Phạm Ngũ Lão
Encyclopedia
Phạm Ngũ Lão was a general of the Trần Dynasty during the reigns of three successive emperors Nhân Tông, Anh Tông
and Minh Tông
. His talent was noticed by Prince Hưng Đạo Trần Quốc Tuấn who married his adopted daughter to Phạm Ngũ Lão and recommended him for the royal court. Renowned as a prominent general in battlefield, Phạm Ngũ Lão was one of the few commanders of Đại Việt army during the second and third Mongol invasion
who did not come from the Trần clan. After the war of resistance against the Yuan Dynasty
, Phạm Ngũ Lão continued to participate in numerous military campaigns of the Trần Dynasty in which he often succeeded. Today, Phạm Ngũ Lão is still considered as one of the most skilled military commander of both the Trần Dynasty and history of Vietnam
.
: Thánh dực quân) in May 1290.
in the Battle of Yamen
which marked the end of Song Dynasty and the total control of Kublai Khan
over China
. As a result, Kublai Khan began to expose his attempt to take over the southern countries like Đại Việt or Champa
. In December 1284, the second Yuan's invasion of Đại Việt was opended under the command of Kublai Khan's prince Toghan. Đại Việt was attacked in two directions, Toghan himselft conducted the infantry invaded from the northern border while Yuan's navy under general Sogetu advanced from the southern border through Champa
's territory. During the war, Phạm Ngũ Lão participated in several battles, notably Battle of Chương Dương where Phạm Ngũ Lão, together with Prince Chiêu Minh Trần Quang Khải
and Marquis Hoài Văn Trần Quốc Toản
, almost destroyed the Sogetu's fleet general on the tenth day of the fifth lunar month (June 14), or Battle of Vạn Kiếp where the general fought under the command of Prince Hưng Đạo Trần Quốc Tuấn on May 20. These decisive victories of Đại Việt ultimately led to the retreat of Toghan's troops one month later.
In 1287, the Yuan Dynasty
launched their third invasion of Đại Việt. This military campaign was ended by a disastrous defeat of Yuan navy in Battle of Bạch Đằng on March 8 of Lunar calendar, 1288. After fighting in Battle of Bạch Đằng, Phạm Ngũ Lão took charge of ambushing prince Toghan's retreating troops which was destroyed more than a half by Đại Việt's army of Phạm Ngũ Lão, a guard general of prince Toghan was also killed in this battle. For his feats in battlefield, after the war Phạm Ngũ Lão was promoted to Commander of the Royal Guard (Quản Thánh dực quân).
and was appointed as commander in chief (Hữu kim ngô vệ đại tướng quân) in October 1298. In this position, Phạm Ngũ Lão continued to succeed in several military campaigns in the western and southern border such as the Battle of Mường Mai against Laotian intruders in 1301 or the military campaign against kingdom of Champa
in 1318. The general also took charge of putting down a revolt inside Đại Việt in 1302. With many victories in battle, Phạm Ngũ Lão was promoted gradually to general commander (Điện súy thượng tướng quân) of Đại Việt army, the Emperor also married his daughter as royal concubine and granted a mandarin position for Phạm Ngũ Lão's son, a favour which was usually reserved only for members of royal family. Outside the royal court, Phạm Ngũ Lão was a close friend of Prince Minh Hiến Trần Uất, Trần Thái Tông's youngest prince, and was always ready to help the Prince despite the difference of class between him and Trần Uất.
In November 1320, Phạm Ngũ Lão deceased in Thăng Long
at the age of 66. The Emperor Trần Minh Tông
mourned his death by 5-day absence from the Emperor's audience, a special dedication for an official who did not come from Trần clan.
. Phạm Ngũ Lão's contribution for the victory of Đại Việt over two Mongols invasions and the period of peace and prosperity afterwards made him one of the most prominent figures of the Trần Dynasty who did not come from Trần clan. Phạm Ngũ Lão was also a poet with several famous poems such as Thuật hoài. Today a main street in Hanoi
where the National Museum of Vietnamese History
is located, and many places in Vietnam are named in honour of Phạm Ngũ Lão. Most cities in Vietnam, regardless of the political orientation of the government, have named major streets after him. He is still worshipped as a deity, Saint Phạm (Đức thánh Phạm) in several regions of Vietnam, and each year a traditional festival is held in Phù Úng, his native village, to commemorate the feats of Phạm Ngũ Lão.
