Emperor Minh Mang

Minh Mang, (1792-1841), sur name Nguyễn Phúc Chi Đảm, was born in Saigon and died at Hue, South Vietnam. He became Emperor on 1820 for 21 years. He was known for his anti-Western policies, especially his

persecution of Christian missionaries.

Prince Chi Dam was the fourth son of Emperor Gia Long and queen (Vietnamese: Thuận Thiên Cao hoàng hậu) Trần Thị Đang, and was not in line for the throne. When his older brother, the Crown Prince Nguyễn Phúc Cảnh, died, he was chosen by Gia Long as his successor. An outspoken critic of Europeans, Prince Chi Dam took the reign name Minh Mang.

As a strict Confucian, Minh Mang believed that Christian doctrine undermined the basic principles of Vietnamese religious and political life, especially the worship of and obedience to the emperor as a divine emissary. In the early years of his reign he diplomatically induced French missionaries to move from their posts to the capital at Hue, claiming that he needed interpreters. To persuade them to relinquish their proselytizing efforts, he conferred mandarin degrees upon them. As new priests arrived and refused to give up their missions, Minh Mang barred the entry of additional Christian missionaries in 1825 and subsequently forbade the preaching of Christian doctrine; he also had the missionaries imprisoned. In response to pleas for moderation, Minh Mang consented to allow the priests to board a ship bound for Europe, but instead the freed missionaries returned secretly to their posts.

Minh Mang felt the threat of pretenders who were soliciting help from the French for his overthrow. He also doubted the loyalty of his own people; though not indifferent to the plight of the peasants, he produced little land or social reform. Rebellion broke out in Saigon in 1833, and, when its leaders requested and received help from the Christian mission, Minh Mang was enraged and began to actively persecute the Christians. He ordered the execution of Father François Gagelin on Oct. 17, 1833. Seven European missionaries were killed in subsequent years along with a number of native converts. Minh Mang’s actions served as an excuse for France to invade Vietnam in 1858 to ensure the safety of French citizens.

The United States sent many ships to Vietnam starting in the early 19th century. The HMS Fame, under Captain Jeremiah Briggs sailed from Salem, MA to central Vietnam, in 1803. In 1819, the HMS Marmion, arrived in south Vietnam. In 1832, the HMS Peacock, under Captain Edmund Roberts arrived in Da Nang, carrying a Presdential Intention of Establishing Formal Contacts from President Andrew Jackson. As part of royal tradition, the Minh Mang court demanded the Captain to produce the same letter written in traditional Chinese hierglypics. Captain Roberts grew disdained and departed for Macao, where he was better greeted. Three years later, the Peacock returned and Emperor Minh Mang was readied to welcome the Americans, in hope of offsetting the French influence. Unfortunately, Mr. Roberts died from illness and the Peacock left. The United States did not officially set foot on Vietnam again until the next century.

Reference

A Death In November.

Britannica Encyclopedia.