Chau Van Tiep
Encyclopedia
Châu Văn Tiếp born Châu Doãn Ngạnh (朱允梗), was an 18th century Vietnam
ese military commander, best known for his role as a general of Nguyễn Ánh.
.
The Tây Sơn leader Nguyễn Nhạc invited Tiep to help him under the name of the Nguyễn prince Nguyen Phuc Duong
and Tiep agreed. Shortly thereafter, Tiep defected from the Tây Sơn army and joined the Nguyễn lords. The Nguyễn governor of Long Ho appointed him the governor of Phu Yen and Binh Thuan.
In 1777, Tiep led an army marched north in order to reinforce the armies of the two Nguyễn Lords Nguyễn Phúc Thuần and Nguyen Phuc Duong
, who were being pursued by Tây Sơn army. However, the Tây Sơn army defeated Tiep and forced him to flee along with Nguyễn Lords. Later, Tiep led his supporters back to their base in Tra Lon so that they stayed away from the conflict of Lý Tài and Do Thanh Nhon
.
Later, the two Nguyễn Lords and almost all of their family members were captured and executed by Tây Sơn; the most senior surviving member was Nguyễn Ánh, the 15-year old nephew of Nguyễn Phúc Thuần. When Nguyễn Ánh returned from hiding in the Mekong Delta jungle, Tiep joined the Nguyễn loyalists. In 1780, Nguyễn Ánh proclaimed himself Nguyễn vương and gave Tiep the position "Khâm Sai Đại Đô Đốc" (King's Grand General).
In 1781, Nguyễn Ánh ordered Chau Van Tiep to lead an attack against the Tây Sơn in Dien Khanh
. Again, Tiep was defeated and fled to Phú Yên. After learning of the fall of Gia Dinh, he led an army whose banner was embroidered with the four words "Lương Sơn
Tá Quốc" (lit. local heroes who want to save the country) and marched toward Gia Dinh to reinforce Nguyễn Ánh. Tiep defeated the Tây Sơn garrison in Saigon and invited Nguyễn Ánh, who had been hiding on Phú Quốc island to return. Shortly thereafter, the Tây Sơn attacked again and the Nguyễn army was defeated decisively; Chau Van Tiep himself fled to Siam and requested the aid of king Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke
and the king argreed.
Because of the ongoing war with Tây Sơn, Nguyễn Ánh temporarily buried Tiep in Vĩnh Long. After unifying Vietnam and founding Nguyễn Dynasty, Nguyễn Ánh (now called Gia Long) reburied Tiep in Vung Tau and posthumously bestowed upon him the title of Quận Công (Duke). Afterwards, Tiep was posthumously honored by the emperor Minh Mạng
and the emperor Tự Đức, both descendants of Gia Long.
and Vo Tanh
, was called "Gia Định Tam Hùng" (Three Heroes of Gia Dinh) in Vietnamese folk culture.
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
ese military commander, best known for his role as a general of Nguyễn Ánh.
Early life
Born in 1738, Chau Van Tiep was a son of a horse merchant from Phú Yên, on the southern coast of Vietnam. When Tiep was young, he mastered the martial arts and could speak both Siamese and KhmerKhmer language
Khmer , or Cambodian, is the language of the Khmer people and the official language of Cambodia. It is the second most widely spoken Austroasiatic language , with speakers in the tens of millions. Khmer has been considerably influenced by Sanskrit and Pali, especially in the royal and religious...
.
Military career
In 1773, the Tây Sơn brothers revolted, so Chau Van Tiep and his family went into hiding in Hà Duy, a remote mountains on Phú Yên province. In Hà Duy, Tiep gathered an army of natives and occupied the Tra Lon mountain surrounding the area.The Tây Sơn leader Nguyễn Nhạc invited Tiep to help him under the name of the Nguyễn prince Nguyen Phuc Duong
Nguyen Phuc Duong
Nguyễn Phúc Dương was one of the Nguyễn lords who ruled over the southern portion of Vietnam from the 16th-18th centuries. Duong was the first son of lord Nguyen Phuc Khoat's eldest son Nguyen Phuc Hieu. From 1774 to 1776, Duong was captured and used by Tay Son rebels to gain popularity among...
and Tiep agreed. Shortly thereafter, Tiep defected from the Tây Sơn army and joined the Nguyễn lords. The Nguyễn governor of Long Ho appointed him the governor of Phu Yen and Binh Thuan.
