Ngô Xương Văn

Ngô Xương Văn (Hán tự: 吳昌文, 935965), formally King of Nam Tấn (南晉王), was a Vietnamese monarch of Jinghai kingdom. He was the second son of Ngô Quyền, the founder of Ngô family.

Ngô Xương Văn
吳昌文
King of Jinghai
Grand Prince of Tĩnh Hải quân
Reign950965
PredecessorDương Tam Kha
SuccessorNgô Xương Xí (warlord)
Co-kingNgô Xương Ngập (Thiên Sách Vương, 950 - 954)
Born935
Died965
Full name
Ngô Xương Văn (吳昌文)
Regnal name
Nam Tấn Vương (南晉王)
HouseNgô
FatherNgô Quyền
MotherDương Quốc mẫu

Background

Ngô Xương Văn was born in 935. According to Chinese source Historical Records of the Five Dynasties, his name was Ngô Xương Tấn (吳昌晉).[1] King Ngô Quyền died in 944, and appointed Văn's elder brother Ngô Xương Ngập as successor. But Ngập was banished and usurped by the regent Dương Tam Kha. In order to deceive the public, Văn was adopted by Dương Tam Kha.[2]

Abbasid ceramic bowl used by the Ngô prince, 940s, Museum of Hanoi.

In 950, Văn was sent to put down the rebellion of Đường, Nguyễn together with Dương Cát Lợi and Đỗ Cảnh Thạc.[3] When their troops reached Từ Liêm, Văn turned his army back, and dethroned Dương Tam Kha. Văn did not kill Dương Tam Kha and granted him the title Duke of Chương Dương (張楊公).[4]

Reign

Văn crowned himself Nam Tấn Vương (King of Nam Tấn), and summoned his elder brother Ngập to the capital. Ngập was appointed the co-ruler, and crowned Thiên Sách Vương (King of Thiên Sách). It was called một nước hai vua ("one country, two kings") in Vietnamese history. Both of them was known as Hậu Ngô Vương (後吳王). Ngập held the real power and Văn didn't take part in any political affair util Ngập's death.[2][4] The royal rule remained weak.[3]

In 951, Duke Đinh Bộ Lĩnh rebelled and occupied Hoa Lư and did not pay tribute to the royal court. Văn and Ngập decided to attack him. They arrested Đinh Bộ Lĩnh's eldest son, Đinh Liễn, and ordered Bộ Lĩnh to surrender. Undeterred when they captured his son Đinh Liễn, Bộ Lĩnh replied in anger, “An honored warrior never gives up just because of his son,” and coolly ordered his archers “to shoot arrows at Liễn". The two kings were horrified and withdrew their troops.[4][5]

After Ngập's death, Văn was granted the title Jiedushi of Tĩnh Hải quân (靜海軍節度使 Tĩnh Hải quân tiết độ sứ) and Governor of Annam (安南都護 An Nam đô hộ) by Southern Han.[4] In 965, Văn led troops to put down the rebellion of Đường, Nguyễn, and was killed by an arrow in the midst of battle.[2][4][6]

After his death, the kingdom fell into chaotic civil war Anarchy of the 12 Warlords.

References

Sources

  • Xiu, Ouyang (1995). Historical Records of the Five Dynasties. Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company. ISBN 978-7-101-00322-2.
  • Kiernan, Ben (2019). Việt Nam: a history from earliest time to the present. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780190053796.
  • Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư
  • Việt Nam sử lược
Ngô Xương Văn
Born: 935 Died: 965
Preceded by
Dương Tam Kha
King of Nam Việt
950 - 965
concurrently with Ngô Xương Ngập:
950 - 954
Succeeded by
Ngô Xương Xí (warlord)
Anarchy of the 12 Warlords
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