Gia Long

ModernEmperorVietnam1762 — 1820

Founder of the Nguyen dynasty, unified Vietnam.

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Quick Facts

Born

1762

Died

1820

Country

Vietnam

Era

Modern

Occupation

Emperor

Score Overview

Military (10%)78

Political (20%)70

Influence (20%)61

Legacy (20%)54

Leadership (15%)78

Strategy (15%)66

Total Score65.4

Gia Long — Complete Timeline

1787 AD

Treaty of Versailles with FrancePolitical Action◆ Major

Nguyen Anh signed the Treaty of Versailles with King Louis XVI, securing French military and financial support in exchange for trade concessions and the cession of Da Nang and Poulo Condore. This treaty marked the beginning of French involvement in Vietnam.

French ColonialismTreatyNguyen Dynasty

Impact: regional

1788 AD

Capture of SaigonWar◆ Major

Nguyen Anh (later Gia Long) captured Saigon from the Tay Son forces with the help of French military advisors. This victory established his base of power in the Mekong Delta region.

Tay Son WarNguyen DynastyFrench Support

Impact: regional

1801 AD

Battle of Thien MuWar◆ Major

Nguyen Anh's forces, supported by French-built ships and artillery, defeated the Tay Son navy at Thien Mu. This naval victory allowed him to capture Hue, the Tay Son capital.

Tay Son WarNaval BattleFrench Support

Impact: national

1802 AD

Founding of the Nguyen DynastyPolitical Action

Nguyen Anh ascended the throne as Emperor Gia Long, founding the Nguyen dynasty. He unified Vietnam from the Red River Delta to the Mekong Delta, establishing the country's modern borders.

Nguyen DynastyUnificationVietnamese History

Impact: regionalconstructive

1804 AD

Construction of the Hue CitadelCultural◆ Major

Emperor Gia Long ordered the construction of the Hue Citadel, a massive fortified palace complex modeled on the Forbidden City in Beijing. The citadel served as the imperial capital of the Nguyen dynasty until 1945.

ArchitectureHueImperial Capital

Impact: nationalconstructive