Lý Thánh Tông
Encyclopedia
Lý Thánh Tông was the posthumous title of the third emperor
of the Lý dynasty
of Vietnam
. Like his father, he was considered as one of the most talented and benevolent kings in Vietnamese history.
and his consort was known as Empress Mai Thị. He was born on February 25, 1023 (this date was followed the Lunar calendar
, the official calendar of Vietnam during Vietnam's feudal period) at Càn Đức palace. In 1028, he was conferred Crown prince after his father ascended the throne.
He was soon adept in all main fields at that time, such as history, literature, music, and also martial arts. Like his father, he was soon brought out of the capital citadel to touch the bottom class in society, following the tradition of this dynasty. Living among the masses, he soon profoundly understand the wretchedness and the slavery below the legs of the king. It made him have a benevolent reign after his succession.
Just at the age of 15, he was dubbed Great General, suppressed the revolt in Lam Tây (Lai Chau province), and made some feat. When was 17 years old, his father alloyed army to conquest Nùng Tồn Phúc, he was in charge of the Regent to rule over the capital and to manage the affairs of court.
In 1040, when he was just 18, all important litigations over the nation were committed to him. One edifice known as Quảng Vũ palace was confided to him.
In 1043, he was again conferred as Great General to defeat Châu Ái (Thanh Hoa province). One year later, while his father despatched the army to defeat Champa
, he was again in charge of the Regent known as the title "The exarch of the capital."
In January 1045, when he was ailing, Lý Thái Tông allowed him to hold court. Two months later, Lý Thái Tông died and then Lý Nhật Tôn officially ascended.
under that name. Lý Thánh Tông mercifully managed the nation through his reign and spread his benevolence over his realm, even to prisoners. In one year, when it underwent an unomalously cold and long winter, he told his confidants that even he, being in the palace with enough clothing, still felt cold, so all prisoners, whether criminals or not, were not sufficiently supplied with either food or clothing, and easily deceased. Thus, he commanded his servants to bring food, mats, and blankets to these prisoners.
On another day, he was adjudicating some important cases. One of his young princesses was standing near him; he then indicated her and said that his love toward common people equaled that toward his offspring. He also said that the code was not stretched through the people so that they were ignorant and also could be innocent because of this ignorance. Thus the rigidity of the code must have been decreased and the laws must have been aimed at humanity.
His benevolence maintained the stability and the peace in the nation, and all individuals venerated him. He practiced Buddhism
so during his reign, Lý Thánh Tông built many tower-pagodas and cast some large and impressive bells. However, he also had a comparative respect to Confucianism
, and in order to civilize the people, he operated “Văn Miếu”, the Temple of Literature, and commanded workmen to carve some large sculptures of Confucius
and 72 sages. Since that, Vietnam has had Văn Miếu, the site to commemorate all people who have achieved the title “Tiến sĩ” (doctor).
His success was contributed to notably by his Noble Consort Ỷ Lan
, who displayed great competence in administration. As Lý Thánh Tông did not soon produce an heir, when he went to war, she herself was left in charge of administering the nation.
s. The alloted army was assembled in another part. The tactical factor of the Đại Việt army at that time was an advance which was respected by the rivals.
In 1060, he commanded the exarch of “Lạng Châu” to combat the Song army along the border between two nations. The Vietnamese infantry won and captured the Song general named Dương Bảo Tài. After some more failed conflict with Đại Việt, the Song sent an envoy to negotiate with the Đại Việt court. The negotiator was treated well, but Đại Việt peremptorily did not free that general.
As Champa constantly annoyed the area near the border between the two nations and sometimes intruded deeply to loot, in 1069 Lý Thánh Tông himself led an army to defeat Champa. At first, he did not win and must have withdrawn troops to preserve their strength. While he was conducting his army through an area, he heard that Noble Consort Ỷ Lan managed the nation very well and thought he had been a coward and he felt shame in comparison with his consort. Thus he returned his army and for the nonce he did defeat his rival and also captured the King of Champa, Rudravarman III. Rudravarman III implored Lý Thánh Tông to release him in exchange for three areas, known as Địa Lý, Ma Linh, and Bố Chính (now districts Lệ Ninh, Quảng Trạch
, Bố Trạch
, and Tuyên Hoá
of Quang Binh province
and Bến Hải district of Quang Tri province
).
