Vietnam in the First Half of the 18th Century. Ruler Trinh Giang (1730–1740): pro et contra

In traditional historiography, Trinh Giang, the de facto ruler of Vietnam in 1730–1740, is unequivocally considered an inept and arrogant autocrat, whose rule resulted in numerous uprisings that brought the country to the brink of disaster. The author of this article tried to characterize Trinh Giang as a person, as well as to trace his path from a completely legitimate and respected wise ruler to an insane tyrant whom the whole country hated.Being one of the most gifted and educated rulers of the house of Trinh, Trinh Giang, at the first stage of his reign, mostly managed to correct the mistakes made during his father’s reforms and put the country on a path out of a deep socio-economic crisis. His reforms in the field of education launched the processes of an unprecedented rise in literary and scientific activity in Vietnam. However, very soon his desire for independence and absolute power, which he tried to achieve by completely replacing the elites, led him into deep conflict with almost everyone around him (except the eunuchs devoted to him). An attempt to overcome this conflict through large-scale repressions, executions and expulsion of discontented people from the capital, led to a split in society and provoked large-scale civil wars. In the end, Trinh Giang lost all support and was overthrown with little or no resistance. Moreover, the ruler’s mother stood at the head of the conspirators, preferring his younger brother Trinh Doanh (ruled in 1740–1767).