southern Ming (1644–1662) Qing (1662–1789)
Capital	Đông Kinh (1428–1527 and 1592–1789) Tây Kinh (temp) (1543–1592)
Capital-in-exile	Xam Neua (1531–1540)
Common languages	Written Văn ngôn Middle Vietnamese Other local languages
Religion	Vietnamese folk religion, Confucianism (state ideology), Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Roman Catholicism
Government	Absolute monarchy (1428–1527) Government in exile (1531–1540) Monarchic feudal military dictatorship (1533–1788)
Emperor (Hoàng đế)
• 1428–1433 (first)	Lê Thái Tổ
• 1522–1527	Lê Cung Hoàng
• 1533–1548	Lê Trang Tông
Military dictators (de facto ruler)
• 1533–1545 (first)	Nguyễn Kim
• 1545–1787	Trịnh lords
• 1787–1788 (last)	Nguyễn Huệ
Historical era	Early modern
• Lê Lợi led Lam Sơn rebellion against the Ming Empire	1418–1427
• Coronation of Lê Lợi	29 April 1428
• Mạc Đăng Dung usurped the throne	15 June 1527
• Recapture of Đông Kinh	December 1592
• Battle of Ngọc Hồi-Đống Đa	30 January 1789
Population
• 1490	7,700,000
Currency	Copper-alloy and zinc cash coins (文)
Preceded by Succeeded by Fourth Era of Northern Domination 1527: Mạc dynasty 1789: Nguyễn lords 1789: Tây Sơn dynasty
Today part of	Vietnam Laos Cambodia China

The Lê dynasty, also known as the Later Lê dynasty, was the longest-ruling Vietnamese royal family. They ruled Đại Việt (which is now Vietnam) from 1428 to 1789.

The Lê dynasty had two main periods. The Early Lê period (1428–1527) was when the emperors had full power. Then, the Restored Lê period (1533–1789) began after another family, the Mạc dynasty, took over for a short time. During the Restored Lê period, the emperors were mostly just figureheads. Real power was held by powerful families like the Trịnh lords and the Nguyễn lords. This time also saw long civil wars, like the Lê–Mạc War and the Trịnh–Nguyễn War.

The dynasty officially started in 1428 when Lê Lợi became emperor. He had just kicked the Ming army out of Vietnam. The Lê dynasty was strongest during the rule of Lê Thánh Tông. After his death in 1497, the dynasty began to weaken.

In 1527, the Mạc family took the throne. But the Lê dynasty was brought back in 1533. The Mạc family then moved north and continued to claim to be the true rulers. This led to a time known as the Southern and Northern Dynasties of Vietnam. Even after the Mạc dynasty was finally defeated in 1677, the Lê emperors still didn't have real power. The Trịnh lords controlled the north, and the Nguyễn lords controlled the south. They both ruled in the name of the Lê emperor, even while fighting each other.

The Lê dynasty officially ended in 1789. This happened when a peasant uprising, led by the Tây Sơn brothers, defeated both the Trịnh and the Nguyễn families. The Tây Sơn brothers actually wanted to give power back to the Lê dynasty, but things didn't turn out that way.

During the Lê dynasty, Vietnam expanded its borders southwards. They took over the Kingdom of Champa and explored into what is now Laos and Myanmar. Vietnam almost reached its modern-day size by the time of the Tây Sơn uprising. This period also brought big changes to Vietnamese society. The country, which used to be mostly Buddhist, became more focused on Confucianism. This was after 20 years of Ming rule, which had a strong Chinese influence.

The Lê emperors made many changes based on the Chinese system. This included how government officials were chosen and new laws. Their long rule was partly because people liked the early emperors. Lê Lợi was remembered for freeing the country from Ming rule. Lê Thánh Tông was remembered for bringing a "golden age" to the country. Even though the later Lê emperors' rule had many conflicts and peasant uprisings, few people openly challenged their power. This was because they feared losing public support. The Lê dynasty also saw the arrival of Western Europeans and Christianity in the early 1500s.

History of the Lê Dynasty

How the Lê Dynasty Began: The Lam Sơn Uprising (1418–1427)

During the time when China's Ming dynasty ruled Vietnam, a leader named Lê Lợi started a rebellion in 1418. This was after two earlier rebellions by Vietnamese princes had failed. In 1416, Lê Lợi and 18 other men secretly swore to fight the Ming Chinese. They wanted to bring back Vietnam's independence.

The Lam Sơn ("blue mountain") rebellion started in February 1418. By November 1424, Lê Lợi's forces captured the Nghệ An citadel. This made the Ming commander retreat north. From their new base, Lê Lợi's rebels took control of central Vietnam. By August 1426, they launched an attack north against a new Ming army. The Ming emperor wanted to end the war, but his advisors urged one more try. So, the Ming sent a huge army of about 100,000 soldiers.

After a key battle in October 1426, the Ming dynasty began to pull out. By early 1427, Lê Lợi's forces controlled most of northern Vietnam. After talks with the Ming, Lê Lợi chose a puppet king, Trần Cảo, who ruled for a short time. The Ming army fully withdrew by 1428.

The Early Lê Period (1428–1527)

Lê Lợi's Rule (1428–1433)

In 1428, Lê Lợi started the Lê dynasty and became Emperor Lê Thái Tổ. The Ming dynasty recognized him as the ruler of Vietnam. In 1429, he created the Thuận Thiên code, a set of laws based on Chinese rules. These laws had strict punishments for things like gambling and corruption.

Lê Lợi also made land reforms in 1429. He took land from people who had helped the Chinese and gave it to landless farmers and soldiers. He didn't trust some of his former generals. This led to the execution of two generals in 1430. Lê Lợi's rule was short, as he died in 1433.

Lê Thái Tông's Reign (1433–1442)

Lê Thái Tông became emperor in 1433 when he was only eleven. A close friend of Lê Lợi, Lê Sát, ruled for him. When Lê Thái Tông officially became emperor in 1438, he accused Lê Sát of misusing power and had him executed.

The emperor ordered roads and canals to be built to show the court's power to local tribes. From 1437 to 1441, tribes from Ai-Lao raided areas in Vietnam. The Imperial army stopped these raids. The Lê dynasty started to treat ethnic minorities in the western region harshly. A stone monument from 1439 said that some "barbarians" needed to be "exterminated."

According to historical records, the new emperor enjoyed women. He had many wives and changed favorites often. A big scandal was his relationship with Nguyễn Thị Lộ, the wife of his father's chief advisor, Nguyễn Trãi. The emperor died suddenly in 1442 after visiting Nguyễn Trãi's home. Some powerful nobles claimed he was poisoned. Nguyễn Trãi and his family were executed for treason.

