Trịnh Căn (chữ Hán: ; 18 July 1633 – 17 June 1709) ruled northern Vietnam from 1682 to 1709 (he ruled with the title Định Vương).[1]

Trịnh Căn
鄭根
Trịnh lords
Lord of Tonkin
Trịnh Lords
Reign1682–1709
PredecessorTrịnh Tạc
SuccessorTrịnh Cương
Born18 July 1633
Đông Kinh, North Vietnam
Died17 June 1709
Đông Kinh, North Vietnam
SpouseNguyễn Thị Ngọc Phụng
Phạm Thị Ngọc Quyền
Ngô Thị Ngọc Uyên
IssueTrịnh Vịnh
more sons and daughters
Names
Trịnh Căn (鄭根)
Regnal name
Định Nam Vương (定南王)
Posthumous name
Khang Vương (康王)
Temple name
Chiêu Tổ (昭祖)
HouseTrịnh Lords
FatherTrịnh Tạc
MotherVũ Thị Ngọc Lễ
ReligionBuddhism

Trịnh Căn was one of the Trịnh lords who ruled Vietnam. With the Trịnh–Nguyễn War ended, his reign was mostly devoted to administrative reforms.[2]

Trịnh Căn, the son of Trịnh Tạc, ruled Vietnam during a time of peace and general prosperity. He devoted his time to administrative affairs.[3] One of his improvements was to force all government officials to take examinations in order to promote honesty and to remove incapable civil servants. He also reformed the laws and punishments; under Trịnh Căn mutilation was no longer a punishment for crimes, and public gambling was prohibited.

In 1694, the last effective leader of the Lān Xāng federation died. The resulting succession battle caused the federation to collapse. The Vietnamese sent an army into Laos to assert their authority in the area in 1694. After 10 years of conflict with other Lao forces and with Ayutthaya forces under king Phetracha, three weak Lao kingdoms emerged, each of which paid tribute to both Vietnam and Ayutthaya (modern day Thailand). (Note: it is possible, but less likely, that it was a Nguyễn army under Nguyễn Phúc Chu which intervened in Laos).

As far as the Lê dynasty was concerned, the emperor, Lê Hy Tông, was forced to abdicate the throne in 1706. He was replaced by Lê Du Tông.

See also

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Sources

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  1. ^ Nola Cooke, Tana Li, James Anderson The Tongking Gulf Through History 2011 ISBN 0812243366 Page 130 "In 1683, when Trịnh Căn (r. 1682–1709) was installed as chúa, Tongking experienced another succession crisis.101 in 1697, the chúa's prolonged illness made ..."
  2. ^ Anh Thư Hà, Hồng Đức Trần A Brief Chronology of Vietnam's History 2000 - Page 146 "As a result, Trịnh Căn was able to focus his efforts on intemal affairs. With the ... In the diplomatic field, Trịnh Căn succeeded in obtaining the retum by the Qing Court of China, but a number of villages still was occupied by the latter. But Trịnh ."
  3. ^ Anh Tuấan HoÁng Silk for Silver: Dutch-Vietnamese Relations ; 1637–1700 - 2007 - Page 119 ISBN 9004156011 "The Governor-General also requested Chúa Trịnh Căn to deliver no raw silk to the factory.417 in 1686, the bottom dropped out of the Tonkinese raw silk market in Japan because of the change in the regulations on the import and export trade ..."
Vietnamese royalty
Preceded by Trịnh lords
Lord of Tonkin

1682–1709
Succeeded by