Bảo Đại (francized orthography: Bao Daï) (of the Vietnamese : 保大帝 in old characters) is the name of establishment of prince Nguyễn Phúc Vĩnh Thụy, only sons of the emperor Khải Định (啟定帝). It was born the October 22nd 1913 with the palate Doan Trang Vien from Huế and died the July 31st 1997 with the military hospital of the Valley-of-Grace to Paris. It was 13th and last sovereign of the dynasty of Nguyễn and the last emperor of the Việt Nam. It would seem that the emperor Duy Tân détrôné and exiled in 1916 is the last emperor, since it abdicated forever.
Biography
Childhood and youth
A persistent rumor wants that it was in fact the son of an uncle and friend of Khải Định, which suffers from impotence. It is however designated as heir to the throne on March 10th, 1922 then invested for this reason on May 15th of the same year to the palate Cần Chánh de Huế. The emperor Khải Định dies on November 6th, 1925. Prince Vĩnh Thụy succeeds to him. He is established under the name of Bảo Đại the January 8th 1926, at the 12 years age.
He does not assume however immediately the capacity which is entrusted to a regent, Your Thất Hân, supported by the French administration. He leaves to Paris to make his studies: he attends the Cours Hattemer, the Lycée Condorcet then the Private school of political sciences - the whole under the direction of the former resident higher than Huế. He lives his own private mansion avenue of Lamballe, in the XVI {{E}} district. New fact for a Vietnamese emperor, it practices many sports: tennis, golf, ski. Become adult, it carries out an idle rich person life.
The come to power 1932-1940
Not very inclined to give up its way of life for political responsibilities, it returns in Việt Nam only in September 1932, pressed by the French government. Animated of a reforming spirit, it shows its will of change as of on September 10th, at the time of the ceremony of homage of the senior officials, while speaking French. Moreover, it removes traditional prostration, face against ground. He even thinks of transferring the capital from Huế of Hanoï. He announces his intention to only control. All these measurements are encouraged by the French government, which sees in Bảo Đại a rampart against the nationalist aspirations and which reserves a right to veto on any imperial decision. Initially, Bảo Đại is active: it makes promulgate new penal codes and civil, reform teaching and attacks even the system of the Mandarinat by reducing it. The French colonial capacity judges careful then to associate a preserving minister to him, Ngô Đình Diệm Cependant, it is found again only because Ngô Dinh Diêm appearing nationalist loses its station under the French pressure.
In 1934, Bảo Đại announces its intention to marry Marie-Therese Nguyễn Hữu Thị Lan, a young catholic of the South, high it also in France, which takes the dynastic name of Nam Phương. This union is badly seen aristocracy Vietnamese like people, which reproaches to the monarch his choice of a catholic wife and the monogamy that this religion imposes, the polygamous marriage remaining a powerful instrument of imperial favor. Moreover, the pope Pie XII refuses with the family of promised in marriage canonical exemption for the marriage, requiring an engagement written so that the future children are high in the catholic faith. The press hastens to choke the pontifical refusal but the Osservatore Romano is formal. Finally, the marriage takes place in secrecy almost. Bảo Đại is committed not to have of another official wife and not giving rise to potential heirs except marriage. When the prince Long Bảo is born two years later, it receives a Buddhist official teaching, but also, in secrecy, catholic. March 7th, 1939, the prince is officially established heir to Bảo Đại . This same year, Bảo Đại accomplishes a great voyage in France.
The Second world war
In September 1940, the Japan made pass its armed forces through all French Indo-China, according to the agreement made with the French State of Vichy. France then does not have the means of resisting and the admiral Decoux, appointed general governor by the Vichy government, must accept the presence of Japan in Annam. Bảo Đại supports the Pétain marshal and forsakes his political responsibilities more and more, taking refuge in hunting. March 9th, 1945, Japan makes a takeover by force in all French Indo-China seizes the power of the hands of the French colonial administration. The end of protectorate and the state of siege are proclaimed. March 11th, Bảo Đại reads out an act of independence of Annam and Tonkin. August 14th, he announces the annexation of Cochinchine, French colony, with his kingdom, thus reunifying Việt Nam.