Emperor
An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
of the Lý dynasty
Lý Dynasty
The Lý Dynasty , sometimes known as the Later Lý Dynasty , was a Vietnamese dynasty that began in 1009 when Lý Thái Tổ overthrew the Prior Lê Dynasty and ended in 1225 when the queen Lý Chiêu Hoàng was forced to abdicate the throne in favor of her husband, Trần Cảnh. They ruled Vietnam for a...
of 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 –...
. Like his father, he was considered as one of the most talented and benevolent kings in Vietnamese history.
Genius Crown Prince
He was the eldest son of Lý Thái TôngLý Thái Tông
Lý Thái Tông was the posthumous title of Lý Phật Mã , emperor of the Lý Dynasty of Đại Việt from 1028 to 1054. His father was Lý Công Uẩn , posthumously known as Lý Thái Tổ , the founder and the first emperor of the Lý Dynasty...
and his consort was known as Empress Mai Thị. He was born on February 25, 1023 (this date was followed the Lunar calendar
Lunar calendar
A lunar calendar is a calendar that is based on cycles of the lunar phase. A common purely lunar calendar is the Islamic calendar or Hijri calendar. A feature of the Islamic calendar is that a year is always 12 months, so the months are not linked with the seasons and drift each solar year by 11 to...
, the official calendar of Vietnam during Vietnam's feudal period) at Càn Đức palace. In 1028, he was conferred Crown prince after his father ascended the throne.
He was soon adept in all main fields at that time, such as history, literature, music, and also martial arts. Like his father, he was soon brought out of the capital citadel to touch the bottom class in society, following the tradition of this dynasty. Living among the masses, he soon profoundly understand the wretchedness and the slavery below the legs of the king. It made him have a benevolent reign after his succession.
Just at the age of 15, he was dubbed Great General, suppressed the revolt in Lam Tây (Lai Chau province), and made some feat. When was 17 years old, his father alloyed army to conquest Nùng Tồn Phúc, he was in charge of the Regent to rule over the capital and to manage the affairs of court.
In 1040, when he was just 18, all important litigations over the nation were committed to him. One edifice known as Quảng Vũ palace was confided to him.
In 1043, he was again conferred as Great General to defeat Châu Ái (Thanh Hoa province). One year later, while his father despatched the army to defeat Champa
Champa
The kingdom of Champa was an Indianized kingdom that controlled what is now southern and central Vietnam from approximately the 7th century through to 1832.The Cham people are remnants...
, he was again in charge of the Regent known as the title "The exarch of the capital."
In January 1045, when he was ailing, Lý Thái Tông allowed him to hold court. Two months later, Lý Thái Tông died and then Lý Nhật Tôn officially ascended.
Benevolent emperor
Just after succession, Lý Thánh Tông changed the national name from “Đại Cồ Việt” to “Đại Việt” (literally "Great Viet"), initiating the most prosperous epoch throughout the history of VietnamVietnam
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 –...
under that name. Lý Thánh Tông mercifully managed the nation through his reign and spread his benevolence over his realm, even to prisoners. In one year, when it underwent an unomalously cold and long winter, he told his confidants that even he, being in the palace with enough clothing, still felt cold, so all prisoners, whether criminals or not, were not sufficiently supplied with either food or clothing, and easily deceased. Thus, he commanded his servants to bring food, mats, and blankets to these prisoners.
On another day, he was adjudicating some important cases. One of his young princesses was standing near him; he then indicated her and said that his love toward common people equaled that toward his offspring. He also said that the code was not stretched through the people so that they were ignorant and also could be innocent because of this ignorance. Thus the rigidity of the code must have been decreased and the laws must have been aimed at humanity.
His benevolence maintained the stability and the peace in the nation, and all individuals venerated him. He practiced Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
so during his reign, Lý Thánh Tông built many tower-pagodas and cast some large and impressive bells. However, he also had a comparative respect to Confucianism
Confucianism
Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han...
