The relationship between Le Van Duyet and Minh Mang in the first 30 years of the power concentration process in the Nguyen Dynasty

Abstract

Upon founding the dynasty, Gia Long upheld a politico-military on a vast territory with two administrative units of power ruling over the two areas now named the North and South of Vietnam respectively. Gia Dinh Citadel – the administrative unit ruling the South of Vietnam  with  a very important role in economy, national defense, and diplomacy – was headed by Le Van Duyet. In the first 30 years of the Nguyen Dynasty, along with the transfer of power from the Gia Long to the Minh Mang was the position assertion of  Le Van Duyet in Gia Dinh Citadel, making him one of the most powerful figures. However, the transfer of the throne also marked the concentration of power into the hands of the central government ruled by the emperor; thus, leading to the elimination of administrative units upholding great power such as Gia Dinh Citadel. This process took place in a quite complex manner due to intrinsic problems revolving around the relationship between Minh Mang and Le Van Duyet – the relationship between a king and a high-ranking mandarin with great power. The paper describes the maneuver of political relations between the two characters in the 30 years of power concentration from a fresher point of view.