Lê Nhân Tông's Rule (1442–1459)

After the emperor's death, his infant son, Bang Co, became Emperor Lê Nhân Tông. The real rulers were Trịnh Khả and the child's mother, Empress Nguyễn Thị Anh. The next 17 years were peaceful for Vietnam. In 1446, the Vietnamese army attacked the Champa kingdom. In 1451, the Empress ordered the execution of Trịnh Khả.

In 1453, Lê Nhân Tông was formally made emperor at age twelve. This was unusual, as emperors usually took the throne at 16. This might have been done to remove Nguyễn Thi Anh from power, but she still controlled the government until a coup in 1459.

In 1459, Lê Nhân Tông's older brother, Nghi Dân, plotted to kill the emperor. On October 28, plotters entered the palace and murdered the 18-year-old emperor. Nghi Dân's rule was very short and not officially recognized by historians. Revolts started quickly. On June 24, 1460, rebels led by Lê Lợi's former advisors captured and killed Nghi Dân. They then chose Lê Thái Tông's youngest son, Lê Thánh Tông, to be the new emperor.

Lê Thánh Tông's Golden Age (1460–1497)

Emperor Lê Thánh Tông brought many changes to the government, laws, and land. He restarted the system of exams to choose government officials. He reduced the power of noble families and fought corruption. He built temples to Confucius across the country. His changes were similar to those in China.

Thánh Tông wanted Vietnam to be more like the Ming dynasty, with its focus on Neo-Confucianism. This meant that smart scholars, not just people from noble families, should run the government. He brought back the examination process. The first exam in 1463 showed that top scholars came from areas around the capital, not just from noble families. In 1467, Lê Thánh Tông changed the country's name to "Thiên Nam" (Heavenly South). This showed its connection to Chinese culture.

Thánh Tông encouraged Confucian values by building "temples of literature" in all provinces. He also stopped building new Buddhist or Taoist temples. He ordered that monks could not buy new land.

Lê Thánh Tông changed the government structure. He divided it into six ministries: Finance, Rites, Justice, Personnel, Army, and Public Works. He also created a Board of Censors to watch government officials. This board reported only to the emperor. However, the government's power didn't reach every village. Villages were still run by their own local councils.

After the death of Nguyễn Xí in 1465, the noble families from Thanh Hóa lost their leader. They soon had less power in the new Confucian government. However, they still controlled the army. In the same year, Vietnam was attacked by pirates from the northeast. Thánh Tông sent more troops to fight them. He also sent forces to the west to control mountain tribes.

In 1469, Vietnam was fully mapped, and a census was taken, listing all villages. The country was divided into 13 provinces. Each province had a Governor, a Judge, and an army commander. Emperor Thánh Tông also ordered a new census every six years. Other public works included building and repairing granaries and irrigation systems. Doctors were sent to areas with disease outbreaks. Even though he was young, the emperor brought stability back to Vietnam. This was a big change from the troubled reigns before him.

Thánh Tông also made Vietnam more isolated from foreign contact. Trade with China was common, but Vietnamese officials sometimes captured Chinese ships. Some historians think these were illegal traders, not just ships blown off course. A 1499 Chinese record tells of a Chinese man, Wu Rui, captured by Vietnamese in the 1460s. He was forced to be a eunuch slave in the palace. He later escaped back to China.

In 1469, Malay envoys from the Malacca sultanate were attacked and captured by the Vietnamese navy. A 1472 Chinese record reported that Chinese men forced to serve in Vietnam's military escaped back to China. The Chinese government then told its people not to travel to foreign countries.

Under Lê Thánh Tông's order, the official history of the Lê dynasty, Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư, was completed in 1479. This 15-volume book covered all of Vietnamese history up to Lê Thái Tổ's rule.

Wars and Expansion (1471–1480)

In 1471, Lê Thánh Tông conquered Champa and captured its capital. This ended Champa's independent rule in the south. Champa became a small area, and many Chams fled to Cambodia. Lê Thánh Tông created a new province from the former Cham land. He allowed Vietnamese settlers to move there. This conquest started a fast expansion of Vietnam southwards. The government used a system called đồn điền to settle the land.

From 1478 to 1480, Lê Thánh Tông led a military trip against the kingdoms of Lan Xang and Lanna in today's Laos and Northern Thailand. The Laotians were defeated, and their capital was captured. Laotians fought back with guerrilla warfare for two years. Many Vietnamese soldiers died from the climate and diseases. The Vietnamese forces could not fully defeat the Laotian guerrillas. As the Vietnamese army left, they took over the kingdom of Muang Phuan in 1480.

Decline of the Early Lê Period

After Lê Thánh Tông died in 1497, the Lê dynasty quickly declined (1497–1527).

His eldest son, Lê Hiến Tông, became emperor. He was 38 years old. He was a kind and gentle person. His rule was short and didn't have many big changes. It is seen as an extension of Lê Thánh Tông's rule. In 1499, officials urged Hiến Tông to choose an heir. He chose Lê Thuần, his third son, because he was interested in learning.

Lê Hiến Tông died in 1504 at 44. The 17-year-old Lê Thuần became Emperor Lê Túc Tông. Historians say he was a good emperor. He released many prisoners and stopped expensive building projects. He also reduced taxes and respected high-ranking officials. He kept peace in the court and the country. However, a revolt broke out in Cao Bằng, led by Đoàn Thế Nùng. Lê Thuần sent troops, defeated the rebels, and killed Đoàn Thế Nùng. But Lê Thuần became very ill and died just six months after becoming emperor.

Lê Uy Mục, Lê Hiến Tông's second son, became emperor in 1505. He was very different from the good emperors before him. The first thing he did was get revenge on those who had tried to stop him from becoming emperor. He had them killed, including the former emperor's mother, which was seen as a terrible act. Lê Uy Mục knew people hated him. He hired elite bodyguards, including Mạc Đăng Dung, who became very close to him. In 1509, a cousin, whom Lê Uy Mục had imprisoned, escaped. This cousin plotted with others to kill the emperor. The assassination worked, and the killer became Emperor Lê Tương Dực.

Lê Tương Dực was also a bad ruler. He reigned from 1510 to 1516. He spent the royal money and did nothing to help the country. He didn't care about the high taxes he put on people. Later, he spent a lot of money building huge palaces in the capital, Thăng Long. The most famous was Cửu Trùng Đài. Because of his expensive lifestyle and ignoring state problems, people suffered greatly. Many soldiers building palaces died from diseases. As the government became unpopular, many rebellions started. The biggest was led by Trần Cảo, who claimed to be from an old royal family. Lê Tương Dực's rule ended in 1516. Officials and generals stormed the palace and killed him.

