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3 - The Tran dynasty

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 May 2013

K. W. Taylor
Affiliation:
Cornell University, New York
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Summary

Tran Thu Do

The Ly family was based in the upper plains of the Red River where they enjoyed direct control of what was then the agricultural core of the country. The Tran family viewed matters from the perspective of the coast, which by the mid twelfth century had become part of a lively network of foreign trade stimulated by the economy of Southern Song. The port of Van Don was a gathering place for merchants and travelers from the coasts of southern China and elsewhere. Here, local products found a market and foreign goods were available. Wealth accumulated in the hands of producers, traders, officials, and those who were politically and militarily ascendant, namely the Tran. The founding of the Tran dynasty brought a new perspective to Thang Long, linking it more directly to the economy and culture of Southern Song than was possible by any overland connection. It was the result, however, of a long and violent struggle during the second and third decades of the thirteenth century. Nguyen Non and Doan Thuong partitioned the Ly dynastic heartland and resisted the upriver advance of the Tran.

Possession of the king gave the Tran an advantage that they were quick to exploit. Within days of finding protection with her brother Tran Tu Khanh, Thuan Trinh gave birth to the princess Thuan Thien. A thatched palace was quickly built on the southern edge of Thang Long for Ly Sam, the king. Thuan Trinh was elevated to the status of queen. Tran Tu Khanh, his eldest brother Tran Thua, and Tran Thua’s eldest son Tran Lieu, then 5 years old, all received prestigious court appointments. Reinforced by men who followed the king, Tran Tu Khanh resumed his attacks on the two local strongmen who were his chief enemies, Nguyen Non at Bac Ninh and Doan Thuong at Hai Duong, pushing both men back and putting them on the defensive. An effort to present a façade of royal normalcy was undertaken in 1217 with the king’s birthday festival, replete with a five-peak bamboo mountain and outings for the king to watch fishermen.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2013

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  • The Tran dynasty
  • K. W. Taylor, Cornell University, New York
  • Book: A History of the Vietnamese
  • Online publication: 05 May 2013
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139021210.004
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  • The Tran dynasty
  • K. W. Taylor, Cornell University, New York
  • Book: A History of the Vietnamese
  • Online publication: 05 May 2013
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139021210.004
Available formats
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Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • The Tran dynasty
  • K. W. Taylor, Cornell University, New York
  • Book: A History of the Vietnamese
  • Online publication: 05 May 2013
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139021210.004
Available formats
×