Trần Thủ Độ
Trần Thủ Độ 陳守度 | |
---|---|
Prince Trung Võ | |
Born | 1194 Long Hưng, Vietnam |
Died | 1264 (aged 69–70) Thăng Long, Vietnam |
Spouse | Lady Linh Từ Trần Thị Dung |
House | Trần dynasty |
Father | Trần Quả |
Prince Trung Võ Trần Thủ Độ (
As the most powerful figure in the Trần royal family and court, Trần Thủ Độ was responsible for both civil and military matters in Đại Việt; his successful governance was considered by historical books as the crucial factor that not only led to the stability of the early Trần dynasty but also contributed to the victory of Đại Việt over the first
Background
Trần Thủ Độ was born in 1194 as the third son of Trần Quả, a member of the Trần clan in
In 1209, the emperor
Rise to power
Overthrowing the Lý dynasty
In October 1224, Lý Huệ Tông grew mentally ill and ceded the throne to his youngest daughter, the Princess Chiêu Thánh, now the Empress Regnant
After the collapse of the Lý dynasty, Trần Thủ Độ was afraid that the newly established Trần dynasty might be dislodged by its political opponents and thus ruthlessly conspired to eliminate members of Lý royal family. On the eighth day of the tenth lunar month (October 30) 1226, he forced the former emperor Lý Huệ Tông, who had already abdicated his power, to commit suicide. Trần Thủ Độ married Huệ Tông's former empress, Princess Thiên Cực
Strengthening the reign of Trần Thái Tông
Trần Thái Tông was enthroned when he was only an 8-year-old boy and there were several revolts in Đại Việt at that time, so Trần Thủ Độ had to devote all of his efforts to consolidating the rule of the new Emperor in the royal court and over the country. Right after the coronation of the Emperor in 1226, Nguyễn Nộn and Đoàn Thượng rose a revolt in the mountainous region of Bắc Giang and Hải Dương,[15] by both military and diplomatic measures such as sending army to pacify them or even awarding two leaders of the revolt by the title Prince (Vương), Trần Thủ Độ was able to put down this revolt in 1229.[16][17]
According to Đại Việt sử kí toàn thư, Thái Tông and his wife, the Empress Chiêu Thánh, did not have their first son for a while, so this situation in the royal family made grand chancellor Trần Thủ Độ worried because he had profited in the same circumstances of the Emperor Lý Huệ Tông to overthrow the Lý dynasty. Therefore, in 1237 Trần Thủ Độ decided to force Trần Liễu to give up his wife Princess Thuận Thiên for the Emperor when she had been already pregnant with Trần Quốc Khang for three months. After the royal marriage, Thuận Thiên was entitled the new empress of the Trần dynasty while Chiêu Thánh was downgraded to princess. In the fury of losing his pregnant wife, Trần Liễu rose in revolt against the royal family.Emperor Thái Tông felt awkward about the situation and decided to become a monk in Yên Tử Mountain. Finally Trần Thủ Độ successfully persuaded Thái Tông to return to the throne and Trần Liễu had to surrender after judging that he could not stand with his fragile force. All soldiers who participated in this revolt were killed, and Trần Thủ Độ even wanted to behead Trần Liễu but was stopped by Emperor Thái Tông.[18] Vietnamese historians in dynastic era such as Ngô Sĩ Liên or Phan Phu Tiên often criticized decisions of Trần Thủ Độ and Trần Thái Tông in this event and considered it as origin for the downfall of the Trần dynasty afterwards during the reign of Trần Dụ Tông.[19][20]
In 1258, the Trần dynasty had to face the first Mongol invasion. In the beginning, the Đại Việt army suffered several defeats by an overwhelming force which had already conquered vast areas of Asia. Several high-ranking officials of the Trần dynasty were so scared that Prince Khâm Thiên Trần Nhật Hiệu, younger brother of Thái Tông, even suggested to the Emperor that they might escape from Đại Việt to the Song Empire.[21] When the concerned emperor asked Trần Thủ Độ about the situation of the Trần Dynasty, the grand chancellor answered with a famous phrase:
