Tây Thành was formerly the 32nd province of Nguyễn Vietnam, encompassing what is now modern-day Cambodia. Its capital was the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh (known to the Vietnamese as "Nam Vang"). It was a special province with a dual system, consisting of Cambodian monarchs who reigned as puppet rulers while a Vietnamese governor resided in Phnom Penh. The province was finally abolished in 1847 after peace talks between Thailand and Vietnam concluded dual-suzerainty over Cambodia.

Tây Thành Province
Trấn Tây Thành (鎮西城) (Vietnamese)
ត្រានតាយថាញ់ (Khmer)
Province of Nguyễn dynasty Vietnam
1834–1847

Map of Trấn Tây Thành in 1838 and its districts
CapitalNam Vang
Population 
• 1840
970,516
Government
 • TypeMonarchy under Vietnamese administration
Protector-General 
• 1834–1841
Trương Minh Giảng
Monarch of Cambodia 
• 1835–1846
Ang Mey
Historical eraNew Imperialism
1834
1840
1847
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Kingdom of Cambodia
Kingdom of Cambodia
Today part ofCambodia

Chronology

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In 1834 the vassal king of Cambodia, Ang Chan II, was escorted back to Cambodia by Vietnamese troops following a three-year war. The Tây Thành province was formed in late 1834 after Vietnamese emperor Minh Mạng's edict that appointed General and the Resident-Superior of Cambodia Trương Minh Giảng as governor of Tây Thành province. Cambodian princess Ang Mey, daughter of king Chan, was crowned as de jure ruler of Cambodia in early 1835 with a Vietnamese-style ceremony.[1] From 1835 to 1840, Minh Mạng began conducting the progress of what historians called The Vietnamization of Cambodia in order to assimilate the Cambodians into Vietnamese cultural sphere and Vietnamese ethnicity.[2][3]

Frustrated with the slowness of his program, in June 1840 Minh Mạng demoted Mey and the other princesses. In August 1841 they were all arrested and deported to Vietnam along with the Cambodian royal regalia. Spurred by the death of Princess Ang Baen and the absence of their Queen Ang Mey, many Cambodian courtiers and their followers revolted against the Vietnamese rule. The death of Minh Mang in 1841 changed the situation. Vietnamese offices and soldiers in Tây Thành province were assassinated by Cambodian guerillas while the governor Trương Minh Giảng had been recalled by the newly crowned emperor Thieu Tri to deal with internal rebellions.[4] After a failed attempt to place Prince Im on the Cambodian throne in late 1841, Trương Minh Giảng committed suicide.[5]

The Siamese launched an offensive in late 1841 and took Phnom Penh with ease, but had to withdraw in 1844 to Oudong. After having suppressed internal rebellions, the Vietnamese counterattacked and placed Queen Ang Mey on the throne in 1845. After reached a peace agreement with Siam, in June 1847 the Vietnamese court released all royal members of the Cambodian ruling family, transferred the government to the new independent Cambodian monarchy of king Ang Duong and withdrew their army from Cambodia, ending the Tây Thành province.[6]

Districts

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Districts of Trấn Tây Thành
Quốc ngữ Chữ Hán Corresponding place today
Nam Vang 南榮 Phnom Penh
Kỳ Tô/Thời Tô (Thời Thâu) 其蘇/辰蘇 (辰萩) Srey Santhor,[7] province of Kandal
Tầm Đôn (Tầm Giun) 尋敦 (尋惇) Border regions of Gia Định, perhaps Romdoul, province of Svay Rieng
Tuy Lạp (Xui Rạp, Lôi Lạp) 綏臘 Border regions of Gia Định, perhaps Svay Rieng[a]
Ba Nam (Ba Cầu Nam) 巴南 (巴求南) Peam Ro, Peam Mean Chey, province of Prey Veng
Ba Lai (Ba Lầy) 巴來 (巴淶) Baray, province of Kampong Thom
Bình Xiêm (Bông Xiêm) 平暹 (凡暹) Kampong Siem, province of Kampong Cham[7]
Kha Bát (Lợi Ỷ Bát) 哥捌 (利椅捌) Prey Kabbas, province of Takeo
Lô Viên (Lô Yêm, Lư An) 爐圓 (盧淹, 閭安) Western Phnom Penh, Lvea Aem, province of Kandal
Hải Đông (Bông Xui) 海東 (楓吹) Kampong Svay,[7] province of Kampong Thom
Kim Trường 金長 Border of An Giang
Thâu Trung (Phủ Trung) 輸忠 (中府)
Ca Âu (Ca Khu) 歌謳 (歌塸)
Vọng Vân (Trung Hà) 望雲 (中河)
Hà Bình 河平
Trưng Lai (Trưng Lệ) 徵來 (征例)
Sơn Phủ 山甫
Sơn Bốc 山卜 Sambour
Tầm Vu (Mạt Tầm Vu) 尋於 (末尋於) Southwestern Phnom Penh, province of Kampong Speu
Khai Biên 開邊 The coastal regions of Koh Kong[7]
Hải Tây (Phủ Lật) 海西 (撫栗) Pursat[7]
Kha Lâm (Ca Rừng) 哥林 (柯棱) The border of Gia Định
Thê Lạp 梯笠
Cẩm Bài 錦牌
Lô Việt 爐越 Lovek, tỉnh Kampong Chhnang
Long Tôn 龍樽 Northern Phnom Penh[7]
Quảng Biên 廣邊 Kampot[7]
Hóa Di (Ba Di) 化夷 (巴夷)
Chân Tài (Chân Lệ) 真才 (真例) Northeastern Phnom Penh near Kampong Cham
Ý Dĩ (Phủ Phủ) 薏苡 Northern Kampong Chhnang
Chân Thành (Chân Thiêm) 真誠 (真占) Hà Dương District, An Giang province
Mật Luật (Ngọc Luật) 密律 (玉律) Tây Xuyên District, An Giang province
Ô Môn 烏門 Phong Phú District, An Giang province
Cẩn Chế District 芹制 Cần Ché
Cẩn Đô District 芹漇 Kanhchor (Prek Chamlak)
Southern Cần Ché

Notes

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  1. ^ Upstream of Vàm Cỏ river, which is called Soai Rạp river.
  1. ^ Chandler (2018), p. 151.
  2. ^ Corfield (2009), p. 18.
  3. ^ Chandler (2018), p. 152.
  4. ^ Chandler (2018), p. 157–160.
  5. ^ Chandler (2018), p. 162.
  6. ^ Corfield (2009), p. 19.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Tập_tin:NamKy1860.jpg. Bản đồ Nam Kỳ Lục tỉnh và Cao Miên năm 1860.

References

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  • Chandler, David (2018) [1986]. A History of Cambodia. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-0-429-97514-1.
  • Corfield, Justin J. (2009). The History of Cambodia. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-0-31335-723-7.