Trịnh Kiểm

Trịnh Kiểm (1503–1570) posthumously titled Thế Tổ Minh Khang Thái Vương (世祖明康太王), was an influential political and military figure of Đại Việt during the Southern and Northern Dynasties period. In name, he served as a supporter of the Revival Lê dynasty emperors, but in reality, he was the actual leader of the Southern Dynasty from 1545 onwards. Though his highest title during his lifetime was Thái Quốc Công (Grand Duke of the State), he is often regarded as the first Chúa (Lord) of the Trịnh family. He established his family as hereditary governors of Vietnam, ruling in the name of the figurehead Later Lê emperors.

Trịnh Kiểm was born into a poor family in Vĩnh Lộc now known as modern day Thanh Hoa. During his youth, he witnessed the Mạc Dynasty usurp the Lê throne, leading him to join Grand Duke Nguyễn Kim who was raising an army and war against the Mạc, supporting Lê Trang Tông as emperor. Recognizing Trịnh Kiểm’s exceptional prowess and strategic abilities, Nguyễn Kim married his daughter, Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Bảo, to him, entrusted him with military command, and promoted him to the title Dực Nghĩa Hầu (Marquis). Trịnh Kiểm achieved numerous victories against the Mạc forces. Which led the Emperor Lê Trang Tông himself trusting him greatly, promoting him to Đại tướng quân (Grand General) with the noble title Dực Quận Công (Grand Duke), in 1539 when he was 37 years old.

After his father-in-law Nguyễn Kim’s death in 1545, Trịnh Kiểm took over leadership of the government and military of the Lê Dynasty until his death, serving under three Lê emperors: Lê Trang Tông, Lê Trung Tông, and Lê Anh Tông. He played a major role in organizing the Southern Dynasty’s government through key decisions such as establishing his headquarters in Vạn Lại, holding civil service examinations in Confucian studies, strengthening the military, recruiting individuals based on talent and merit rather than bureaucrats, repelling Mạc invasions in Thanh Hoa and Nghệ An–, reclaiming Thuận Hóa and Quảng Nam from Mạc control, and launching major northern campaigns. Although he did not achieve a decisive victory over the Mạc in his lifetime, Trịnh Kiểm laid the foundation for his descendants to complete the restoration of the Lê Dynasty, reclaim Đông Kinh (modern-day Hanoi), and establish the long-lasting Lê-Trịnh era in Vietnamese medieval history. Although he was the de facto ruler of Vietnam, he never assumed a higher position for himself. When he died, his son Trịnh Tùng declared himself a lord and conferred this title posthumously upon his dead father.