Triệu dynasty
The Triệu dynasty ruled the kingdom of Nányuè / Nam Việt, which consisted of parts of southern China as well as northern Vietnam. Its capital was Panyu, in modern Guangzhou. The founder of the dynasty, called Zhao Tuo, was from Hebei and served as a military governor for the Qin dynasty. He asserted his independence in 207 BC as the Qin Dynasty was collapsing. The ruling elite included both Yue and immigrant Han Chinese. Triệu Đà conquered the Vietnamese state of Âu Lạc and led a coalition of Yuè states in a war against the Han dynasty, which had been expanding southward. Subsequent rulers were less successful in asserting their independence and the Han dynasty finally conquered the kingdom in 111 BC.
Historiography
The scholar Huang Zuo produced the first detailed published history of Nam Việt in the fifteenth century. Chinese historians have generally denounced the Triệu as separatists from the Han Dynasty, but have also praised them as a civilizing force. A particularly strident denunciation was produced by poet Qu Dajun in 1696. Qu praised Qin Shi Huang as a model of how to uphold the purity of Chinese culture, and compared Triệu Đà unfavorably to the emperor. A more positive view of Triệu multiculturalism was presented by Liang Tíngnan in Nányuè Wŭ Wáng Chuán in 1833. Cantonese refer to themselves as Yuht, the Cantonese pronunciation of Yuè/Việt. In modern times, the character refers to Cantonese while refers to Vietnamese. But historically, these two characters were interchangeable.Meanwhile, Vietnamese historians have struggled with the issue of whether to regard the Triệu heroically as founders of Vietnam, or to denounce them as foreign invaders. For centuries afterward, Triệu Đà was a folk hero among the Viets, and was remembered for standing up to the Han Empire. After Lý Bí drove the Chinese out of northern Vietnam, he proclaimed himself "emperor of Nam Việt" in 544, thus identifying his state as a revival of the Trieu, despite obvious differences in terms of location and ethnic makeup. In the thirteenth century, Lê Văn Hưu wrote a history of Vietnam that used the Triệu as its starting point, with Triệu Đà receiving glowing praise as Vietnam's first emperor. In the 18th century, Ngô Thì Sĩ reevaluated Triệu Đà as a foreign invader. Under the Nguyễn Dynasty, Triệu Đà continued to receive high praise, although it was acknowledged that the original Nam Việt was not in fact a Vietnamese state. The current Communist government of Vietnam portrays Triệu Đà negatively as a foreign invader who vanquished Vietnam's heroic King An Dương despite there is a campaign to reconsider the role of Zhao Tuo due to tensions rising between Vietnam and China. Modern Vietnamese are descended from the ancient Yue of northern Vietnam and western Guangdong, according to Peter Bellwood.
Triệu Đà ''or'' Zhao Tuo
Triệu Đà, the founder of the dynasty, was an ethnic Chinese born in the State of Zhao, now Hebei province. He became military governor of Nanhai upon the death of Governor Ren Xiao in 208 BC, just as the Qin Empire was collapsing. The Qin Governor of Canton advised Triệu to found his own independent kingdom since the area was remote and there were many Chinese settlers in the area. He asserted Nanhai's independence declared himself the king of Nam Việt in 204 BC, established in the area of Lingnan, the modern provinces of comprises Guangdong, Guangxi, south Hunan, south Jiangxi and other nearby areas. He ruled Nam Việt and committed acts of defiance against Emperor Gaozu of Han and he severed all ties with China, killed many Chinese employees appointed by the central government and favored local customs. Being a talented general and cunning diplomat, he sought a peaceful relationship with China, both with the Qin Empire and the succeeding Han Empire.In 196 BC, Emperor Gaozu sent the scholar Lu Jia to the court of Triệu Đà. On this occasion, Triệu Đà squatted and wore his hair in a bun, in the Yuè manner.
"You are a Chinese and your forefathers and kin lie buried in Zhending in the land of Zhao", Lu told the king. "Yet now you turn against that nature which heaven has given you at birth, cast aside the dress of your native land and, with this tiny, far-off land of Yue, think to set yourself up as a rival to the Son of Heaven and an enemy state....It is proper under such circumstances that you should advance as far as the suburbs to greet me and bow to the north and refer to yourself as a 'subject'." After Lu threatened a Han military attack on Nam Việt, Triệu Đà stood up and apologized. Lu stayed at Panyu for several months and Triệu Đà delighted in his company. "There is no one in all Yue worth talking to", said the king, "Now that you have come, everyday I hear something I have never heard before!" Lu recognized Triệu Đà as "king of Yue". An agreement was reached that allowed legal trade between the Han Empire and Nam Việt, as the people of Nam Việt were anxious to purchase iron vessels from China. When Lu returned to Chang'an, Emperor Gaozu was much pleased by this result.
Lü Zhi, the Han dowager empress, banned trade with Nam Việt in 185 BC. "Emperor Gaozu set me up as a feudal lord and sent his envoy giving me permission to carry on trade," said Triệu Đà. "But now Empress Lü... treating me like one of the barbarians and breaking off our trade in iron vessels and goods." Triệu Đà responded by declaring himself an emperor and by attacking some border towns. His imperial status was recognized by the Minyue, Western Ou, and the Luolou. The army sent against Nam Việt by Empress Lü was ravaged by a cholera epidemic. When Triệu Đà was reconciled with the Han Empire in 180 BC, he sent a message to Emperor Wu of Han in which he described himself as, "Your aged subject Tuo, a barbarian chief". Triệu Đà agreed to recognize the Han ruler as the only emperor.
