Lê Trang Tông (1533 – 1548) was the true name Lê Duy Ninh, and he was a king of the Later Lê Dynasty in Vietnamese history. There are many different legends surrounding the life of King Lê Trang Tông, especially the legend about his childhood. He was affectionately given the nickname “Chúa Chổm” by the common people.
Lê Trang Tông was the son of King Lê Chiêu Tông. When Mạc Đăng Dung seized the Lê Dynasty, he and his mother had to flee to seek refuge in Ai Lao. In 1533, the loyal courtiers brought him back to become king to fight against the Mạc Dynasty and restore the Lê Dynasty. Because he was known as Chổm in his childhood, the common people often called him “Chúa Chổm” when he ascended to the throne.
According to legend, King Lê Trang Tông was heavily in debt during his childhood. He had to work hard every day to support himself and his mother due to their impoverished life. Because he had no money, he often ate at street food stalls. When he was still living among the common people, Lê Duy Ninh, also known as Chổm, was very poor and had to borrow money to survive. Later, when he became king, Chúa Chổm returned to the capital Thăng Long, parading through the old village where he and his mother had sought refuge.
Later, when he became king, Lê Trang Tông decided to exempt the people in the region where he had lived from taxes for one year, considering it as a way to repay the old debt. Due to the large number of people demanding debts, the King issued a ban on anyone pointing a finger at him. As a result, the small road the king once walked on is called “Cấm Chỉ” and still exists in Hanoi today.
