Tran Cao
Encyclopedia
Trần Cảo was a later 16th century Vietnamese rebel leader. Cao born in Dưỡng Chân, Thuỷ Đường (present day Thuỷ Nguyên
, Hải Phòng).
of Trần Dynasty and related with mother of Trần Thánh Tông
, empress Quang Thục.
") and recruited fighters at Quynh Lam Pagoda in Đông Triều, a religious site reputed to have miraculous powers. After shaving their heads, he marched them unopposed, ten thousand strong, through the Kinh Bac districts of Que Duong and Tiên Du down to the plains of Gia Lam
to Tu Liem
in Sơn Tây Province. In May 1516, Cao's force captured Thăng Long
and forced emperor Lê Chiêu Tông
flee to Tay Do
. Thereafter, the Lê loyalist attacked and recaptured Thăng Long and made Cao retreat back to his Hai Duong-Kinh Bac border stronghold. Then, a long war was resulted between the Le loyalist and the Cao's rebels.
Before 1525, the year of Tran Cao rebellion's ultimate defeat, Cao unexpectedly gave his commanding post to his son, Tran Cung (or Tran Thang), and then became a monk. From this point on, no further information was recorded about Tran Cao.
Thuy Nguyen
Thủy Nguyên is a rural district of Hai Phong, the third largest city of Vietnam.It is told as one of the fastest developing districts in Hai Phong and in the north Vietnam as well...
, Hải Phòng).
Early life
Details of Cao's early life are unknown except that he was a low-ranking mandarin of Lê Dynasty and he claimed himself the descendant of emperor Trần Thái TôngTrần Thái Tông
Trần Thái Tông, born name: Trần Cảnh , July 17, 1218-May 4, 1277) was the first emperor of the Trần Dynasty, seated on the throne for 33 years , being Grand Emperor for 19 years.-Biography:...
of Trần Dynasty and related with mother of Trần Thánh Tông
Tran Thanh Tong
Trần Thánh Tông , given name Trần Hoảng , was the second emperor of the Trần Dynasty, reigning over Đại Việt from 1258 to 1278. After ceding the throne to his son Trần Nhân Tông, Thánh Tông held the title Thái thượng hoàng from 1279 to his death in 1290...
, empress Quang Thục.
Rebellion
In March 1516, Cao proclaimed himself "Đế Thích giáng trần" ("incarnation of ŚakraSakra
Śakra or Sakka is the ruler of the Heaven according to Buddhist cosmology. His full title is |deva]]s". In Buddhist texts, Śakra is the proper name and not an epithet of this deity; conversely, Indra in Sanskrit and Inda in Pali are sometimes used as an epithet for Śakra as "lord".In East...
") and recruited fighters at Quynh Lam Pagoda in Đông Triều, a religious site reputed to have miraculous powers. After shaving their heads, he marched them unopposed, ten thousand strong, through the Kinh Bac districts of Que Duong and Tiên Du down to the plains of Gia Lam
Gia Lam
Gia Lâm is a district of Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam. Gia Lam Airport is located in the district. At one time Vietnam Airlines's headquarters were on the airport property....
to Tu Liem
Tu Liem
Từ Liêm is a rural district of Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam....
in Sơn Tây Province. In May 1516, Cao's force captured Thăng Long
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
and forced emperor Lê Chiêu Tông
Lê Chiêu Tông
Lê Chiêu Tông was a king of the Lê Dynasty of Vietnam who ruled from 1516 to 1526. He was the son of Lê Sùng and nephew of the preceding king Lê Tuong Duc. As Lê Tuong Duc was assassinated in 1516, the young Lê Chieu Tông was put on the throne...
flee to Tay Do
Thanh Hóa
Thanh Hóa is the capital city of Vietnam's Thanh Hoa province. The population is nearly 200,000 with an area of only 57.9 square kilometers....
. Thereafter, the Lê loyalist attacked and recaptured Thăng Long and made Cao retreat back to his Hai Duong-Kinh Bac border stronghold. Then, a long war was resulted between the Le loyalist and the Cao's rebels.
Before 1525, the year of Tran Cao rebellion's ultimate defeat, Cao unexpectedly gave his commanding post to his son, Tran Cung (or Tran Thang), and then became a monk. From this point on, no further information was recorded about Tran Cao.