In 1777, Tiep led an army marched north in order to reinforce the armies of the two Nguyễn Lords Nguyễn Phúc Thuần and Nguyen Phuc Duong
Nguyen Phuc Duong
Nguyễn Phúc Dương was one of the Nguyễn lords who ruled over the southern portion of Vietnam from the 16th-18th centuries. Duong was the first son of lord Nguyen Phuc Khoat's eldest son Nguyen Phuc Hieu. From 1774 to 1776, Duong was captured and used by Tay Son rebels to gain popularity among...
, who were being pursued by Tây Sơn army. However, the Tây Sơn army defeated Tiep and forced him to flee along with Nguyễn Lords. Later, Tiep led his supporters back to their base in Tra Lon so that they stayed away from the conflict of Lý Tài and Do Thanh Nhon
Do Thanh Nhon
Đỗ Thanh Nhơn was an 18th-century Vietnamese military commander.-Early life:Details of Đỗ Thanh Nhơn’s early life are unknown except that he was a low-ranking naval officer of lord Nguyễn Phúc Thuần.-The Dong Son army:...
.
Later, the two Nguyễn Lords and almost all of their family members were captured and executed by Tây Sơn; the most senior surviving member was Nguyễn Ánh, the 15-year old nephew of Nguyễn Phúc Thuần. When Nguyễn Ánh returned from hiding in the Mekong Delta jungle, Tiep joined the Nguyễn loyalists. In 1780, Nguyễn Ánh proclaimed himself Nguyễn vương and gave Tiep the position "Khâm Sai Đại Đô Đốc" (King's Grand General).
In 1781, Nguyễn Ánh ordered Chau Van Tiep to lead an attack against the Tây Sơn in Dien Khanh
Dien Khanh
Dien Khanh is a district of Khanh Hoa Province in the South Central Coastal region of Vietnam.-Dien Khanh Citadel:The Dien Khanh Citadel is situated on Dien Khanh Townlet, Dien Khanh District, Khanh Hoa Province...
. Again, Tiep was defeated and fled to Phú Yên. After learning of the fall of Gia Dinh, he led an army whose banner was embroidered with the four words "Lương Sơn
Mount Liang
Mount Liang is a mountain in Liangshan County, Shandong province, China which rises to 197.9 m above sea level. It is well known as the stronghold of the 108 legendary Song Dynasty heroes of the classic Chinese novel Water Margin...
Tá Quốc" (lit. local heroes who want to save the country) and marched toward Gia Dinh to reinforce Nguyễn Ánh. Tiep defeated the Tây Sơn garrison in Saigon and invited Nguyễn Ánh, who had been hiding on Phú Quốc island to return. Shortly thereafter, the Tây Sơn attacked again and the Nguyễn army was defeated decisively; Chau Van Tiep himself fled to Siam and requested the aid of king Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke
Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Chakri Borommanat Phra Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke , posthumously titled "the Great", or Rama I , was the founder and the first monarch of the reigning House of Chakri of Siam . He ascended the throne in 1782, after defeating a rebellion which had deposed King...
and the king argreed.
Death and burial
In 1784, after the meeting with Nguyễn Ánh, Siam sent an army consisting of between 20,000 and 30,000 troops and 300 ships to help. Along with the Siamese army, Chau Van Tiep led a small Vietnamese army and navy. While Tiep's army was fighting against the Tây Sơn in Man Thit, Vinh Long Province, a Tây Sơn soldier named Bảo stabbed Tiep in the back and killed him.Because of the ongoing war with Tây Sơn, Nguyễn Ánh temporarily buried Tiep in Vĩnh Long. After unifying Vietnam and founding Nguyễn Dynasty, Nguyễn Ánh (now called Gia Long) reburied Tiep in Vung Tau and posthumously bestowed upon him the title of Quận Công (Duke). Afterwards, Tiep was posthumously honored by the emperor Minh Mạng
Minh Mang
Minh Mạng was the second emperor of the Nguyễn Dynasty of Vietnam, reigning from 14 February 1820 until 20 January 1841. He was a younger son of Emperor Gia Long, whose eldest son, Crown Prince Canh, had died in 1801...
and the emperor Tự Đức, both descendants of Gia Long.
In popular culture
Chau Van Tiep, along with Do Thanh NhonDo Thanh Nhon
Đỗ Thanh Nhơn was an 18th-century Vietnamese military commander.-Early life:Details of Đỗ Thanh Nhơn’s early life are unknown except that he was a low-ranking naval officer of lord Nguyễn Phúc Thuần.-The Dong Son army:...
and Vo Tanh
Vo Tanh
Võ Tánh was an 18th century Vietnamese military commander, best known for his role as a general of Nguyễn Ánh, who unified modern-day Vietnam and ruled as Emperor Gia Long.-Early life:...
, was called "Gia Định Tam Hùng" (Three Heroes of Gia Dinh) in Vietnamese folk culture.