Crown Prince Nguyễn Phúc Vĩnh Thuỵ ascends the throne, the last monarch of Vietnam.

Bảo Đại, born Nguyễn Phúc Vĩnh Thụy (22 October 1913 – 30 July 1997), was a pivotal figure in 20th-century Vietnamese history. His reign name, Bảo Đại (Vietnamese: [ɓa᷉ːw ɗâːjˀ], Hán tự: 保大), translates powerfully to "keeper of greatness," a title that belied the tumultuous period he presided over. He held the distinction of being the 13th and final emperor of the Nguyễn dynasty, which had been the last ruling imperial family of Vietnam, marking the end of over a thousand years of monarchical rule in the nation.

Bảo Đại's formal reign as emperor spanned from 1926 to 1945. During this period, he was officially the emperor of Annam, encompassing present-day central Vietnam, and the de jure monarch of Tonkin, covering northern Vietnam. Both regions were then protectorates within French Indochina, meaning that while he held the imperial title, actual power was largely exercised by the French colonial administration. Bảo Đại himself formally ascended the throne and assumed active rule in 1932, following a period of regency. His early efforts to modernize the administration and introduce reforms were largely hampered by French oversight, which consistently limited his effective authority.

From Emperor to Chief of State: A Shifting Political Landscape

The global upheaval of World War II significantly impacted Vietnam and Bảo Đại's position. In March 1945, as the war in the Pacific intensified, Imperial Japan, seeking to secure its strategic interests and undermine European colonial powers, ousted the Vichy French administration that had been governing Indochina. Following this swift takeover, Japan ruled indirectly through Bảo Đại, who, under Japanese influence, dramatically renamed his country "Vietnam." This name change was significant as it unified the historical regions of Annam, Tonkin, and Cochinchina (southern Vietnam, previously a French colony rather than a protectorate) under a single national identity, a move that resonated with Vietnamese nationalist aspirations.

However, this period of nominal independence under Japanese tutelage was short-lived. When Japan surrendered to the Allied forces in August 1945, an event that marked the end of World War II, Bảo Đại's imperial authority rapidly collapsed. Seizing the opportunity created by the power vacuum, the Việt Minh, a nationalist and communist liberation movement led by Hồ Chí Minh, launched the August Revolution. Facing overwhelming popular support for the Việt Minh and recognizing the inevitable end of the monarchy, Bảo Đại abdicated on August 25, 1945. In a symbolic act of transitioning power, he handed over the imperial seal and sword to Việt Minh representatives, famously declaring, "I would rather be a citizen of a free country than the emperor of an enslaved one."

Despite his abdication, Bảo Đại's political career was not over. From 1949 to 1955, in the midst of the First Indochina War (1946-1954) between France and the Việt Minh, he returned to prominence as the chief of state of the non-communist State of Vietnam. This state was established by France as an alternative to Hồ Chí Minh's Democratic Republic of Vietnam, aimed at garnering international support and providing a viable non-communist government. While this role placed him at the head of a fledgling national government, Bảo Đại was frequently viewed by both his detractors and many Vietnamese citizens as a "puppet ruler."

Criticisms against Bảo Đại during this period were widespread and multifaceted:

Ultimately, Bảo Đại's leadership of the State of Vietnam came to an end in 1955. Following the 1954 Geneva Accords, which temporarily divided Vietnam, the future of the southern half was put to a national referendum on October 23, 1955. This referendum, organized by Prime Minister Ngô Đình Diệm, asked voters to choose between Diệm's republic and Bảo Đại's monarchy. Backed by strong support from the United States, which saw Diệm as a staunch anti-communist ally in the burgeoning Cold War, Ngô Đình Diệm decisively won the controversial referendum. The outcome led to the abolition of the monarchy, the ousting of Bảo Đại, and the establishment of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) with Ngô Đình Diệm as its first president.

Bảo Đại's Later Life and Legacy

After his ouster, Bảo Đại spent the remainder of his life primarily in exile in France. He passed away in Paris in 1997. His legacy remains complex and often debated. He is remembered as the last link to Vietnam's imperial past, a figure caught between the decline of monarchy, the forces of colonialism, and the rise of nationalism and communism.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bảo Đại

Who was Bảo Đại?
Bảo Đại was the 13th and final emperor of the Nguyễn dynasty and the last monarch of Vietnam, reigning from 1926 to 1945 as emperor and later serving as Chief of State for the non-communist State of Vietnam from 1949 to 1955.
What was the significance of his name "Bảo Đại"?
His reign name, Bảo Đại (保大), translates to "keeper of greatness," a traditional Vietnamese imperial title that conveyed aspirations for a strong and prosperous reign.
When did Bảo Đại abdicate, and why?
Bảo Đại abdicated in August 1945 following Japan's surrender in World War II and the successful August Revolution led by the Việt Minh. He relinquished his imperial power to embrace the concept of being a citizen of an independent Vietnam, recognizing the overwhelming popular support for the nationalist movement.
What was the State of Vietnam (1949-1955), and what was Bảo Đại's role in it?
The State of Vietnam was a non-communist government established by France in 1949 during the First Indochina War as an alternative to the Việt Minh. Bảo Đại served as its Chief of State, a figurehead leader intended to represent Vietnamese sovereignty, though his actual power was limited by French influence.
How was Bảo Đại removed from power in 1955?
Bảo Đại was ousted through a national referendum held in October 1955. The referendum, orchestrated by Prime Minister Ngô Đình Diệm with significant U.S. support, abolished the monarchy and led to the establishment of the Republic of Vietnam, with Diệm becoming its first president.