Crisis and Revolts

Lê Tương Dực's 14-year-old nephew, Lê Y, became Emperor Lê Chiêu Tông (ruled 1516–1522). Different groups in the court fought for control. One powerful group was led by Mạc Đăng Dung, a military leader. His growing power was disliked by the Nguyễn and Trịnh families. After years of tension, the Nguyễn and Trịnh families left the capital, taking the emperor with them.

In 1524, Mạc Đăng Dung's forces captured and executed the leaders of the revolt. This was the start of a civil war between Mạc Đăng Dung and his supporters, and the Trịnh and Nguyễn families. Thanh Hóa Province became the main battleground. In 1522, Mạc Đăng Dung's supporters killed Emperor Lê Chiêu Tông. Soon after, the Nguyễn and Trịnh leaders were executed. Mạc Đăng Dung was now the most powerful man in Vietnam.

Mạc Đăng Dung Takes the Throne

The Lê dynasty had become very weak. It could no longer control the northern part of the country. This weakness created a power vacuum that noble families wanted to fill. After Lê Chiêu Tông fled south in 1522, Mạc Đăng Dung made the emperor's younger brother, Lê Xuân, the new Emperor Lê Cung Hoàng. But this new emperor had no real power.

Mạc Đăng Dung, who had controlled the Lê court for ten years, killed all the Lê imperial family members. Then, on June 15, 1527, he declared himself the new Emperor of Vietnam. He thought this would end the Lê dynasty.

Mạc Đăng Dung taking the throne made other noble families, like the Nguyễn and Trịnh, support the Lê loyalists. This started the civil war again. The Nguyễn and Trịnh families raised an army to fight Mạc Đăng Dung. They were led by Nguyễn Kim and Trịnh Kiểm. They claimed to be fighting for the Lê emperor, but they were also fighting for their own power.

Southern and Northern Dynasties (1533–1597)

The Lê loyalists, led by Lê Ninh (a descendant of Lê Lợi), escaped to Laos. Nguyễn Kim gathered people still loyal to the Lê emperor and formed a new army. He returned to Vietnam and led the Lê loyalists in a 60-year civil war against the Mạc dynasty. In 1536 and 1537, the Lê loyalists asked the Ming dynasty in China for help. Many Ming officials supported them, and the Ming emperor agreed to prepare a military campaign.

In 1527, the Vũ Văn clan in Hà Giang rebelled against Mạc Đăng Dung. They set up their own government. In 1534, after Nguyễn Kim's forces took back Thanh Hóa, Vũ Văn Uyên allied with the Lê loyalists and the Ming army. But Mạc Đăng Dung surrendered to the Ming army in 1540, seeking peace. He gave up some northeastern Vietnamese coastal land to the Ming. In return, the Ming agreed not to invade Vietnam again. The Chinese then recognized both the Mạc and Lê as legitimate rulers of Đại Việt.

In 1542, the Lê army from Laos recaptured Nghệ An. The Revival Lê dynasty eventually took back three-quarters of their former kingdom. Since the Mạc dynasty ruled the northern part and the Lê dynasty ruled the rest, this time became known as the period of Northern and Southern dynasties.

In 1545, Nguyễn Kim was poisoned. Power then went to his son-in-law, Trịnh Kiểm, who started the Trịnh lords. From then on, the emperor was only a figurehead. Trịnh Kiểm and his successors were the real rulers, continuing the war with the Mạc. The war had three main fighting periods. During the early part, the Lê army used new firearms like matchlocks, surprising the Mạc army.

Trịnh Tùng took over from his father in 1570. He launched a big attack against the Mạc army in January 1592. The Mạc dynasty could not stop the Lê loyalists. In December 1592, the Mạc dynasty retreated north and set up a new capital. They allied with the Ming dynasty of China against the Lê dynasty.

The Restored Lê Period (1533–1789)

In 1597, the Ming dynasty recognized the Lê monarch as legitimate. However, the Lê rulers were unhappy because the Chinese also supported the Mạc dynasty. In 1589, Japan's Toyotomi Hideyoshi sent envoys to the Lê court. He asked Vietnam to join Japan in an alliance against Ming China and Korea. Some officials supported this plan. But Emperor Lê Thế Tông and his ministers saw the Ming empire's strength. They also saw Japan and other Southeast Asian nations as "barbarians." So, they refused Japan's invitation.

A Chinese pirate, Yang Yandi, and his fleet came to Vietnam in March 1682. They were leaving the Qing dynasty. The Vietnamese navy attacked his fleet. The Chinese fleet was greatly reduced by the time it reached southern Vietnam. The Nguyễn court allowed Yang and his followers to settle in Đồng Nai. They named their settlement "Minh Huong" to remember their loyalty to the Ming dynasty.

The Trịnh–Nguyễn Conflict

In 1620, Nguyễn Phúc Nguyên refused to send taxes to the court in Hanoi. A demand was made for the Nguyễn to submit, but they refused again. In 1623, Trịnh Tùng died, and his son Trịnh Tráng took over. Trịnh Tráng also demanded submission, and Nguyễn Phúc Nguyên refused. Finally, in 1627, open war broke out between the Trịnh and the Nguyễn. A large Trịnh army fought the Nguyễn for four months but could not defeat them.

This war effectively split Vietnam into northern and southern regions. The Trịnh controlled most of the north, and the Nguyễn controlled most of the south. The dividing line was the Gianh River. This border was very close to the Seventeenth parallel, which later divided North and South Vietnam from 1954 to 1975.

The Trịnh ruled over a more populated area. But the Nguyễn had advantages. They were defending their land, so they were more motivated. They also used their contacts with Europeans, especially the Portuguese. They bought advanced European weapons and hired experts to build strong defenses. The geography also helped them. The flat northern plains ended at Nguyễn territory, where mountains reached almost to the sea.

After the first war, the Nguyễn built two huge fortified lines. These walls stretched from the sea to the central highlands, north of Huế. The Nguyễn defended these lines against many Trịnh attacks until 1672. It is said that a Vietnamese general, hired from the Trịnh court, built these walls. The walls held against many Trịnh assaults, even against armies of 100,000 men.

In 1633, the Trịnh tried attacking the Nguyễn by sea to avoid the walls. But the Nguyễn fleet defeated the Trịnh fleet. Around 1635, the Trịnh also sought military aid from Europeans. Trịnh Tráng hired the VOC to make cannons and ships. In 1642–43, the Trịnh army attacked the Nguyễn walls. With Dutch cannons, they broke the first wall but failed to break the second. At sea, the Trịnh ships were defeated by the Nguyễn fleet. Trịnh Tráng tried another attack in 1648, but the Trịnh army was badly beaten. The new Lê emperor died around this time, possibly due to the defeat. This allowed the Nguyễn to go on the offensive.