Peace meant that Nam Việt lost its imperial authority over the other Yue states. Its earlier empire had not been based on supremacy, but was instead a framework for a wartime military alliance opposed to the Han. The army Triệu Đà had created to oppose the Han was now available to deploy against the Âu Lạc kingdom in northern Vietnam. This kingdom was conquered in 179–180 BC. Triệu Đà divided his kingdom into two regions: Cửu Chân and Giao Chỉ. Giao Chỉ now encompasses most of northern Vietnam. He allowed each region to have representatives to the central government, thus his administration was quite relaxed and had a feeling of being decentralized. However, he remained in control. By the time Triệu Đà died in 136 BC, he had ruled for more than 70 years and outlived his sons.
In modern Vietnam, Triệu Đà is best remembered as a character in the "Legend of the Magic Crossbow". According to this legend, Triệu Đà's son Trong Thủy married Mỵ Châu, the daughter of King An Dương of Âu Lạc, and used her love to steal the secret of An Dương's magic crossbow.
Triệu Mạt ''or'' Zhao Mo
Triệu Đà died in 136 BC and was succeeded by his grandson Triệu Mạt, who took the temple name Triệu Văn Đế. Triệu Mạt was the son of Trọng Thủy and Mỵ Châu, according to the Legend of the Magic Crossbow. He was 71 years old at the time. In 135 BC, the Minyue attacked and Triệu Văn requested the assistance of the Han Empire. Emperor Wu offered to "help" by sending his army, ostensibly to suppress the assist Nam Việt, but with an eye of seizing the country should an occasion arise. Crown Prince Triệu Anh Tề was sent to live and study in the Hàn court. The king took this as a gesture of goodwill by the emperor, whom he viewed as a brother, to strengthen the relationship between Han and Nam Việt. Triệu Mạt died in 124 BC. His mausoleum was found in Guangzhou in 1983.Triệu Anh Tề ''or'' Zhao Yingqi
Triệu Anh Tề was the crown prince when his father, Triệu Vǎn Vương, died. Triệu Anh Tề's appointment to the position of Triệu Minh Vương was a conciliatory measure to the Emperor in Chang'an as a sign of respect. This crowned prince, Triệu Anh Tề, lived most of his life in China. In China he had fathered a son by ; In one popular theory, she was Emperor Wu's own daughter. He named the son Triệu Hưng. Only when his father, Emperor Văn, died did Triệu Anh Tề receive permission to go home for his father's funeral. This happened in 124 BC. Triệu Anh Tề ascended the throne as King Minh. Not much is known about King Minh's reign, probably because it is a short one and he was subservient to the Han emperor. His Chinese-born son, Triệu Hưng, was only about 6 years old when King Minh died. Owing to Triệu Hưng's extreme youth, his mother Lady Cù, became the Empress Dowager.King Minh's death precipitated the events that would lead to the seizure and domination of Nam Việt by the Hán forces.
Triệu Hưng ''or'' Zhao Xing
Triệu Hưng, just 6 years old, ascended the throne and adopted the temple name Triệu Ai Vương. Soon thereafter, Emperor Wu of Han summoned him and his mother, Lady Cù, to an audience to pay homage in the Hán court. The Han held Lady Cù and King Ai under the pretext that the young king needed their protection. By acquiescing to this gesture, both the empress dowager and the young emperor gave the public the impression that they were just puppets in the hands of the Hán court.With King Ai in their hands and the queen dowager beheaded, the Chinese prepared their army for an invasion. In 112 BC, the emperor sent two of his commanders, Lu Bode and, along with 5,000 of his best soldiers to invade Nam Việt.
Triệu Kiến Đức ''or'' Zhao Jiande
Nam Việt's senior prime minister, Quan Thai-pho, Lữ Gia sent out the army to meet the Hán at the border to repel the invasion. The army was strong, but smaller in number. Meanwhile, inside the country, the word has spread that King Ai was in the hand of the Han emperor. The Viets feared that if they resist, their king would be harmed by the hands of the Han Emperor. The country was now in a state of chaos. When the Han kept sending more and more reinforcements for his army at the border, the Nam Việt's army was unable to hold their position. Lữ Gia saw that Nam Việt must have a new king in order to calm its people and to stir up Nam Việt patriotism to fight. Triệu Kiến Ðức, King Minh's eldest son from one of his concubines, took the burden of leading his people to war. Triệu Kiến Ðức took the title of Triệu Dương Vương .Decline of the dynasty
dispatched soldiers against Nam Việt. With its king being too young and inexperienced and leading an untrained, however brave army, Nam Việt was only able to keep their stronghold for a while. Hán crushed the Nam Việt army along with Lữ Gia and his King, both resisted until the end. Based on many temples of Lữ Gia, his wives and soldiers scattering in Red River Delta of northern Vietnam, the war might last until 98 BC.After the fall of Panyu, Tây Vu Vương revolted against the First Chinese domination from Western Han dynasty. He was killed by his assistant Hoàng Đồng.
Afterwards, Nam Việt as the prefecture of Giao Chỉ of the Han Empire, was divided into nine districts. Han dynasty would dominate Jiaozhi until the revolt of the Trưng Sisters, who led a revolt in 40.