Lam Sơn uprising
Encyclopedia
In 1405 the Chinese Ming Dynasty
invaded Dai Viet in northern Vietnam
on the pretext of settling a succession dispute. Within a year the previously independent kingdom had been reduced to a province of China
. Ming rule was harsh and provoked a resistance movement led by Le Loi, a Vietnamese landowner, who in 1416 established himself with a few followers in a mountainous region, from where he gradually built up an army of several thousand soldiers. From 1424 he began a guerilla campaign, attacking isolated garrisons. Some more than 100,000 troops were sent from China, but Le Loi's forces also grew as Vietnamese flocked to his banner. By 1426 the rebels were strong enough to take on the Chinese-commanded by the experienced general Wang Tong
-in open battle. Using elephants to unnerve Wang Tong's cavalry, Le Loi routed the enemy at Tot Dong
. Restricted to a few strongpoints, the Chinese forces were in a precarious situation. Le Loi offered to help Wang Tong evacuate his troops in return for a guarantee of Vietnamese independence. In 1427 the Chinese accordingly left and Le Loi became ruler of Dai Viet.
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
invaded Dai Viet in northern Vietnam
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 –...
on the pretext of settling a succession dispute. Within a year the previously independent kingdom had been reduced to a province of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Ming rule was harsh and provoked a resistance movement led by Le Loi, a Vietnamese landowner, who in 1416 established himself with a few followers in a mountainous region, from where he gradually built up an army of several thousand soldiers. From 1424 he began a guerilla campaign, attacking isolated garrisons. Some more than 100,000 troops were sent from China, but Le Loi's forces also grew as Vietnamese flocked to his banner. By 1426 the rebels were strong enough to take on the Chinese-commanded by the experienced general Wang Tong
Wang Tong (Ming Dynasty)
Wang Tong was a general of the Ming Dynasty of China during the 15th Century. In 1426, Wang Tong was dispatched with 100,000 troops to invade Annam and crush the Lam Sơn uprising. At the Battle of Tot Dong, his force was surprisingly crushed by the rebels under Le Loi...
-in open battle. Using elephants to unnerve Wang Tong's cavalry, Le Loi routed the enemy at Tot Dong
Battle of Tot Dong
The Battle of Tot Dong was a battle between the Ming Dynasty and Dai Viet during the Lam Sơn uprising. The Annamese forces under command of Le Loi inflicted a horrible defeat upong Ming generals Liu Shan and Wang Tong. Afterwards, Wang Tong was captured and Liu Shan executed.- Background :Dai Viet...
. Restricted to a few strongpoints, the Chinese forces were in a precarious situation. Le Loi offered to help Wang Tong evacuate his troops in return for a guarantee of Vietnamese independence. In 1427 the Chinese accordingly left and Le Loi became ruler of Dai Viet.