Kien Phuc
Encyclopedia
Kiến Phúc was an 7th emperor of Vietnam
in the 19th century. Born in 1869, he was the nephew-turned-adopted son of Emperor Tự Đức. He reigned for 8 months (2 December 1883 - 31 July 1884)
of Emperor Hiệp Hoà
the court regents acted quickly to install the fifteen year-old prince as the new Emperor. Kiến Phúc was quickly enthroned on December 1, 1883 at five o'clock in the morning. His predecessor, Emperor Hiệp Hoà, had been arrested and murdered while the French Superior Resident, Champeaux had left Huế. When he returned he angrily protested the hurried coronation of the new monarch and the fact that France had not been consulted.
Resident Champeaux used the Harmand Treaty
signed by Emperor Hiệp Hoà
on August 25, 1883 to justify his fury that the regents had not consulted Vietnam's new colonial masters before placing a new emperor on the throne. But the treaty in no way gave France any legal influence over the Imperial succession. However, the regents ignored this fact and stated that since Emperor Hiệp Hoà was dead the document was no longer valid. The French were not moved by this and further angered by Hiệp Hoà's death. Also, remember that the regents had killed Hiệp Hoà supposedly for not standing up to the French. However, when military plans began to take effect the two remaining regents quickly bent to the strength of France as well and made a formal request for the recognition of Kiến Phúc as the new Emperor.
Emperor Kiến Phúc managed to show that in him was potential for an effective "Son of Heaven
." But he was hampered by poor health and corrupt regents, Nguyễn Văn Tường
and Tôn Thất Thuyết
. It was the Emperor's adopted mother, Hoc Phi
, who held most of the authority along with her secret liaison, regent Nguyễn Văn Tường
. When the Emperor caught them he was enraged and declared, "When I get well, I will chop off your heads down to the third generation." Naturally, the regents were not going to take the chance of giving the Emperor such an opportunity. Hoc Phi
put poison in the Emperor's medicine and Kiến Phúc died on August 1, 1884. Early the following year the leader of the Imperial family council, Prince Gia Hung, began a secret investigation into the death of Emperor Kiến Phúc. When Thuyết
found out the prince was exiled and disappeared. However, even in death Emperor Kiến Phúc was of some service to his country, for the events of his reign persuaded the French that the corrupt regents had to go. Their removal was one of the bright points of the French occupation, the shame was that they took over their positions themselves.
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 –...
in the 19th century. Born in 1869, he was the nephew-turned-adopted son of Emperor Tự Đức. He reigned for 8 months (2 December 1883 - 31 July 1884)
Biography
Along with Emperors Dục Đức and Đồng Khánh, he had been taken in by Tự Đức who was unable to have children of his own. After the regicideRegicide
The broad definition of regicide is the deliberate killing of a monarch, or the person responsible for the killing of a monarch. In a narrower sense, in the British tradition, it refers to the judicial execution of a king after a trial...
of Emperor Hiệp Hoà
Hiep Hoa
Emperor Hiệp Hòa was the sixth emperor of the Vietnamese Nguyễn Dynasty and reigned for four months...
the court regents acted quickly to install the fifteen year-old prince as the new Emperor. Kiến Phúc was quickly enthroned on December 1, 1883 at five o'clock in the morning. His predecessor, Emperor Hiệp Hoà, had been arrested and murdered while the French Superior Resident, Champeaux had left Huế. When he returned he angrily protested the hurried coronation of the new monarch and the fact that France had not been consulted.
Resident Champeaux used the Harmand Treaty
Treaty of Hué (1883)
The Treaty of Huế, concluded on 25 August 1883 between France and Vietnam, recognised a French protectorate over Annam and Tonkin. Dictated to the Vietnamese by the French administrator François-Jules Harmand in the wake of the French military seizure of the Thuan An forts, the treaty is often...
signed by Emperor Hiệp Hoà
Hiep Hoa
Emperor Hiệp Hòa was the sixth emperor of the Vietnamese Nguyễn Dynasty and reigned for four months...
on August 25, 1883 to justify his fury that the regents had not consulted Vietnam's new colonial masters before placing a new emperor on the throne. But the treaty in no way gave France any legal influence over the Imperial succession. However, the regents ignored this fact and stated that since Emperor Hiệp Hoà was dead the document was no longer valid. The French were not moved by this and further angered by Hiệp Hoà's death. Also, remember that the regents had killed Hiệp Hoà supposedly for not standing up to the French. However, when military plans began to take effect the two remaining regents quickly bent to the strength of France as well and made a formal request for the recognition of Kiến Phúc as the new Emperor.
Emperor Kiến Phúc managed to show that in him was potential for an effective "Son of Heaven
Heaven
Heaven, the Heavens or Seven Heavens, is a common religious cosmological or metaphysical term for the physical or transcendent place from which heavenly beings originate, are enthroned or inhabit...
." But he was hampered by poor health and corrupt regents, Nguyễn Văn Tường
Nguyen Van Tuong
Nguyễn Văn Tường was a mandarin of the Nguyễn Dynasty in Vietnam. He is known for installing and dethroning three emperors in 1883–84: Dục Đức, Hiệp Hoà, and Kiến Phúc.-Biography:...
and Tôn Thất Thuyết
Ton That Thuyet
Tôn Thất Thuyết was the leading mandarin of Emperor Tự Đức of Vietnam's Nguyễn Dynasty. Thuyết later led the Can Vuong movement which aimed to restore Vietnamese independence under Emperor Hàm Nghi. He was born on May 12, 1839 in Huế....
. It was the Emperor's adopted mother, Hoc Phi
Hoc Phi
Học phi was a wife of Emperor Tự Đức of the Nguyễn Dynasty of Vietnam. She is best known for her involvement in palace intrigues following her husband's death....
, who held most of the authority along with her secret liaison, regent Nguyễn Văn Tường
Nguyen Van Tuong
Nguyễn Văn Tường was a mandarin of the Nguyễn Dynasty in Vietnam. He is known for installing and dethroning three emperors in 1883–84: Dục Đức, Hiệp Hoà, and Kiến Phúc.-Biography:...
. When the Emperor caught them he was enraged and declared, "When I get well, I will chop off your heads down to the third generation." Naturally, the regents were not going to take the chance of giving the Emperor such an opportunity. Hoc Phi
Hoc Phi
Học phi was a wife of Emperor Tự Đức of the Nguyễn Dynasty of Vietnam. She is best known for her involvement in palace intrigues following her husband's death....
put poison in the Emperor's medicine and Kiến Phúc died on August 1, 1884. Early the following year the leader of the Imperial family council, Prince Gia Hung, began a secret investigation into the death of Emperor Kiến Phúc. When Thuyết
Ton That Thuyet
Tôn Thất Thuyết was the leading mandarin of Emperor Tự Đức of Vietnam's Nguyễn Dynasty. Thuyết later led the Can Vuong movement which aimed to restore Vietnamese independence under Emperor Hàm Nghi. He was born on May 12, 1839 in Huế....
found out the prince was exiled and disappeared. However, even in death Emperor Kiến Phúc was of some service to his country, for the events of his reign persuaded the French that the corrupt regents had to go. Their removal was one of the bright points of the French occupation, the shame was that they took over their positions themselves.