The Crowned King Behind Bars: A Tale of Three Royal Sons-in-Law

The King with a Dramatic Fate: Ascending the Throne from Prison

One of the most intriguing monarchs in Vietnamese history, this king found himself on the throne despite being a prisoner. This unusual king was Le Hien Tong (1717 – 1786), the penultimate ruler of the Later Le Dynasty. Born Le Duy Dieu, he was the firstborn son of King Le Than Tong. During his lifetime, King Le Hien Tong held power for 46 years and lived to be 69 years old.

Despite his royal birth, Le Duy Dieu’s life was far from privileged due to the decline of the Le Dynasty and the usurpation of power by the Trinh lords. Previous Le kings, such as Le Kinh Tong, had been forced to abdicate or were assassinated by the Trinh clan.

In 1738, discontent with Trinh dominance, several Le royals, including Le Duy Dieu’s uncle, Le Duy Mat, attempted a coup. However, the plot failed, and Le Duy Mat fled, leaving Le Duy Dieu to be captured and imprisoned by Trinh Giang.

According to the historical record “Hoang Le nhat thong chi,” in 1740, Trinh Doanh ascended the lordship and transferred Le Duy Dieu to the custody of his uncle, Vu Tat Than. Interestingly, the night before Le Duy Dieu’s arrival, Vu Tat Than dreamt of a heavenly figure with fluttering flags and majestic music, signifying peace and prosperity.

Much to Vu Tat Than’s surprise, the next morning, Le Duy Dieu arrived under guard. Recognizing the fulfillment of his dream, he relayed it to Lord Trinh Doanh, who interpreted it as a sign of Le Duy Dieu’s great fortune. As a result, Le Duy Dieu was liberated, enthroned as king, and given the era name “Canh Hung.”

In a twist of fate, Le Duy Dieu’s imprisonment ended, and he became the rightful king of the Later Le Dynasty, all because of Vu Tat Than’s prophetic dream.

King Le Hien Tong is described as possessing the majestic appearance of a true emperor, with phoenix-like eyes and a dragon-like beard. Although he ascended the throne during a tumultuous time, he brought peace and prosperity to the country and was highly respected by his people.

What sets King Le Hien Tong apart even further is that he had three daughters who became queens to kings of different dynasties. The first, Princess Ngoc Han, married King Quang Trung. Secondly, Princess Ngoc Binh wedded King Canh Thinh of the Tay Son Dynasty, and after the fall of the Tay Son, she became the wife of King Gia Long, with whom she had three children.

King Le Hien Tong left a lasting legacy through his wise governance and significant reforms, including the introduction of Vietnam’s first code of laws, ensuring a more peaceful and just society for his people.