Gia Long: Difference between revisions

== Unification of Vietnam ==

Heavy fighting occurred at the fortress of [[Qui Nhơn]] until it was captured in 1799 by Nguyen Canh's forces.<ref name="k77"/><ref name="h430"/> However, the city was quickly lost and was not regained until 1801.<ref name="c284"/><ref name="h431"/> The superior firepower of the improved navy played the decisive role in the ultimate recapture of the city, supporting a large overland attack.<ref name="m532"/> With the capture of their stronghold at Qui Nhơn, the vanquishing of the Tây Sơn was inevitable. In June, the central city of [[Huế]], the former capital of the Nguyễn, fell and Nguyễn Ánh crowned himself emperor, under the reign name Gia Long.<ref name="k77"/><ref name="h431"/><ref>Tarling, whichp. 245.</ref> A common modern myth about this reign title is that was derived from ''Gia Định'' (Saigon) and

''Thăng Long'' (Hanoi) to symbolizesymbolise the unification of northern and southern Vietnam.<ref, name="k77"/><refdespite name="h431"/>no contemporary evidence supporting this.<ref>Tarling,[[Liam pC. 245Kelley]], ''Beyond the Bronze Pillars: Envoy Poetry and the Sino-Vietnamese Relationship'' ([[Honolulu]]: [[University of Hawaii Press]], 2005, 78-9).</ref> He then quickly overran the north, with [[Hanoi]] captured on 22 July 1802.<ref name="b241">{{harvnb|Buttinger|1958|p=241}}</ref> After a quarter-century of continuous fighting, Gia Long had unified these formerly fractious territories, ultimately leading what is now modern Vietnam<ref name="h431"/> and elevated his family to a position never previously occupied by any Vietnamese royalty.<ref name="h431"/> Vietnam had never before occupied a larger landmass. Gia Long became the first Vietnamese ruler to reign over territory stretching from China in the north, all the way to the Gulf of Siam and the [[Cà Mau]] peninsula in the south.<ref name="m9"/> Gia Long's then petitioned the [[Qing dynasty]] of China for official recognition, which was promptly granted.<ref name="h431"/><ref name="b270">{{harvnb|Buttinger|1958|p=270}}</ref> The French failure to honor the treaty signed by Pigneau meant Vietnam was not bound to cede the territory and trading rights that they had promised.<ref>McLeod, pp. 11–12.</ref>