Trần Anh Tông
Trần Anh Tông , given name Trần Thuyên , was the fourth emperor of the Trần Dynasty, reigning over Đại Việt from 1293 to 1314. After ceding the throne to his son Trần Minh Tông, Anh Tông held the title Thái thượng hoàng for six years...
and Minh Tông
Trần Minh Tông
Trần Minh Tông , given name Trần Mạnh , was the fifth emperor of the Trần Dynasty who ruled Đại Việt from 1314 to 1329. After ceding the throne to his son Trần Hiến Tông, Minh Tông held the title of Thái thượng hoàng for 29 years...
. His talent was noticed by Prince Hưng Đạo Trần Quốc Tuấn who married his adopted daughter to Phạm Ngũ Lão and recommended him for the royal court. Renowned as a prominent general in battlefield, Phạm Ngũ Lão was one of the few commanders of Đại Việt army during the second and third Mongol invasion
Mongol invasions of Vietnam
Mongol invasions of Vietnam or Mongol-Vietnamese War refer to the three times that the Mongol Empire and its chief khanate the Yuan Dynasty invaded Đại Việt during the Trần Dynasty and the Kingdom of Champa: in 1257–1258, 1284–1285, and 1287–1288. The Mongols were defeated by Đại...
who did not come from the Trần clan. After the war of resistance against the Yuan Dynasty
Yuan Dynasty
The Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was a ruling dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who ruled most of present-day China, all of modern Mongolia and its surrounding areas, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368. It is considered both as a division of the Mongol Empire and as an...
, Phạm Ngũ Lão continued to participate in numerous military campaigns of the Trần Dynasty in which he often succeeded. Today, Phạm Ngũ Lão is still considered as one of the most skilled military commander of both the Trần Dynasty and history of Vietnam
History of Vietnam
The history of Vietnam covers a period of more than 2,700 years. By far Vietnam's most important historical international relationship has been with China. Vietnam's prehistory includes a legend about a kingdom known as Van Lang that included what is now China's Guangxi Autonomous Region and...
.
Background
According to Đại Việt sử kí toàn thư, Phạm Ngũ Lão was born in 1255 in Phù Úng, Đường Hảo, Thượng Hồng (now Ân Thi, Hưng Yên). At the age of about 20, his talent was noticed by Prince Hưng Đạo Trần Quốc Tuấn who married his adopted daughter, Princess Anh Nguyên, to Phạm Ngũ Lão and also taught him about military knowledge so that he could become a capable general. After that, Prince Hưng Đạo recommended him for the Emperor Trần Nhân Tông who appointed him as commander of right division of the Royal Guard (VietnameseVietnamese language
Vietnamese is the national and official language of Vietnam. It is the mother tongue of 86% of Vietnam's population, and of about three million overseas Vietnamese. It is also spoken as a second language by many ethnic minorities of Vietnam...
: Thánh dực quân) in May 1290.
During two Mongol invasions
In 1279, the Yuan Dynasty had the decisive victory over the Song DynastySong Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
in the Battle of Yamen
Battle of Yamen
The naval Battle of Yamen took place on 19 March 1279 and is considered to be the last stand of the Song Dynasty against the invading Mongol-controlled Yuan Dynasty...
which marked the end of Song Dynasty and the total control of Kublai Khan
Kublai Khan
Kublai Khan , born Kublai and also known by the temple name Shizu , was the fifth Great Khan of the Mongol Empire from 1260 to 1294 and the founder of the Yuan Dynasty in China...
over China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. As a result, Kublai Khan began to expose his attempt to take over the southern countries like Đại Việt or Champa
Champa
The kingdom of Champa was an Indianized kingdom that controlled what is now southern and central Vietnam from approximately the 7th century through to 1832.The Cham people are remnants...
. In December 1284, the second Yuan's invasion of Đại Việt was opended under the command of Kublai Khan's prince Toghan. Đại Việt was attacked in two directions, Toghan himselft conducted the infantry invaded from the northern border while Yuan's navy under general Sogetu advanced from the southern border through Champa
Champa
The kingdom of Champa was an Indianized kingdom that controlled what is now southern and central Vietnam from approximately the 7th century through to 1832.The Cham people are remnants...
's territory. During the war, Phạm Ngũ Lão participated in several battles, notably Battle of Chương Dương where Phạm Ngũ Lão, together with Prince Chiêu Minh Trần Quang Khải
Trần Quang Khải
Prince Chiêu Minh Trần Quang Khải was the third son of Trần Thái Tông, first emperor of the Trần Dynasty. Being younger brother of the Emperor Trần Thánh Tông and holding the position of grand chancellor of the Trần Dynasty for many years, Trần Quang Khải was one of the most important figures of...
and Marquis Hoài Văn Trần Quốc Toản
Trần Quốc Toản
Marquis Hoài Văn Trần Quốc Toản was a marquis of the Trần Dynasty who was well known for his active role in the second war of resistance of Đại Việt against the Mongol invasion...