The Nguyễn invaded northern Vietnam in 1653. They defeated the weakened Trịnh army, capturing Quảng Bình and Hà Tĩnh. The next year, Trịnh Tráng died. But under his successor, Trịnh Tạc, the northern army defeated the Nguyễn. The Nguyễn were also weakened by a disagreement between their two top generals. In 1656, the Nguyễn army was pushed back to their original lands. Trịnh Tạc tried to break the Nguyễn walls in 1661, but it failed again.

In 1672, the Trịnh army made a final effort to conquer the Nguyễn. The attack failed, like all previous ones. This time, both sides agreed to peace. With the Qing dynasty as a mediator, the Trịnh and the Nguyễn agreed to make the Linh River their border (1673). The Nguyễn nominally accepted the Lê emperor as the ruler of Vietnam. But in reality, the Nguyễn ruled the south, and the Trịnh ruled the north. This division lasted for the next century. The border was heavily fortified but remained peaceful. Both ruling families claimed loyalty to the Lê emperor, and their lands were officially part of the same empire, Đại Việt.

The Tây Sơn Rebellion

The long conflict between the Trịnh and Nguyễn families left the people and farmers in a weak state. They suffered from high taxes to support the courts and their armies. Many farmers lost their land, and wealthy landowners gained more. Government officials were exempt from land tax, so as they acquired more land, the burden on other farmers grew. New taxes were also placed on basic goods like charcoal, salt, and silk, and on activities like fishing and mining.

The economy suffered, and irrigation systems were neglected. This led to floods and famine. Many starving, landless people wandered the countryside. Widespread suffering in North Vietnam caused many peasant revolts between 1730 and 1770. These uprisings were mostly local and happened for similar reasons. They often supported bringing back the Lê dynasty. They also demanded land reform, fairer taxes, and food for everyone.

Landless farmers were the main supporters of these rebellions. But craftsmen, fishermen, miners, and traders, who were taxed out of their jobs, often joined them. Some rebellions had short-term success. But it wasn't until 1771 that a peasant revolt had a lasting national impact.

People across the country were unhappy with the Trịnh and Nguyễn families. In 1771, three brothers—Nguyễn Nhạc, Nguyễn Lữ, and Nguyễn Huệ—started a revolt in Bình Định with local farmers' support. In 1773, the Tây Sơn captured Quy Nhơn fort. This gave them money and people, making the rebellion grow. In 1774, the Trịnh army from the north attacked the Nguyễn. Lord Nguyễn Phúc Thuần could not fight on two fronts. He lost control of Cochinchina and fled by ship. The Nguyễn's capital was captured by the Trịnh. Nguyễn Phúc Thuần was later executed by the Tây Sơn in 1777. The remaining Nguyễn forces, led by Nguyễn Ánh, got help from a French priest. He recruited French and Cambodian troops and weapons. But the Tây Sơn rebels defeated them four times, and Ánh went into exile. The Tây Sơn rebellion was not content with just conquering the southern provinces.

The End of the Dynasty

In 1782, Trịnh Sâm died. He passed the throne to his 5-year-old son, Trịnh Cán, instead of his 19-year-old son, Trịnh Tông. Trịnh Sâm appointed Hoàng Tố Lý as Cán's regent. Trịnh Tông allied with the Three Prefectures Army to overthrow Trịnh Cán and kill Hoàng Tố Lý. The army then released the emperor's grandson, Lê Duy Kỳ, from prison. They forced the emperor to name him as the next successor. Trịnh Tông feared the army's power would grow too strong. He secretly ordered governors to march into the capital and dismiss the army. But the army found out, and Trịnh Tông had to cancel his plan.

Hoàng Tố Lý's subordinate, Nguyễn Hữu Chỉnh, fled to Tây Sơn after hearing of Tố Lý's death.

In 1786, the Tây Sơn king, Nguyễn Nhạc, wanted to take back the Nguyễn lords' old territory from the Trịnh. He ordered Nguyễn Huệ and Nguyễn Hữu Chỉnh to do this. Nhạc warned Huệ not to attack Bắc Hà (the north). However, Chỉnh convinced Huệ to attack, using the slogan "Destroy the Trịnh and aid the Lê." This helped them gain support from the northern people. The Trịnh army and the Three Prefectures Army were quickly defeated. Emperor Lê Hiển Tông died shortly after and passed the throne to Lê Duy Kỳ (Emperor Lê Chiêu Thống).

Nguyễn Nhạc, hearing of Nguyễn Huệ's disobedience, quickly marched to Thăng Long. He ordered all Tây Sơn troops to withdraw. But they intentionally left Nguyễn Hữu Chỉnh behind. Chỉnh chased after them and stayed in his hometown.

After Tây Sơn withdrew, members of the Trịnh clan demanded that Chiêu Thống bring back the Trịnh lord. Chiêu Thống, whose father was killed by Trịnh Sâm, reluctantly agreed. He appointed Trịnh Bồng as Prince of Yến Đô. Emperor Chiêu Thống then secretly asked Nguyễn Hữu Chỉnh for help. In 1787, Nguyễn Hữu Chỉnh marched North. He defeated Trịnh Bồng and his supporters, ending the Trịnh clan's 242-year rule.

In late 1787, Nguyễn Huệ, no longer serving Nguyễn Nhạc, sent Vũ Văn Nhậm to invade Bắc Hà. This was supposedly to punish Nguyễn Hữu Chỉnh for disobedience. Nhậm captured and executed Chỉnh in January 1788. Emperor Chiêu Thống fled to the east. Vũ Văn Nhậm installed Lê Duy Cận as Country Supervisor without Huệ's approval. Nguyễn Huệ accused Nhậm of treason and executed him, taking over Bắc Hà.

Lê Chiêu Thống Flees to China

Lê Chiêu Thống sent a message to the Qing Empire in China, asking for help against the Tây Sơn. The Qianlong Emperor of the Qing Empire sent a large army of 200,000 soldiers to invade northern Vietnam. They captured the capital, Thăng Long.

At the start of the war, Nguyễn Huệ's troops retreated south. They refused to fight the Qing army directly. He raised a large army of his own. He then defeated the invaders on Lunar New Year's Eve in 1789. Chiêu Thống and the royal family fled north into China. They never returned to Vietnam. The Lê dynasty finally ended after ruling Vietnam for 356 years.

