The Insurrection of Le Thanh Phuong in Phu Yen (1885-1887)

Abstract

In response to Chieu Can Vuong (Loyalty to the King Edict) of King Ham Nghi in 1885, an anti-French colonialism movement broke out throughout the country. In Phu Yen, on 15 August, armed troops, responding to the appeals of the King Ham Nghi, joined under the command of Le Thanh Phuong and conducted a flag-worshipping ceremony at the Mot Mountain, Tan An village, Xuan Vinh prefecture. The insurgent army proclaimed "Hich Chieu quan" (Recruitment Proclamation), marking the beginning of a resistant movement against the French colonial authority and its agents.

Despite its failure, some remarks can be drawn from this movement. First, the Le Thanh Phuong insurrection was part of the Can Vuong movements, the Le Thanh Phuong led the revolt. Second, in comparison with the other Can Vuong movements, the Le Thanh Phuong's insurrection moved earlier towards a unified movement. Third, a prominent feature of this revolt was its links with the other movements in Khanh Hoa and Binh Thuan provinces in order to overthrow the lackey administration and oppose the scheme of merging the South Pole of Annam into the direct ruled area of Cochinchina. Fourth, the Le Thanh Phuong insurrection shows its deep humaneness.