210: Au lac wins at Tien Du - Scroll Down for more details


Source: The amazing video by Ollie Bye (History)

Warning: The following content has been generated using LLMs. Please double check any facts presented here because LLMs get things wrong all the time.

The Victory of Âu Lạc at Tien Du (210 BCE) - A Defining Moment in Vietnamese Resistance

The Context: Âu Lạc and the Qin Threat

In the late 3rd century BCE, the region of what is now northern Vietnam was home to the kingdom of Âu Lạc, a union of the Âu Việt (mountain tribes) and Lạc Việt (lowland people) under the legendary king An Dương Vương. This kingdom emerged as a formidable power, fortified by the famous Cổ Loa Citadel, a spiral-shaped fortress near modern-day Hanoi.

Meanwhile, the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BCE) had unified China under Emperor Qin Shi Huang and sought to expand southward into the Baiyue (Bách Việt) territories, including Âu Lạc. The Qin general Zhao Tuo (Triệu Đà) led military campaigns into the region, but the Vietnamese resisted fiercely.

The Battle of Tien Du (210 BCE)

The victory at Tien Du (likely in present-day Bắc Ninh or Bắc Giang Province) was a key moment in the resistance against Qin expansion. Historical records, including the Đại Việt Sử Ký Toàn Thư (Complete Annals of Đại Việt), suggest that An Dương Vương's forces successfully repelled Zhao Tuo's army, securing Âu Lạc's independence—at least temporarily.

Key Factors in the Victory:

  1. Strategic Leadership: An Dương Vương's military tactics and the use of Cổ Loa Citadel as a defensive stronghold played a crucial role.
  2. Guerrilla Warfare: The Âu Lạc forces, familiar with the terrain, likely used ambush tactics against the Qin troops.
  3. Qin Overextension: The Qin Dynasty was already weakened by internal rebellions and the death of Qin Shi Huang (210 BCE), reducing their ability to sustain prolonged campaigns.

Aftermath and Legacy

Despite this victory, Zhao Tuo later established the kingdom of Nanyue (Nam Việt) after the Qin collapsed and eventually conquered Âu Lạc through subterfuge (legend says via a magical crossbow betrayal). However, the Battle of Tien Du remains a symbol of early Vietnamese resistance against foreign domination, celebrated in folklore and historiography.

Note: Detailed records from this period are scarce, blending history with legend. Vietnamese tradition emphasizes An Dương Vương's resilience, while Chinese sources focus on Zhao Tuo's later conquest.

Would you like more details on the legends surrounding this era?


More events