Origins & Early Life

Bảo Đại (Vietnamese: [ɓâw ɗâjˀ], chữ Hán: 保大, lit. "keeper of greatness", 22 October 1913 – 31 July 1997), born Nguyễn Phúc Vĩnh Thụy (chữ Hán: 阮福永瑞), was the 13th and final emperor of the Nguyễn dynasty, the last ruling dynasty of Vietnam. From 1926 to 1945, he was de jure emperor of Đại Nam, which consisted of the French protectorates of Annam and Tonkin within French Indochina, covering the present-day central and northern Vietnam. Bảo Đại ascended the throne in 1932.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The Japanese ousted the Vichy French administration in March 1945 and kept Bảo Đại as emperor, under whose authority the Empire of Vietnam was proclaimed. He abdicated in August 1945 after Japan surrendered. From 1949 to 1955, Bảo Đại was the chief of state of the anti-communist State of Vietnam. He was criticized for being too closely associated with France and spending much of his time outside Vietnam. He was eventually ousted in a referendum in 1955 by Prime Minister Ngô Đình Diệm, who was later supported by the United States.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Bảo Đại was born as Nguyễn Phúc Vĩnh Thụy (阮福永瑞) on 22 October 1913 with the childhood name Mệ Vững. He was the only child of Emperor Khải Định and his concubine Hoàng Thị...

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