BIOGRAPHY OF EMPEROR BAO DAI
Bao Dai's real name was Nguyen Vinh Thuy, son of Emperor Khai Dinh. There were many doubts about this, because everyone understood that Khai Dinh was a powerless emperor who had no children. Empress Hoang Thi Cuc, Vinh Thuy's birth mother, was originally a maid who became pregnant early and was acknowledged by Emperor Khai Dinh. ..
This mysterious court story has been recorded, with several people in the court chronicling it in their memoirs. However, from the perspective of official history, he was Khai Dinh's son and was cared for by Khai Dinh. His mother was given the title of Tu Cung as we know.
Vinh Thuy was born in 1913, and at the age of 10, he was enthroned as the Crown Prince. After becoming the heir, Vinh Thuy was entrusted to Resident Superior Charles to be educated in France. In 1925, Emperor Khai Dinh passed away, and Crown Prince Vinh Thuy returned to the country. He succeeded his father, adopting the regnal name Bao Dai at the age of 13. After his coronation, Bao Dai returned to France to continue his studies until he completed high school (equivalent to a French baccalaureate). During the king's time abroad, the protectorate council managed all court affairs. Everything else belonged to the French government. The Hue court was merely a puppet apparatus paid by the French colonialists.
In August 1932, Bao Dai, then 19 years old, returned to the country by ship with court officials. On September 10, 1932, Bao Dai issued decree number 1, abdicating the throne. To enhance the image of the Western-educated king, the French colonialists and the Southern court arranged for Emperor Bao Dai to visit provinces throughout the country (in both Northern and Central regions). People in each area were forced to give him an extremely grand welcome. After 10 years of studying in the "Mother Country," Bao Dai returned and issued reform policies that were in reality nothing more than a charade. It began with the abolition of bowing rituals, no longer requiring officials to kneel in the court courtyard. This was not a significant matter, but for the former feudal mandarins, it was a major event!
One gets the feeling that the young emperor was trying to appear different from the old-fashioned people of the past. Next, Bao Dai issued decrees for high-ranking officials who were about to retire. The elders Nguyen Huu Bai (Minister of Justice), Ton That Dan (Minister of Penalties), Pham Lieu (Minister of Military), Vo Liem (Minister of Rites), and Vuong Tu Dai (Minister of Public Works) retired as advisors. Then Bao Dai selected several scholars and reputable officials to form a new government, including:
– Ngo Dinh Diem, Minister of Justice
– Thai Van Toan, Minister of Rites and Arts.
– Ho Dac Khai, Minister of Public Works
– Bui Bang Doan, Minister of Justice
– Pham Quynh, Minister of Education
This cabinet reshuffle was initially intended to generate public opinion but later became meaningless. All major national affairs remained entirely in the hands of the French administration. French troops suppressed all patriotic movements and organizations, such as the Yen Bai uprising, the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement, etc., before Bao Dai returned to the country. The People's Councils in the North and Central regions could not accomplish anything; they also had no contact with the king. Even if Bao Dai wanted to do something, he could not. At times, Bao Dai seemed to have an aversion to the French officials near the king. He quarreled with Resident Thibaudeau, and the soldier was sent back to France. He cursed the French captain who was Bao Dai's officer: "Your name is Good (the captain's French name Bon means good), but you are not good!"
The French also sought to bind Bao Dai through romantic entanglements. His foster parents, Charles, arranged for him to marry Nguyen Thi Lan, the daughter of a wealthy Catholic magnate from the Southern region. The wedding required the intervention of the Holy See, and Lan became Empress Nam Phuong (1934).
It was truly unacceptable for a young man with Bao Dai's abilities to be monitored and coerced in such a way. But Bao Dai lacked the courage and the means to follow in the footsteps of previous anti-French emperors. Having no other choice, Bao Dai squandered his youth on entertainment. He loved to travel and indulged in lavish pursuits (both in Vietnam and France). Bao Dai was extremely infatuated with beautiful women, despite Empress Nam Phuong's utmost efforts to restrain him and prevent him from freely indulging. But Bao Dai took advantage of his free time outside the Imperial Palace to seek fleeting romances in unexpected moments. While vacationing in Da Lat, Bao Dai befriended a French lady. Her jealous husband injured him, forcing him to go to the hospital, where he claimed he fell and broke his leg. Thus, Bao Dai's twenties quickly passed.
In March 1945, Japan overthrew the French, but did not use Bao Dai as a political pawn. This was also when Bao Dai had the opportunity to directly engage with the current situation. Bao Dai dissolved the cabinet headed by Pham Quynh, attempting to invite reputable individuals to work in the new context. With the assistance of a few officials, he issued a decree, declaring that from now on, the country must adhere to the principle: the people are paramount. Bao Dai succeeded in inviting renowned scholars and mandarins of the time to establish a new government, including:
– Tran Trong Kim: Prime Minister
– Tran Van Chuong: Minister of Foreign Affairs
– Luu Van Lang: Minister of Transportation – Vu Ngoc Anh: Minister of Health
– Ho Ta Khanh: Minister of Economy
– Nguyen Huu Thi: Minister of Supply
– Trinh Dinh Thao: Minister of Justice
– Tran Dinh Nam: Minister of Interior
– Hoang Xuan Han: Minister of Education
– Phan Anh: Minister of Youth
– Vu Van Hien: Minister of Finance
It must be acknowledged that the new government brought together various figures who were attracting public attention. In fact, at first, many did not favor Bao Dai because they knew that several revolutionary predecessors (including Huynh Thuc Khang) did not like to cooperate with Bao Dai. And no matter what government it was, they were all puppets of the Japanese fascists.
But at that very moment, the revolutionary movement had grown strong. On August 19, 1945, the people rose up and seized power in Hanoi. The resounding victory of the revolution in Hanoi encouraged localities nationwide to strive for victory.
In Hue, the districts of Thua Thien province also regained power. The puppet government and the feudal puppet court lived to their last moment. On the night of August 23, 1945, the Provisional Revolutionary Government sent a letter requesting Bao Dai's abdication.
On the afternoon of August 30, 1945, before tens of thousands of people attending the rally in front of Ngo Mon, Bao Dai read the abdication edict, handed over the imperial seal and sword to the delegation of the French Government, solemnly declared: "I would rather be a citizen of an independent country than a king of an enslaved nation," and handed over his insignia to become citizen Vinh Thuy. At that time, Bao Dai was 32 years old, having reigned as emperor for 19 years.