As of the 15, however, Japan, touched by the nuclear bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, announces its intention to capitulate. Bảo Đại is not protected any more by the Japanese: the 17, the Việt Minh throws to bottom the imperial colors and 19, the revolutionary government is proclaimed in the palate of the general resident. The August 25th 1945, Bảo Đại is constrained to abdicate. In the act of abdication, it indicates: “better is worth being citizen of an independent country than to be a king of a country slave. ”
Initially, the government directed by Hồ Chí Minh asks him to settle in Hanoï like “advising supreme”, under the simple name of “citizen Vĩnh Thụy”, nomination ratified on November 10th. Fearing for its life, Bảo Đại often sleeps in requisitioned residences. Deprived of the resources of the empire of Annam by its abdication, he also discovers poverty. In December, the French unload to restore their colonial capacity. Bảo Đại , become their enemy, must be hidden by Việt Minh. In January 1946, he is even elected appointed Việt Minh of the district of Thanh Hoá.
The war of Indo-China
Gradually, the name of Bảo Đại is found on the front of the scene: the opposition parties in Việt Minh readily see it as chief of a government of national union. To move away it, Hồ Chí Minh sends it in China in a “friendly delegation”. Its influence on the life Vietnamese decrease then quickly. In April 1946, Bảo Đại gains Hong-Kong. However, France joins again the contact with him and pays its expenditure, in the hope to see it going up on the throne. Bảo Đại does not engage before September 1947, date on which he declares himself ready to go up on the throne vis-a-vis the communist exactions. However, it does not return immediately in Việt Nam, preferring to travel initially to Great Britain then to France and finally to Switzerland, where the government negotiates with him its return to the capacity.
In parallel, the “citizen Vĩnh Thụy” is regarded since 1948 as a traitor with his country by the Communists. In March 1949, the military tribunal of the 3rd interzone militire communist met in scene its lawsuit, an actor being charged to incarnate the ex-emperor. Bảo Đại is acccusé of high treason and is condemned to death.
In 1949, Bảo Đại lands with Đà Lạt to proclaim the State of Việt Nam, anti communist. It is alone, the imperial family having left Việt Nam for Cannes since many months. At once with the capacity, he endeavors to make respect with the letter the Auriol agreements, envisaging transfers of sovereignty of France towards Việt Nam unified. In 1951, it founds the festival of the “mixed grounds”, supposed exhalter all the ethnic components of Việt Nam. Supported by Lattre de Tassigny Cdt as a French chief in Far East, it tears off in France the acceptance of a national army including/understanding marine and aviation, and negotiates with the Thailand or Formosa. However, the army will remain under French command.
The exile in France
In 1954, Bảo Đại on a journey to Paris is surprised by the advertisement of the fall of Ðiện Biên Phủ. During the negotiations of Geneva which follow, it does not have any weight. Việt Nam is cut into two along the 17th parallel. The Southern zone receives for Prime Minister Ngô Đình Diệm. Bảo Đại relieves it with the reason which it is too close to the Americans. It puts also ahead the need for being reconciled with Việt Minh. Diệm refuses and proposes a referendum to make it possible to the people to choose between them. At the time of a faked referendum, 98,1% of the voices recognize Diệm as Head of the State of Việt Nam and ask for the deposition of Bảo Đại . The goods of this last are seized.
Remained in Cannes, Bảo Đại reduces its way of life before moving in Alsace. It binds friendship with the count Louis de Maigret and Jean de Beaumont, former deputy of Cochinchine and he also large amateur of hunting. Supervised by the tax department, having lost French subsidies, it must sell its goods little by little. In 1963, his wife Nam Phương, who had settled in Corrèze with her children, finds death.
In February 1972, he marries Monique Baudot, young Lorraine, which takes the title of “Monique princess”. He accomplishes some voyages abroad where he is expressed in front of the diaspora Vietnamese. In 1988, it receives the Baptême under the Christian first name of Jean-Robert. July 31st, 1997, he dies of a brain tumor at the hospital of the Valley-of-Grace. With her funeral, Vietnam Communist sends a crown of flowers… It is buried with the Cimetière of Passy.
It is significant personal attitude of the ex-emperor whom it never had no word against those which were its adversaries: Ho Chi Minh and Ngô Dinh Diêm.
It leaves a heir for the house Nguyễn, the prince Nguyễn Phúc Bảo Long.
Work
Bảo Đại told its life in memories entitled the Dragon of Annam (1989). He also collaborated in the drafting of a book on Huế, Huê, the prohibited city .
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