, almost destroyed the Sogetu's fleet general on the tenth day of the fifth lunar month (June 14), or Battle of Vạn Kiếp where the general fought under the command of Prince Hưng Đạo Trần Quốc Tuấn on May 20. These decisive victories of Đại Việt ultimately led to the retreat of Toghan's troops one month later.
In 1287, the Yuan Dynasty
Yuan Dynasty
The Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was a ruling dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who ruled most of present-day China, all of modern Mongolia and its surrounding areas, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368. It is considered both as a division of the Mongol Empire and as an...
launched their third invasion of Đại Việt. This military campaign was ended by a disastrous defeat of Yuan navy in Battle of Bạch Đằng on March 8 of Lunar calendar, 1288. After fighting in Battle of Bạch Đằng, Phạm Ngũ Lão took charge of ambushing prince Toghan's retreating troops which was destroyed more than a half by Đại Việt's army of Phạm Ngũ Lão, a guard general of prince Toghan was also killed in this battle. For his feats in battlefield, after the war Phạm Ngũ Lão was promoted to Commander of the Royal Guard (Quản Thánh dực quân).
After the war
During the peaceful period afterwards, Phạm Ngũ Lão continued to have an important role in military activities of Đại Việt. In the military campaign in August 1294 which was commanded by the Retired Emperor Trần Nhân Tông in person, general Phạm Ngũ Lão was successful in relieving the troops of Prince Trung Thành trapped by Laotian force, he was awarded a golden badge by this deed of arms. In 1297, Phạm Ngũ Lão had another victory over the troops from LaosLaos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
and was appointed as commander in chief (Hữu kim ngô vệ đại tướng quân) in October 1298. In this position, Phạm Ngũ Lão continued to succeed in several military campaigns in the western and southern border such as the Battle of Mường Mai against Laotian intruders in 1301 or the military campaign against kingdom of Champa
Champa
The kingdom of Champa was an Indianized kingdom that controlled what is now southern and central Vietnam from approximately the 7th century through to 1832.The Cham people are remnants...
in 1318. The general also took charge of putting down a revolt inside Đại Việt in 1302. With many victories in battle, Phạm Ngũ Lão was promoted gradually to general commander (Điện súy thượng tướng quân) of Đại Việt army, the Emperor also married his daughter as royal concubine and granted a mandarin position for Phạm Ngũ Lão's son, a favour which was usually reserved only for members of royal family. Outside the royal court, Phạm Ngũ Lão was a close friend of Prince Minh Hiến Trần Uất, Trần Thái Tông's youngest prince, and was always ready to help the Prince despite the difference of class between him and Trần Uất.
In November 1320, Phạm Ngũ Lão deceased in Thăng Long
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
at the age of 66. The Emperor Trần Minh Tông
Trần Minh Tông
Trần Minh Tông , given name Trần Mạnh , was the fifth emperor of the Trần Dynasty who ruled Đại Việt from 1314 to 1329. After ceding the throne to his son Trần Hiến Tông, Minh Tông held the title of Thái thượng hoàng for 29 years...
mourned his death by 5-day absence from the Emperor's audience, a special dedication for an official who did not come from Trần clan.
Legacy
Today, Phạm Ngũ Lão is always considered as one of the most skilled military commanders of both the Trần Dynasty and history of VietnamHistory of Vietnam
The history of Vietnam covers a period of more than 2,700 years. By far Vietnam's most important historical international relationship has been with China. Vietnam's prehistory includes a legend about a kingdom known as Van Lang that included what is now China's Guangxi Autonomous Region and...
. Phạm Ngũ Lão's contribution for the victory of Đại Việt over two Mongols invasions and the period of peace and prosperity afterwards made him one of the most prominent figures of the Trần Dynasty who did not come from Trần clan. Phạm Ngũ Lão was also a poet with several famous poems such as Thuật hoài. Today a main street in Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
where the National Museum of Vietnamese History
National Museum of Vietnamese History
The National Museum of Vietnamese History is located in the Hoan Kiem district of Hanoi, Vietnam.- History :...
is located, and many places in Vietnam are named in honour of Phạm Ngũ Lão. Most cities in Vietnam, regardless of the political orientation of the government, have named major streets after him. He is still worshipped as a deity, Saint Phạm (Đức thánh Phạm) in several regions of Vietnam, and each year a traditional festival is held in Phù Úng, his native village, to commemorate the feats of Phạm Ngũ Lão.