For most of the first millennium until the early 10th century, the northern half of Vietnam remained a province of Imperial China, with brief periods of independence. In 938, the country regained its sovereignty, but within a few decades, the Song dynasty invaded. From that time until the late 13th century, Vietnam – then known as Đại Cồ Việt and later Đại Việt – along with Champa, fought to defend its territory against the Song, again, and the Mongol-led Yuan dynasties. This book, Volume 3A, explores the key events of this turbulent period.
The author visited most of the sites mentioned in the book to collect materials for this volume. Dr Đỗ Thị Thùy Lan, Senior Lecturer of the Department of History, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, reviewed and provided valuable feedback. Dr James A. Anderson, Associate Professor of the Department of History, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, contributed the foreword. He concludes:
“Tan Pham’s account of 10th- to 13th-century Vietnamese history offers a detailed, well-researched narrative that goes beyond the typical nationalist interpretations of the past. By presenting a balanced and nuanced view of Vietnam’s historical interactions with China and the Cham civilization, Pham provides readers with valuable insights into the values and motivations that shaped this period. These insights are not just of academic interest; they offer guidance for understanding current geopolitical dynamics and for navigating the complex relationships that will shape our future. As we look to the past for the values that can guide us forward, Pham’s work stands as a crucial resource, illuminating the path with a clear and thoughtful examination of history.”
This book is one of four volumes covering the period of Vietnamese history from the 10th to the 16th centuries. The other volumes are 3B, 3C and 3D of the book series A Traveller’s Story of Vietnam’s Past. They continue where Volume II, One Thousand Years – The Stories of Giao Châu, the Kingdoms of Linyi, Funan and Zhenla, and Volume I, The Bronze Drums and The Earrings end. The book has 360 pages and contains 99 figures and illustrations.
A shortened Table of Contents is shown below.
Chapter 1 – A summary of this book
Chapter 2 – A shaky beginning (939–980)
2.1 - The Ngô Dynasty (939–967)
2.2 - A time of anarchy - Twelve warlords (965–967)
2.3 - The capital of Hoa Lư
2.4 - Đinh Bộ Lĩnh – A boy who became king
2.5 - The campaigns for unification
2.6 - The Đinh dynasty (968-980) – A rustic emperor
Chapter 3 – Fighting for survival - The Former Lê Dynasty (980–1009) – A capable monarch
3.1 - A violent power struggle
3.2 - A full-scale invasion from Song (980–981)
3.3 - A 25-year rule (980–1005)
3.4 - A Great Victorious and Enlightened Queen (Đại Thắng Minh Hoàng Hậu) – Dương Vân Nga
3.5 - The Lying Down Emperor (Lê Ngọa Triều) – Lê Long Đĩnh (986–1009)
Chapter 4– The Foundation of a Nation – The Lý dynasty (1009–1226)
4.1 - Lý Công Uẩn (974–1028) – King Lý Thái Tổ
4.2 - Lý Phật Mã (1000–1054) – King Lý Thái Tông
4.3 - Lý Nhật Tôn (1023–1072) or King Lý Thánh Tông
4.4 - Lý Càn Đức (1066–1127) – King Lý Nhân Tông
4.5 - Five Lý kings
4.6 - Temple of the eight Lý kings (Đền Đô or Đền Lý Bát Đế)
4.7 - The Champa connection
Chapter 5 – The Eunuch General – Đại Việt-Song Wars (1075–1077)
5.1 - First Blood – Đại Việt invaded Song (1075–1076)
5.2 - The retaliation – Song invaded Đại Việt (1076–1077)
5.3 - The aftermath
Chapter 6 – The Trần Dynasty (1226–1400) - The First Mongol Invasion of Đại Việt (1257–1258) and the Mongol/Yuan-Champa War (1283–1284)
6.1 - Trần Thủ Độ – A fisherman’s descendant
6.2 - ‘The Mongols are coming’
6.3 - Living under the Mongols’ shadow
6.4 - The Champa-Yuan War (1283–1284)
6.5 - Marco Polo visits Champa
Chapter 7– The second (1284–1285) and third (1287–1288) Mongol-Yuan invasions of Đại Việt
7.1 - Trần Hưng Đạo (1228–1300) – A great Vietnamese general
7.2 - Building up to a devastating war
7.3 - Đại Việt war preparation
7.4 - The second invasion of Đại Việt (1284–1285)
7.5 - The third Mongol-Yuan invasion of Đại Việt (1287–1288)
7.6 - Battle of the Bạch Đằng River (April 1288)
7.7 - The aftermath
7.8 - How did Đại Việt and Champa defeat Mongol-Yuan?
7.9 - Trần Khâm – The king who became a Zen Master
7.10 - An eternal rest
7.11 - The first 70 years
Chapter 8 – Conclusion
Appendices 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Bibliography
