Lê Uy Mục (chữ Hán: 黎威穆; 5 May 1488 – 1 December 1509) also called Lê Tuấn (黎濬) was the eighth emperor of the later Lê dynasty of Vietnam. He was ruthless, unpopular, and finally assassinated by his cousin who took the name Lê Tương Dực as the next emperor.[1][2]
He is considered the worst tyrant of Lê dynasty and was called as Evil Emperor (Quỷ vương, 鬼王)
Biography
Childhood
He was born Lê Tuấn (黎濬), the second child of Lê Hiến Tông and Lady Nguyễn Thị Cận. His mother was originally a maid of Consort Nguyễn Kính Phi. She died after giving birth to him and he was adopted by Consort Nguyễn Kính Phi.
Because his mother was a maid, during his childhood he always be looked down by his grandmother, Grand Empress Dowager Trường Lạc hoàng hậu. When Emperor Lê Túc Tông passed away in 1504, Trường Lạc hoàng hậu did not want Lê Tuấn become the successor but another Prince in Royal Family. With a help from Nguyễn Kính Phi and Nguyễn Nhữ Vy, finally he could become the next Emperor of Lê dynasty, Emperor Lê Uy Mục, in 1504.
However he always hated his grandmother, Trường Lạc hoàng hậu because she stated that he will never become a good Emperor with his characteristic and his mother's origin.
Reign
At the first reign year, Lê Uy Mục ordered killers to assist his grandmother, Grand Empress Dowager Trường Lạc hoàng hậu. Trường Lạc hoàng hậu passed away in 1504.
Also, he launched a bloody purge to kill all of the officials serving in the royal court who did not support him to become the Emperor, such as Đàm Văn Lễ, Nguyễn Quang Bật and also one of the supported official Nguyễn Nhữ Vy. He investigated all of the Prince in Royal family and kill anyone who was considered as dangers for his position.
He ordered to kill the Chiem people who serve for court's officials family. He spent almost every night in the palace drinking with beauties, and whenever he got drunk, he kill these ladies.
The power fall into consort kin. People from Nguyễn clan of Nguyễn Kính Phi, Nguyễn clan of Lady Nguyễn Thị Cận and Trần clan of Empress Trần Thị Tùng were saucy but having a lot of power. They made many corruption, riffled poverty of people and also killed a lot of people including court officials and normal people.
During his era, many people became afraid of his despotic rule.
Dethronement
Prince Lê Oanh, after escaped from the bloody purge, together with a group of officials - notably Nguyễn Văn Lang plotted again the despotic ruler. They launched a coup since November, 1509. Emperor Lê Uy Mục knew that, he killed Lê Oanh's parents but still lost in the coup. The Emperor was disposed and requested to suicide. He died on December 1st, 1509 and was buried at the tomb of An lăng.
Family
- Father: Lê Hiến Tông
- Mother: Lady Nguyễn Thị Cận
- Adoptive mother: Nguyễn Kính Phi
- Consort(s) :
- Empress Trần Thị Tùng of Trần clan (威穆皇后陳氏)
- Consort Trần Thị Trúc, younger sister of Empress Trần Thị Tùng
- Royal Consort Lê thị
References
- ^ Bruce M. Lockhart, William J. Duiker -The A to Z of Vietnam 2010- Page 211 "Lê Uy Mục (1488-1509). Seventh emperor (r. 1505-1509) of the Lé dynasty. Lê Uy Mục quickly showed himself to be a ruthless ruler, murdering his grandmother and two of his ministers. His unpopularity led to the popular nickname given to ...He was assassinated by his cousin in 1509, who then seized the throne under the dynastic title of Tương Dực. ... that Vietnam had enjoyed during the 15th century and paved the way for the usurpation of the throne by Mạc Đăng Dung.
- ^ Trần Trọng Kim (2005). Việt Nam sử lược (in Vietnamese). Ho Chi Minh City: Ho Chi Minh City General Publishing House. p. 248.
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