Lê Chiêu Thống went to Beijing. He was given a Chinese official title. Lower-ranking loyalists were sent to work on government land and join the army. They adopted Chinese clothing and hairstyles. This made them Chinese subjects, protecting them from Vietnamese demands to return. From this point on, Lê Chiêu Thống did not receive more support from the Qing Empire. He spent the rest of his life in China and died in 1793. In 1802, when the Nguyễn dynasty sent envoys to China, Lê dynasty loyalists asked to bring Lê Chiêu Thống's remains back to Vietnam. The emperor agreed. He also freed all of Lê Chiêu Thống's followers who were imprisoned in China. Lê Chiêu Thống's remains are buried in Thanh Hóa, Vietnam. Modern descendants of the Lê dynasty live in southern Vietnam.

Culture, Society, and Science

Clothing and Customs

After the Chinese rule ended, the people of Đại Việt began to rebuild their country. Dress codes for the emperor and officials were based on earlier Vietnamese dynasties and the Ming dynasty of China. During the Later Lê dynasty, a cross-collared robe called áo giao lĩnh was popular among regular people. In 1474, Vietnam issued a rule forbidding Vietnamese from adopting foreign languages, hairstyles, and clothes from places like Laos or China.

Before 1744, people in both northern and southern Vietnam wore giao lãnh y with a long skirt. Both men and women had long, loose hair. In 1744, Lord Nguyễn Phúc Khoát in the south ordered that both men and women at his court wear trousers and a gown with front buttons. This was the start of the ancient áo dài. This made the southern court different from the northern court, where people still wore áo giao lĩnh with long skirts. The long division between the two families led to differences in Vietnamese dialects and culture between the North and South.

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  Vietnamese people in 1645, from a Japanese painting.

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  A Vietnamese lady in Northern Vietnam, 1600s painting.

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  Southern Vietnamese.

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  Vietnamese hunters (Hmong ethnic) in the Lê dynasty.

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  Đại Việt delegates to Qing China in the 1750s.

Christianity Arrives

European missionaries visited Vietnam from the early 1500s, but they didn't have much impact at first. The first recorded Christian missionary, Inácio, arrived in 1533. From 1580 to 1586, two Portuguese and French missionaries worked in the Quảng Nam region. After the Lê–Mạc War ended in 1593, more missionaries from various European countries came to spread Christianity.

The most famous early missionary was Alexandre de Rhodes, a French Jesuit. He came to Hanoi in 1627. He quickly learned Vietnamese and began preaching. At first, the Trịnh court welcomed Rhodes. He reportedly baptized over 6,000 people. However, his success likely led to his expulsion in 1630. He is known for improving a Romanized system for writing Vietnamese (quốc ngữ). This system was probably developed by several missionaries, including Rhodes. He wrote the first catechism in Vietnamese and published a Vietnamese-Latin-Portuguese dictionary. These were the first books printed in quốc ngữ. At first, only missionaries used quốc ngữ. The court and government still used Chinese characters or chữ Nôm.

The French later supported the use of chữ Quốc ngữ. Its simplicity led to more people being able to read and write. It also helped Vietnamese literature grow. After being expelled, Rhodes spent 30 years seeking support for his missionary work. He also made more trips to Vietnam. Later, in 1910, quốc ngữ became the main writing system in Vietnam. Chinese characters and chữ Nôm became less common. Vietnamese Christianity grew stronger before it was suppressed by Emperor Minh Mạng in the 1820s.

Science and Philosophy

The Lê period was a time when Vietnamese scientific thinking and Confucian scholarship thrived. Nguyễn Trãi was a Lê official and a Neo-Confucian scholar. He wrote a geography book. Lê Quý Đôn was a poet, encyclopedist, and government official who also wrote a geography book. Hải Thượng Lãn Ông was a famous Vietnamese doctor and pharmacist. He wrote a 28-volume collection about traditional Vietnamese medicine. Matchlock firearms technology also came to Đại Việt in 1516. The Lê army adopted it by the 1530s.

Literature and Arts

Written Chinese was the main language for writing in Vietnam during the Lê dynasty. However, written Vietnamese using chữ Nôm became more popular in the 1600s. To adapt Chinese writing for Vietnamese, Chinese characters were changed to create chữ Nôm. During the Lê dynasty, various forms of Vietnamese literature and art flourished. These included poetry, painting, novels, and different types of traditional theater and music. Many writers wrote in both Chinese characters and chữ Nôm. Even Emperor Lê Thánh Tông wrote in both.

The art forms of that time prospered. They produced beautiful items, even with all the wars. Woodcarving was especially well-developed. It created items for daily use or worship. Many of these items can be seen in the National Museum in Hanoi.

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  Woodcut paintings "Thánh Cung vạn tuế" ("Long live his Imperial Majesty") from 18th-century Nghệ An.

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  Ceramic stoneware vase, 15th century.

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  Statue of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, 1656, from Bút Tháp Temple.

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  Wooden art pieces of the 17th century.

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  Nghê (mythological beast) figurines, 18th century.

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  Lion decoration from the 17th century.

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  Dragon of the Later Lê dynasty.

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  Buddhanandi statue of the Lê dynasty.

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  Ceramic Lion bush, 16th century.

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  Imperial dish of the Lê dynasty.

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  Horse figure, 1720.

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  Celadon dish from Chu Đậu, 15th century.

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  Lacquer wood painting at Vua Rộc temple, 18th century.

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  17th-century Đông Hồ painting of a carp.

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  17th-century Hàng Trống painting of Five Tigers.

Education and Imperial Examinations

In late 1426, Lê Lợi held a small Confucian exam. Thirty scholars passed. From 1431, the court held annual exams in three parts. The first part was in every province. It had questions on classic books. Those who passed were called Sinh đồ and Hương cống. The second part was in the capital a year later. It included essays and critical judgments. Three days after that, the emperor held the third part. It had essays on history and current events.

From 1486, all candidates for official positions had to pass both the first and second parts of the exam. The Lê's exam system was similar to China's imperial examination.

From 1426 to 1527, the Lê dynasty held 26 Imperial examinations. They graduated 989 scholars and 20 top scholars. By the 1750s, the importance of Neo-Confucianism was declining. The exams started having too many graduates, and the quality of scholars decreased. Corruption became a problem. The court preferred children of noble families to be officials. This led to the decline of the Confucian examination system in Vietnam by the late 18th century.

Scholars and administrators who graduated from this system during the Lê dynasty include Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm, Nguyễn Thị Duệ, Phùng Khắc Khoan, Lê Quý Đôn, Lương Thế Vinh, and Nguyễn Đăng Đạo.

Foreign Relations

China

In 1428, Lê Lợi established a tributary relationship with the Ming dynasty. This meant Vietnam paid tribute to China. In return, China recognized Lê Lợi as the King of Annam and promised to protect his kingdom. This internal independence lasted until 1526. Part of this relationship meant China would provide military support to the Lê state. Ming support for the Lê against the Mạc uprising arrived in 1537. After the Mạc surrendered to the Ming in 1540, the Ming recognized both the Lê and Mạc dynasties. This continued through the Qing dynasty. From 1647, the Southern Ming recognized Annam as an independent kingdom again. In 1667, the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing empire gave the title King of Annam to Lê Huyền Tông.

