THE EMPEROR’S CITADEL IN ITS HISTORICAL TRAJECTORY: SOURCES AND PERCEPTIONS

Abstract

The Imperial Citadel was located on the former site of the ancient Champa capital of Do Ban and was the central government of Emperor Thai Duc (Nguyen Nhac). Numerous archaeological excavations have been conducted on this site, resulting in various related publications. Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of written historical sources regarding the Imperial City's history, and several aspects require further clarification. This research delves into Han Nom bibliographies pertinent to the Imperial Citadel, and based on that, in conjunction with existing studies, it offers fundamental insights into the citadel's origin, name, perimeter, area, and historical development as well as its geo-political significance and its religious and cultural roles.