As long as my head has not fallen down, Your Majesty please do not worry.[22]
Indeed, the Trần dynasty was able to counterattack and ultimately drive the Mongols out of Đại Việt in 1258.[23]
Until his death in January 1264, Trần Thủ Độ still actively contributed to the royal court.[24] He was posthumously entitled as Prince Trung Vũ (Trung Vũ đại vương).[25]
Legacy
Almost all historical accounts agree that it was no one else but Trần Thủ Độ who deserved credit for the birth of the Trần dynasty, Khâm định Việt sử Thông giám cương mục commented that maybe for that reason temple name of the first emperor of the Trần dynasty was Thái Tông, which was often used for the second emperor of a dynasty, instead of Thái Tổ as usual.[10]
Despite his lack of learning, Trần Thủ Độ was praised as a skilled and devoted official of the Trần dynasty, the ruling dynasty which was found by his very own effort. As a result, the grand chancellor held a position in royal court which was so powerful that he was suspected by some of overruling the Emperor. Once there was a person who went to the Emperor to report him about this suspicion, Thái Tông immediately visited Trần Thủ Độ's place with this man and made him tell everything in front of the grand chancellor. After hearing the story, Trần Thủ Độ not only accepted that the man had somewhat his reason but also awarded him for being concerned for the Trần dynasty. His successful governing was considered by historical books as the main factor that not only led to the stability of Early Trần period but also contributed to the victory of Đại Việt over the first Mongol invasion.[25][26]
Trần Thủ Độ was also an honest mandarin who never profited his high position for the benefit of his family. It was said that one time the Emperor wanted to appointed Trần Thủ Độ's elder brother Trần An Quốc for the position of grand chancellor. Trần Thủ Độ politely declined the Emperor's request by an answer: "An Quốc is my brother, if he is better than me then I had better retire from the position, but if Your Majesty think that I am better than him, so please not appoint him for grand chancellor. Because if we hold the same position then what royal court will become?".[27] For his dedication, the Emperor personally redacted an epitaph for Trần Thủ Độ in his tomb.[25] However, Trần Thủ Độ still remains as a controversial figure in History of Vietnam for his ruthless decisions against members of Lý royal family and his responsibility in the forced marriage between Trần Thái Tông and his brother Trần Liễu's wife, which was highly criticized by dynastic-era historians.[25][28] Sometimes, his Machiavellian figure was compared with Dorgon, the powerful general who helped establish the Qing dynasty's rule in China,[29] or Cardinal Mazarin who was chief minister of France for 20 years.[5]
Today, the role of Trần Thủ Độ in the history of Vietnam is always a matter for debate between modern historians. For this reason, it was not until 2008 that a new street in Hanoi was named in honour of Trần Thủ Độ,
Family
Trần Thủ Độ had one wife, Lady Linh Từ Trần Thị Dung, who was entitled as Mother of the Nation (Linh Từ quốc mẫu). She was daughter of Trần Lý, uncle of Trần Thủ Độ, and the former empress of the Emperor Lý Huệ Tông. She had an important role in the reconciliation between Trần Thái Tông and his brother Trần Liễu, Lady Linh Từ also had many activities to help the royal family during the Mongol invasion.[36] Trần Thủ Độ's son Trần Duyệt and his grandson Trần Văn Lộng were both granted by the Emperor the title marquis as Marquis Nhân Thành (Nhân Thành hầu) and Marquis Chương Hoài (Chương Hoài thượng hầu) respectively, during the second Mongol invasion of Đại Việt, Trần Văn Lộng was one of the highest-ranking officials and royal members of Trần dynasty who defected to the Yuan side.[37]
References
- ^ Taylor 2013, p. 120.
- ^ ed. Hall 2008, p. 159.