Other Neighbors

Outside of China, the Lê dynasty also had its own tributary relationships. These included relationships with Panduranga, Lan Xang, and Cambodia.

Europe

Vietnamese history records that contact between Vietnam and the Holy See (Vatican) began during the reign of Emperor Lê Thế Tông (1572–1599). This happened through a diplomatic letter that is now in a Vatican library.

The 1600s were also a time when European missionaries and merchants became important in Vietnamese court life. Although they arrived in the early 1500s, they didn't have much impact before the 1600s. Portuguese, Dutch, English, and French traders all set up trading posts by 1680. However, fighting among Europeans and opposition from the Vietnamese made these businesses unprofitable. All foreign trading posts closed by 1800.

Economic Development

Before 1527, the royal court limited foreign trade. They focused mainly on farming and local markets. The period of political instability from 1505 to 1527 caused the country's economy to shrink quickly. There were severe famines from 1517 to 1521. The political crisis in the 1500s badly damaged Vietnamese agriculture. Constant military campaigns required many people to join the army, which led to regular crop failures. The number of landless farmers grew fast, causing many unemployed people in northern Vietnam.

After Mạc Đăng Dung gained power in 1527, he tried to fix the economy. He encouraged unemployed farmers to move to cities and factories. He promoted handicraft industries and sea trading. The economy shifted from mainly farming to sea trade. Vietnamese merchants and sailors built medium-sized ships. They quickly became dominant on the South China Sea trade route. They sailed from Japan to Malacca, selling silk and ceramics. Some even reached Egypt and Greece around the 1570s.

After recapturing Đông Kinh in 1592, the Lê-Trịnh court recognized the benefits of overseas trade. They continued to encourage handicraft industries. They opened international ports like Hội An and Đông Kinh for foreign merchants. About 80% of the population were farmers. They worked on land mostly owned by landlords. The economy was damaged in some regions due to civil wars. However, in most unaffected areas, peace lasted a long time. This led to more cities and the rise of a pre-capitalism society in Vietnam from the late 1500s to the 1700s.

In contrast to the crowded Red River Delta, the Thuan Hoa and Quang Nam regions were less populated. Vietnamese people had started settling in the conquered Cham land since the 1400s. After Nguyễn Hoàng became governor of the southern provinces in 1572, millions of people moved south. This led to new cities and harbors along the coast. For centuries, the Nguyễn's economy relied mostly on handicraft industries and international trade. By the late 1700s, deadly diseases, floods, and government corruption hurt the economy. The rise of the Tây Sơn peasant rebellion also devastated trade. These factors played a big role in the dynasty's collapse.

Đông Kinh and City Life

Đông Kinh, the capital of Vietnam since the 11th century, was divided into 13 districts and 239 wards during the Later Lê dynasty. It had 36 main business and trading wards. By the mid-1500s, Đông Kinh became a center for silk and ceramic manufacturing in Southeast Asia. Vietnamese merchants exported high-quality ceramics to the Ottoman and Safavid Empires. Vietnamese ceramics were considered as good as Chinese products.

Chinese and Japanese traders came to Đông Kinh to buy silk. Most silk was produced in state-owned factories in Đông Kinh. These factories made products for the royal family, nobles, and foreigners. In 1637, the Dutch successfully set up trade and diplomatic relations with Tonkin (northern Vietnam). They kept their trading station in the capital, Thăng Long (Hanoi), until 1700. The profitable Dutch trade of Vietnamese silk for Japanese silver also attracted the English and French. The city had a Chinatown and factories owned by Dutch and English companies along the Red River.

In 1594, the royal court allowed Westerners in the capital. They encouraged Dutch, Spanish, and British companies to open trading ports. In 1616, the British set up a factory in Đông Kinh. But their business failed due to pressure from the Lê court, and they left in 1720. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Westerners often called northern Vietnam "Tonkin" (from Đông Kinh). Southern Vietnam was called "Cochinchina," and Vietnam as a whole was called "Annam." Tonkin was a major industrial and trading center in Asia until the 1730s. Western accounts described the prosperity and urbanization in Tonkin: "Cachao (Đông Kinh) probably had 200,000 houses. The city was larger than some of the biggest cities in Europe. It lay along the Red River. There were 36 stone-paved main streets. Many people from other areas and foreigners like Chinese, Japanese, and English had businesses and stores here."

In 1612, the Joseon army found a Vietnamese merchant ship from Tonkin that had wrecked in Jeju Island. It carried many treasures and money. The Koreans killed all the sailors and looted the treasures.

However, by the late 1600s, Tonkin was no longer a profitable trading place. Vietnamese silk and ceramics were not selling well. Trading conditions also worsened quickly. Natural disasters damaged the economy, and famines discouraged local craftsmen from making goods for export. After the civil war with southern Vietnam ended in 1672, the Tonkinese rulers seemed less interested in foreign trade. They no longer urgently needed weapons from Westerners. Despite Dutch efforts, the relationship between the Dutch East India Company and Tonkin worsened in the late 1600s.

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  Đông Kinh (Hanoi) seen from the Red River, around the 18th century.

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  Confucian class and chess playing house in Tonkin, around the 18th century.

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  Two women and a child in Hanoi, around the 18th century.

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  Military training.

Hội An

The Quảng Nam river area was originally part of the Champa kingdoms. Đại Việt took it over during Emperor Thánh Tông's rule. It was opened for foreign merchants to trade and settle. In 1535, Portuguese explorer António de Faria tried to set up a major trading center at Faifo (Hội An). Hội An was founded as a trading port by the Nguyễn Lord Nguyễn Hoàng in 1570. The Nguyễn lords were much more interested in trade than the Trịnh lords in the north. Because of this, Hội An grew as a trading port. It became the most important trade port on the East Vietnam Sea. William Adams, an English sailor, is known to have made a trading trip to Hội An in 1617.

Early Portuguese Jesuits also had one of their two homes in Hội An. In 1640, Nguyễn lord Nguyễn Phúc Lan ordered all Dutch stores and factories in Hội An to close. He banned the Dutch from trading because he suspected they were allied with the Trịnh lord in the north. In the 17th century, a Polish Jesuit missionary is believed to have visited Hội An.

In the 18th century, Chinese and Japanese merchants thought Hội An was the best trading destination in all of Southeast Asia. Trading and handicraft manufacturing shifted from Tonkin to Hội An. The city also became a powerful trade route between Europe, China, India, and Japan, especially for ceramics. Shipwrecks show that Vietnamese and Asian ceramics were transported from Hội An as far as Egypt.

