The first great nationalist to fight for independence from France, and the spiritual father of all later revolutionary movements was the compassionate and courageous Emperor Ham Nghi. He was the son of Prince Kien Thai Vuong, 26th brother of HIM Emperor Tu Duc and the brother of Emperors Kien Phuc, Dong Khanh, and Khai Dinh. Although he was an imperial prince, his early life was spent in very humble surroundings. His mother was a common citizen and he grew up without any luxury or lavishness. At the age of fourteen, in 1884, he was taken to the Imperial City and enthroned as Emperor of Viet Nam. He had not had a classical education but proved to everyone that, in spite of his youth, he had a firm grasp of the political situation and the character needed for national leadership.
Emperor Ham Nghi could see from the start that Vietnam was not being ruled by the Vietnamese but rather by their French colonial "protectors". He became determined to free his people from foreign rule and restore the old greatness and splendor of the independent Empire of Viet Nam. Guns were moved into the Forbidden City and aimed at the French military headquarters in a clear sign of defiance against the colonial authorities. The French became worried that Emperor Ham Nghi and the supporters of the Nguyen Dynasty were planning a revolution and they increased their military patrols. Despite the increased danger of war, Emperor Ham Nghi continued to speak out against the presence of foreign troops in Vietnam and the need for true Vietnamese independence.
At last, on July 4, 1885 Emperor Ham Nghi, two of the Nguyen Queens and leading officials of the imperial court left the Forbidden City and moved to the jungles and mountains to carry out a war of liberation against the French from their hidden base. Emperor Ham Nghi issued the famous Can Vuong or Save the King Edict in which he took full responsibility for the country as Emperor and called on his people to rally around him and drive the foreign troops from Vietnamese soil. From all accross the country faithful and patriotic Vietnamese answered the call of the Emperor. All levels of society, from humble farmers to renowned scholars all rushed to defend Emperor Ham Nghi and fight for the liberation of Vietnam.
Despite being at a disadvantage against the powerful and modern French army, the heroic followers of Emperor Ham Nghi fought on continuously. His troops lacked supplies, modern weapons, ammunition and supplies of every kind, but under such skillfull generals as the legendary scholar Phan Dinh Phung, they won many victories against the French. However, in 1888 the French bribed some local officials to betray Emperor Ham Nghi and captured him after killing his noble guard. Even after such a long and hard struggle, and the betrayal of his fellow plotters, Emperor Ham Nghi refused to cooperate with his captors and would not betray his loyal followers who had fought with him, knowing that the struggle would go on long after he was gone. At the young age of eighteen Emperor Ham Nghi was exiled by the French to North Africa where he would be forced to stay for the rest of his life.
Without the moral leadership and symbolic figure of Emperor Ham Nghi the Can Vuong Movement eventually collapsed. However, the name and heroic legacy of the Emperor would live on in the hearts of patriotic Vietnamese for many years to come. The Emperor's goal of a free Vietnam, and his great courage toward that goal inspired all of the other great patriotic movements which followed in the years to come, most notably that of the legendary Phan Boi Chau, all of them working together toward independence and liberty for the Empire of Viet Nam. Today, the dream of Emperor Ham Nghi remains as the dream for all loyal Vietnamese, and his example continues to serve as an inspiration to all patriotic Vietnamese around the world. |