- ^ Ngô Sĩ Liên 1993, p. 153
- ^ a b Ngô Sĩ Liên 1993, p. 156
- ^ a b c Chapuis 1995, p. 79
- ^ National Bureau for Historical Record 1998, p. 186
- ^ Ngô Sĩ Liên 1993, pp. 157–158
- ^ Ngô Sĩ Liên 1993, pp. 158–159
- ^ Trần Trọng Kim 1971, p. 47
- ^ a b National Bureau for Historical Record 1998, p. 188
- ^ Ngô Sĩ Liên 1993, p. 160
- ^ National Bureau for Historical Record 1998, p. 194
- ^ Chapuis 1995, p. 80
- ^ Ngô Sĩ Liên 1993, p. 163
- ^ Ngô Sĩ Liên 1993, p. 159
- ^ Ngô Sĩ Liên 1993, pp. 161–162
- ^ Trần Trọng Kim 1971, p. 50
- ^ Trần Trọng Kim 1971, p. 49
- ^ Ngô Sĩ Liên 1993, pp. 164–166
- ^ National Bureau for Historical Record 1998, pp. 195–196
- ^ Ngô Sĩ Liên 1993, pp. 172–173
- ^ Translated by Oscar Chapuis. Chapuis 1995, p. 81. In Vietnamese: "Đầu thần chưa rơi xuống đất, bệ hạ đừng lo gì khác." Ngô Sĩ Liên 1993, p. 173; Trần Trọng Kim 1971, p. 51
- ^ Ngô Sĩ Liên 1993, pp. 173–174
- ^ Ngô Sĩ Liên 1993, p. 177
- ^ a b c d Ngô Sĩ Liên 1993, p. 178
- ^ Chapuis 1995, p. 81
- ^ in Vietnamese: "An Quốc là anh thần, nếu cho giỏi hơn thần thì thần xin trí sĩ, nếu cho thần giỏi hơn An Quốc thì không thể cử An Quốc. Nếu anh em đều làm tể tướng thì việc triều đình sẽ ra làm sao?" Ngô Sĩ Liên 1993, p. 178
- ^ Trần Trọng Kim 1971, pp. 49–50
- ^ National Bureau for Historical Record 1998, p. 189
- ^ "Hà Nội sẽ điều chỉnh độ dài, đặt tên 34 tuyến phố" (in Vietnamese). Vnexpress.net. 2008-06-12. Retrieved 2009-12-06.
- ^ "Đặt tên đường phố Hà Nội: Khó nhất là tên danh nhân" (in Vietnamese). Tienphong.vn. 2009-08-23. Retrieved 2009-12-06.
- ^ "Ngôi chùa duy nhất ở Hà Nội thờ Trần Thủ Độ" (in Vietnamese). Nguoidaibieu.com.vn. 2007-12-21. Retrieved 2009-12-06.
- ^ "2.66 million USD for historical movie". Vietnamnet.vn. 2009-06-11. Archived from the original on 2009-06-18. Retrieved 2009-12-06.
- ^ "Hanoi's theaters on the threshold of drama festival". Hanoitimes.com.vn. 2009-10-05. Retrieved 2009-12-06.
- ^ "Trần Thủ Độ vào kịch" (in Vietnamese). Laodong.com.vn. 2009-08-07. Retrieved 2009-12-06.
- ^ Ngô Sĩ Liên 1993, pp. 175–176
- ^ Lê Tắc (1961). An Nam chí lược (in Vietnamese). University of Hue. p. 108.
- Hall, Kenneth R., ed. (2008). Secondary Cities and Urban Networking in the Indian Ocean Realm, C. 1400-1800. Volume 1 of Comparative urban studies. Lexington Books. ISBN 0739128353. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
- Ngô Sĩ Liên (1993), Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư (in Vietnamese) (Nội các quan bản ed.), Hanoi: Social Science Publishing House
- National Bureau for Historical Record (1998), Khâm định Việt sử Thông giám cương mục (in Vietnamese), Hanoi: Education Publishing House
- Taylor, K. W. (2013). A History of the Vietnamese (illustrated ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521875862. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
- Saigon: Center for School Materials
- Chapuis, Oscar (1995), A history of Vietnam: from Hong Bang to Tu Duc, Greenwood Publishing Group, ISBN 0-313-29622-7