Hội An's importance quickly declined at the end of the 18th century. This was due to the collapse of Nguyễn rule (because of the Tây Sơn Rebellion, which opposed foreign trade). Then, when Emperor Gia Long won, he rewarded the French for their help. He gave them exclusive trade rights to the nearby port town of Đà Nẵng. Đà Nẵng became the new center of trade in central Vietnam, while Hội An became a forgotten place. Local historians also say that Hội An lost its status because the river mouth became filled with silt. As a result, Hội An remained almost untouched for the next 200 years. Efforts to revive the city were only made by a Polish architect, Kazimierz Kwiatkowski. He finally brought Hội An back to the world's attention. There is still a statue for him in the city.

Gia Định

Starting in the early 1600s, Vietnamese settlers moved into the area. This slowly separated the Khmer people of the Mekong Delta from their relatives in Cambodia. They became a minority in the delta. In 1623, King Chey Chettha II of Cambodia allowed Vietnamese refugees to settle in the Prey Nokor area. These refugees were fleeing the Trịnh–Nguyễn War. They set up a customs house there. More and more Vietnamese settlers arrived. The Cambodian kingdom could not stop them because it was weakened by war with Thailand. Over time, Prey Nokor became known as Saigon. Prey Nokor was the most important seaport for the Khmers. Losing this city and the rest of the Mekong Delta cut off Cambodia's access to the East Sea.

In 1698, Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh, a Vietnamese noble, was sent by the Nguyễn rulers to set up Vietnamese government in the area. This separated the area from Cambodia, which was not strong enough to stop it. He is often credited with helping Saigon grow into a big settlement. A large fort called Gia Định was built by Victor Olivier de Puymanel, a French mercenary helping Nguyễn Ánh. The French later destroyed this fort. Initially called Gia Dinh, the Vietnamese city became Saigon in the 18th century. At that time, Gia Định had about 200,000 people.

List of Lê Emperors

The following is a list of emperors of the Lê dynasty from 1428 to 1527.

	Temple name	Posthumous name	Personal name	Lineage	Reign	Era name	Tomb	Events
	Thái Tổ (太祖)	Thống Thiên Khải Vận Thánh Đức Thần Công Duệ Văn Anh Vũ Khoan Minh Dũng Trí Hoàng Nghĩa Chí Minh Đại Hiếu Cao Hoàng đế (統天啟運聖德神功睿文英武寬明勇智弘義至明大孝高皇帝)	Lê Lợi (黎利)	Lam Sơn rebellion	1429–1433	Thuận Thiên (順天)	Vĩnh Tomb, Lam Sơn	Founder of the Lê dynasty, recognized by the Ming dynasty as legitimate ruler of Đại Việt in 1431.
	Thái Tông (太宗)	Kế Thiên Thể Đạo Hiển Đức Thánh Công Khâm Minh Văn Tư Anh Duệ Triết Chiêu Hiến Kiến Trung Văn Hoàng đế (繼天體道顯德功欽明文思英睿仁哲昭憲建中文皇帝)	Lê Nguyên Long (黎元龍)	Son	1433–42 (2)	Thiệu Bình (紹平 1434 – 1439), Đại Bảo (大寶 1440 – 1442)	Hựu Lăng, Lam Kinh
	Nhân Tông (仁宗)	Khâm Văn Nhân Hiếu Tuyên Minh Thông Duệ Tuyên Hoàng đế (欽文仁孝宣明聰睿宣皇帝)	Lê Bang Cơ (黎邦基)	Son	1442–1459 (3)	Thái Hòa (太和 1443 – 1453), Diên Ninh (延寧 1454 – 1459)	Mục Lăng	The youngest emperor, murdered by Duke Lê Nghi Tân
	Thánh Tông (聖宗)	Sùng Thiên Quảng Vận Cao Minh Quang Chính Chí Đức Đại Công Thánh Văn Thần Vũ Đạt Hiếu Thuần Hoàng đế (崇天廣運高明光正至德大功聖文神武達孝淳皇帝)	Lê Tư Thành (黎思誠)	Son of Emperor Thái Tông	1460–97 (4)	Quang Thuận (光順 1460–1469), Hồng Đức (洪德 1470–1497)	Chiêu Lăng	Annexed Champa and Northwest Lao
	Hiến Tông (憲宗)	Thể Thiên Ngưng Đạo Mậu Đức Chí Nhân Chiêu Văn Thiệu Vũ Tuyên Triết Khâm Thành Chương Hiếu Duệ Hoàng Đế (體天凝道懋德至仁昭文紹武宣哲欽聖彰孝睿皇帝)	Lê Tranh	Son	1497–1504 (5)	Cảnh Thống (景統)	Dụ Lăng	Maintaining the work of Hồng Đức era
	Túc Tông (肅宗)	Chiêu Nghĩa Hiển Nhân Ôn Cung Uyên Mặc Hiếu Doãn Cung Khâm Hoàng đế (昭義顯仁溫恭淵默惇孝允恭欽皇帝)	Lê Thuần (黎㵮)	Son	1504–1505 (6)	Tự Hoàng (嗣皇)	Kính Lăng	Six-month emperor (17 July 1504 – 12 January 1505)
		Mẫn Lệ công (愍厲公)	Lê Tuấn (黎濬)	Younger brother	1504–1509 (7)	Đoan Khánh (端慶)	An Lăng	Evil king/Quỷ vương (鬼王)
		Linh Ẩn vương (靈隱王)	Lê Oanh (黎瀠)	Cousin (son of Duke Lê Tân)	1509–1516 (8)	Hồng Thuận (洪順)	Nguyên Lăng	Rebellion ursupred the throne, assassinated by general Trịnh Duy Sản
	Chiêu Tông (昭宗)	Thần Hoàng đế (神皇帝)	Lê Y (黎椅)	cousin	1517–1522 (9)	Quang Thiệu (光紹)	Vĩnh Hưng Lăng	Murdered by Mạc Đăng Dung in 1525
	Cung Hoàng (恭皇)	Cung Hoàng đế (恭皇帝)	Lê Xuân (黎椿)	Brother of Chiêu Tông	1522–1527 (10)	Thống Nguyên (統元)	Hoa Dương lăng	Forced to ..., End of the Lê dynasty.

The following is a list of emperors of the Revival Lê dynasty, which continued the Lê dynasty from 1533 after Mạc Đăng Dung took the throne.

