MARITIME PATROL AND CONTROL POLICIES IN THE SOUTHERN SEAS OF THE NGUYEN DYNASTY DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY

Abstract

In the first half of the 19th century, the Nguyen Dynasty established a system for patrolling and overseeing the southern seas to address piracy, the complex navigation of merchant vessels, and the threat of foreign intrusion. Drawing from the edicts and directives for troop mobilization, along with the coastal mapping documented in Dai Nam Thuc Luc, Kham Dinh Dai Nam Hoi Dien Su Le..., this article highlights a series of relatively consistent maritime patrol and control policies enacted by the Nguyen Dynasty during this period. Indeed, this patrol and control initiative has evolved into a mechanism for upholding coastal order, managing the dynamics between the royal court and the local populace, and asserting national sovereignty.