Ham Nghi

▪ emperor of Annam

original name  Ung Lich  

born 1870, Hue, Vietnam

died 1947, Algeria

      emperor of Annam (now Vietnam) in 1884–86 who rejected the role of a figurehead in the French colonial regime.

      Ung Lich was a nephew of the emperor Tu Duc, whose death in 1883 led to a disputed succession. After several equally legitimate heirs had been assassinated or deposed, Ung Lich ascended the throne through the intricate intrigues of two mandarin power seekers, the regents Nguyen van Tuong and Ton That Thuyet, who sought to use the young prince to undermine French control. With the consent of France, the 14-year-old Ung Lich was crowned emperor of Annam in 1884, taking the royal name Ham Nghi.

      At the instigation of the regents, the young sovereign headed an insurrection against the French at Hue on July 4, 1885. The revolt failed, and Ham Nghi fled with Ton That Thuyet to Cam Lo, a mountain refuge. The French deposed Ham Nghi and replaced him with the acquiescent Dong Khanh in 1886. Ham Nghi was captured and exiled to Algeria.

* * *