, and in order to civilize the people, he operated “Văn Miếu”, the Temple of Literature, and commanded workmen to carve some large sculptures of Confucius
Confucius
Confucius , literally "Master Kong", was a Chinese thinker and social philosopher of the Spring and Autumn Period....
and 72 sages. Since that, Vietnam has had Văn Miếu, the site to commemorate all people who have achieved the title “Tiến sĩ” (doctor).
His success was contributed to notably by his Noble Consort Ỷ Lan
Ỷ Lan
Ỷ Lan or Empress Mother Linh Nhân was the imperial concubine of Lý Thánh Tông, the third emperor and the natural mother of Lý Nhân Tông, the fourth emperor of the Lý Dynasty...
, who displayed great competence in administration. As Lý Thánh Tông did not soon produce an heir, when he went to war, she herself was left in charge of administering the nation.
Defeat of the Song invaders and conquest of Champa
After stabilizing the nation, he attended to the extension of his realm. He rearrayed the army and made army titles for each part of it. He totally divided his main cohort into 100 small groups and those were arrayed into four large groups: left, right, front, and rear, with supports of cavalries and trebuchetTrebuchet
A trebuchet is a siege engine that was employed in the Middle Ages. It is sometimes called a "counterweight trebuchet" or "counterpoise trebuchet" in order to distinguish it from an earlier weapon that has come to be called the "traction trebuchet", the original version with pulling men instead of...
s. The alloted army was assembled in another part. The tactical factor of the Đại Việt army at that time was an advance which was respected by the rivals.
In 1060, he commanded the exarch of “Lạng Châu” to combat the Song army along the border between two nations. The Vietnamese infantry won and captured the Song general named Dương Bảo Tài. After some more failed conflict with Đại Việt, the Song sent an envoy to negotiate with the Đại Việt court. The negotiator was treated well, but Đại Việt peremptorily did not free that general.
As Champa constantly annoyed the area near the border between the two nations and sometimes intruded deeply to loot, in 1069 Lý Thánh Tông himself led an army to defeat Champa. At first, he did not win and must have withdrawn troops to preserve their strength. While he was conducting his army through an area, he heard that Noble Consort Ỷ Lan managed the nation very well and thought he had been a coward and he felt shame in comparison with his consort. Thus he returned his army and for the nonce he did defeat his rival and also captured the King of Champa, Rudravarman III. Rudravarman III implored Lý Thánh Tông to release him in exchange for three areas, known as Địa Lý, Ma Linh, and Bố Chính (now districts Lệ Ninh, Quảng Trạch
Quang Trach
Quảng Trạch is a district of Quang Binh province, in the North Central Coast of Vietnam. The district capital is Ba Đồn townlet. This district is divided into 34 commune-level subdivisions....
, Bố Trạch
Bo Trach
Bố Trạch is a rural district in Quang Binh province. The district capital is Hoan Lao townlet. Bo Trach borders capital city of Dong Hoi to the south-east and Tuyen Hoa district and Quang Trach district to the north, Quang Ninh to the south and Minh Hoa to the north-west. Bo Trach is home to...
, and Tuyên Hoá
Tuyen Hoa
Tuyên Hóa is a district of Quang Binh Province in the North Central Coast region of Vietnam. Its seat is the town of Đồng Lê. Speakers of the Nguồn language are mostly located near Đồng Lê. As of 2003 the district had a population of . The district covers an area of 1,149 km²...
of Quang Binh province
Quang Binh Province
Quảng Bình , formerly Tiên Bình under the reign of Le Trung Hung of the Lê Dynasty, this province was renamed Quảng Bình in 1604) is a province in the North Central Coast of Vietnam....
and Bến Hải district of Quang Tri province
Quang Tri Province
Quảng Trị is a province on the North Central Coast of Vietnam, north of the former imperial capital of Huế.-Geography:Located in North Central Vietnam, Quang Tri Province is surrounded by Quang Binh Province on the north, Thua Thien-Hue Province on the south, Savannakhet Province of Laos on the...
).
Era name
In January 1072, he suddenly died at the age of 50, ruled for 17 years. While he was ruling, he used 5 era names:- Long Thụy Thái Bình (1054–1058)
- Chương Thánh Gia Khánh (1059–1065)
- Long Chương Thiên Tự (1066–1067)
- Thiên Huống Bảo Tượng (1068)
- Thần Vũ (1069–1072)