ON THE “AID THE KING” MOVEMENT IN COCHINCHINA RESPONDING TO THE SUMMONS OF KING TU DUC (1859-1866)

Abstract

The article outlines a few features of the resistance movement of Cochinchina troops and people in the early days of the French colonialists' invasion in Vietnam. From the imperial army to the self-organized militias, they have bravely fought against the enemy to protect the citadel and protect the homeland. When the French occupied Gia Dinh citadel and 3 Eastern provinces, then six Cochinchina provinces, the Cochinchina army and people still did not submit, continuing to conduct uprisings that made it difficult for the French army’s invasion. There are many opinions that after the treaty of Nham Tuat (1862), King Tu Duc has switched to the side of peace faction and abandoned the resistance movement of the people. However, from many research sources, we realized that: although he signed the treaty and lost 3 provinces in the Southeast to France, King Tu Duc still implemented the double-sided policy, on one side ordered a military abolition (at the request of the Treaty), on the other side still silently encouraged and supported the uprisings against the French in Cochinchina until 1866.