History records the only Vietnamese king who lived in Africa for 56 years, married, had children, and later became an artist. Notably, this king was known for his profound patriotism and passion for the arts.
Biography and Life of the Only Vietnamese King Who Lived in Africa for 56 Years
King Ham Nghi was born on the 17th of June, in the year of the Goat, which corresponds to the 3rd of August 1871 in the modern calendar. However, some other documents suggest his birthdate as the 22nd of July, 1872, in Hue. King Ham Nghi was the younger brother of King Kien Phuc (given name: Ung Dang) and Chanh Mong (given name: Ung Ky), who later became King Dong Khanh. He was the fifth child of Prince Kien Thai Vuong Nguyen Phuc Hong Cai and Phan Thi Nhan.
After the death of King Tu Duc in July 1883, power was concentrated in the hands of regents like Nguyen Van Tuong and Ton That Thuyet. However, these regents were not proactive in seeking out and empowering a royal family member who shared their anti-French sentiments. Before Ham Nghi’s reign, the three kings, Duc Duc, Hiep Hoa, and Kien Phuc, had either gone against the warlike faction or passed away prematurely, leaving the already chaotic court in further disarray.
King Kien Phuc’s sudden death occurred during a favorable time for the warlike faction within the Hue court. After his passing, instead of Nguyen Phuc Ung Ky, the second adopted son of King Tu Duc, ascended the throne. Nguyen Van Tuong and Ton That Thuyet were concerned that an older king would diminish their authority. Additionally, both Ton That Thuyet and Nguyen Van Tuong opted for Nguyen Phuc Ung Lich, also known as King Ham Nghi, a strong advocate against the French.
According to Ton That Thuyet and Nguyen Van Tuong, Ung Lich was considered a qualified candidate due to his lineage and the fact that he hadn’t been corrupted by the luxurious life within the capital. They believed they could guide the young king to understand the relationship between the Vietnamese court and the French colonialists.
King Ham Nghi grew up in poverty and led a commoner’s life with his biological mother, unlike his two older brothers, who were raised in the court. When the envoys came to perform the coronation ceremony, the young Nguyen Phuc Ung Lich was frightened and hesitant to accept the royal attire they offered.
On the 12th of June in the year of the Monkey, corresponding to the 2nd of August 1884, Nguyen Phuc Ung Lich was escorted between two rows of guards into the Thai Hoa Palace to undergo the ritual of ascending the throne. He took the reign name Ham Nghi, and at that time, he was only 13 years old.
Ham Nghi’s exile in Africa is considered a tragedy in the Nguyen dynasty. According to the book, “Nine Lords, Thirteen Kings of the Nguyen Dynasty,” King Ham Nghi lived for 56 years in Africa. He was renowned for his strong patriotism and opposition to the French colonial regime. Because of these beliefs, he was captured and exiled to Algeria from 1888 until his death in 1944. During this period, in 1904, Ham Nghi became engaged to Marcelle Laloe (1884-1974), the daughter of Mr. Laloe, the Chief Justice of Alger.
King Ham Nghi and his foreign wife, Marcelle Laloe, had three children: two princesses, Nhu Mai and Nhu Ly, and a prince, Minh Duc. Princess Nhu Mai studied and graduated as an agricultural engineer, while Princess Nhu Ly obtained a doctorate in medicine and married Duke François Barthomivat de la Besse.
In 1944, King Ham Nghi passed away in Algeria, and his remains were buried there. Later, in 1962, his coffin was transferred to a tomb in Thonac village, located in the province of Dordogne, France, near the castle of Princess Nhu Mai.
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