	Temple name	Posthumous name	Personal name	Lineage	Reign	Era name	Tomb	Events
	Trang Tông (莊宗)	Dụ Hoàng đế (裕皇帝)	Lê Ninh (黎寧)	descendant of Lê Lợi	1533–1548 (11)	Nguyên Hòa (元和)	Cảnh lăng	Jiajing Emperor of Ming dynasty sent 110,000 soldiers to help the Lê family restore the throne in 1536 to 1540.
	Trung Tông (中宗)	Vũ Hoàng đế (武皇帝)	Lê Huyên (黎暄)	Son	1548–1556 (12)	Thuận Bình (顺平)	Diên lăng	Lê army recaptured Thuận Hóa and Quảng Nam from Mạc in 1553.
	Anh Tông (英宗)	Tuấn Hoàng đế (峻皇帝)	Lê Duy Bang (黎維邦)	descendant of Lê Trừ, the second brother of Lê Lợi	1556–1573 (13)	Thiên Hựu (天祐 1557), Chính Trị (正治 1558 – 1571), Hồng Phúc (洪福 1572)	Bố Vệ lăng	The rise of Nguyễn clan in Thuận Hóa and Quảng Nam.
	Thế Tông (世宗)	Tích Thuần Cương Chính Dũng Quả Nghị Hoàng đế (積純剛正勇果毅皇帝)	Lê Duy Đàm (黎維潭)	Son	1573–99 (14)	Gia Thái (嘉泰 1573 – 1577), Quang Hưng (光興 1578 – 1599)	Hoa Nhạc lăng	Recaptured Thăng Long, the Mạc dynasty collapsed.
	Kính Tông (敬宗)	Hiển Nhân Dụ Khánh Tuy Phúc Huệ Hoàng đế (显仁裕庆绥福惠皇帝), Giản Huy Hoàng đế (簡輝皇帝)	Lê Duy Tân (黎維新)	Son	1599–1619 (15)	Thận Đức (慎德 1600 – 1601), Hoằng Định (弘定 1601 – 1619)		Trịnh Lords held most powers of the Lê court.
	Thần Tông (神宗)	Uyên Hoàng đế (淵皇帝)	Lê Duy Kỳ (黎維祺)	Son	1619–1643, 1649–1662 (16)	Vĩnh Tộ (永祚 9/1619 – 1628), Đức Long (德隆 1629 – 1634), Dương Hòa (陽和 1635 – 9/1643), Khánh Đức (慶德 10/1649 – 1652), Thịnh Đức (盛德 1653 – 1657), Vĩnh Thọ (永壽 1658 – 8/1662), Vạn Khánh (萬慶 9/1662)	Quần Ngọc lăng	Has 11 Consorts with difference nationalities, 4 foster children: Princess Lê Thị Ngọc Duyên, second crown prince Lê Duy Tào, prince Lê Duy Lương and Các Hắc Sinh (Willem Carel Hartsinck) (1638–1689), the Dutch tradesman who deputized the Dutch East India Company in Taiwan.
	Chân Tông (真宗)	Thuận Hoàng đế (順皇帝)	Lê Duy Hựu (黎維祐)	Son	1643–1649 (17)	Phúc Thái (福泰)	Hoa Phố lăng	The Lê court hired 3 VOC ships to helped battle against Nguyễn Lord in Cochinchina but were defeated in 1643.
	Huyền Tông (玄宗)	Mục Hoàng đế (穆皇帝)	Lê Duy Vũ (黎維禑)	Son of Thần Tông, younger brother of Chân Tông	1662–1671 (18)	Cảnh Trị (景治)	An Lăng	The emperor passed away when he was only 17
	Gia Tông (嘉宗)	Khoan Minh Mẫn Đạt Anh Quả Huy Nhu Khắc Nhân Đốc Nghĩa Mỹ Hoàng đế (寬明敏達英果徽柔克仁篤義美皇帝)	Lê Duy Cối (黎維禬)	Son of Thần Tông	1671–1675 (19)	Dương Đức (陽德 1672 – 1674), Đức Nguyên (德元 1674 – 1675)	Phúc An lăng	The emperor passed away when he was 15 because cholera
	Hy Tông (熙宗)	Chương Hoàng đế (章皇帝)	Lê Duy Cáp (黎維祫)	Son of Thần Tông	1675–1705 (20)	Vĩnh Trị (永治 1676 – 1680), Chính Hoà (正和 1680 – 1705)	Phú lăng	War with the Nguyễn Lords in Cochinchina over, the remnant Mạc and Bầu lords were total defeated.
	Dụ Tông (裕宗)	Thuần Chính Huy Nhu Ôn Giản Từ Tường Khoan Huệ Tôn Mẫu Hòa Hoàng đế (純正徽柔溫簡慈祥寬惠遜敏和皇帝)	Lê Duy Đường (黎維禟)	Son of Hy Tông	1705–1729 (21)	Vĩnh Thịnh (永盛 1706 – 1719), Bảo Thái (保泰 1720 – 1729)	Kim Thạch	The Lê court recognized the Manchu Qing legitimates over China, Kangxi Emperor sent envoy and gave the title An Nam quốc vương 安南国王 (King of Annam) for Dụ Tông in 1718.
			Lê Duy Phường (黎維祊)	Son	1732–1735 (22)	Vĩnh Khánh (永慶)	Kim Lũ	Was ascended the throne by Lord Trịnh Giang.
	Thuần Tông (純宗)	Giản Hoàng đế (簡皇帝)	Lê Duy Tường (黎維祥)	Son of Dụ Tông	1732–1735 (23)	Long Đức (龍德)	Bình Ngô Lăng	Poisoned by Trịnh Giang in 1735.
	Ý Tông (懿宗)	Ôn Gia Trang Túc Khải Túy Minh Mẫn Khoan Hồng Uyên Duệ Huy Hoàng đế (溫嘉莊肅愷悌通敏寬洪淵睿徽皇帝)	Lê Duy Thận (黎維祳)	Son of Thuần Tông	1735–1740 (24)	Vĩnh Hựu (永佑)	Phù Lê lăng	The last retired emperor of Vietnam.
	Hiển Tông (顯宗)	Vĩnh Hoàng đế (永皇帝)	Lê Duy Diêu (黎維祧)	First son of Thuần Tông	1740–1786 (25)	Cảnh Hưng (景興)	Bàn Thạch lăng	Trịnh Giang was overthrew. Prince Lê Duy Mật even rebelled against the Trinh family but was suppressed quickly.
		Mẫn Hoàng đế (愍皇帝)	Lê Duy Kỳ (黎維祁)	Grandson of Hiển Tông	1786–1789 (26)	Chiêu Thống (昭統)	Hoa Dương lăng	The last emperor of the Later Lê dynasty

Images for kids

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  Map of Đông Kinh (Hanoi) in 1490, drawn during Hồng Đức reign (Lê Thánh Tông).