The geopolitics - military factors of Chau Doc within the defense strategy on the southwestern border of The Nguyen dynasty period 1802 – 1867

AGU International Journal of Sciences – 2019, Vol. 7 (1), 35 – 41<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> THE GEOPOLITICS - MILITARY FACTORS OF CHAU DOC WITHIN THE DEFENSE<br /> STRATEGY ON THE SOUTHWESTERN BORDER OF THE NGUYEN DYNASTY<br /> PERIOD 1802 – 1867<br /> <br /> Duong The Hien1<br /> 1<br /> An Giang University, VNU - HCM<br /> <br /> Information: ABSTRACT<br /> Received: 24/07/2019<br /> After the Nguyen Dynasty was established (1802), the issue of protecting the<br /> Accepted: 24/07/2019<br /> Southwestern border became the focus of this dynasty's defensive policy<br /> Published: 11/2019<br /> under the invading conspiracy of Chenla and Siam. With a geopolitical and<br /> Keywords: military position, connecting many important defensive positions of<br /> Nguyen Dynasty, Chau Doc, Southern Vietnam, Chau Doc was quickly chosen by the Nguyen Dynasty to<br /> geopolitics, military, become the center of defense in the strategy to protect the Southwestern<br /> Southwestern border border. The Nguyen Dynasty made efforts to build Chau Doc as a military<br /> and administrative center, and the most important traffic location and<br /> military transshipment on the Southwestern border line. All of the above<br /> affirmed the important role and strategic significance of the land of Chau<br /> Doc in the cause of protecting the Southwestern border of the country.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> 1. INTRODUCTION the Vietnamese people living on the An Giang<br /> Chau Doc has been merged officially on Dai border. In that system, Chau Doc emerged as a<br /> Viet since 1757 when the monarch of Chenla special location in geopolitical – military<br /> (ancient Cambodia) was Outey II (1739 - 1777) perspective within the defense strategy in the<br /> (the other name is Ang Ton or Nak Ong Ton) Southwestern border of the Nguyen Dynasty.<br /> consecrated Tam Phong Long area to Nguyen On more difficult and complex land, the<br /> Lords. This is the first land of An Giang Nguyen Dynasty has shown a positive point<br /> province that holds a very important position in with defense policy accurately and firmly. The<br /> the defensive strategy. King Gia Long said Nguyen Dynasty had continuously developed<br /> “Chau Doc, Ha Tien confines is no less the military buildings, stationed since the<br /> important than Bac Thanh” (National History of Nguyen Lords and the civil war with Tay Son<br /> Nguyen Dynasty [NHOND], 2007a), and in Army in the land of An Giang to underpin<br /> 1833, King Minh Mang continued to identify: defense strategy, with the great role of Chau<br /> “An Giang province (including Chau Doc) was Doc Tan Cuong(1) area.<br /> very important land” and noted that: “Soldiers In the Southwestern border defense policy, in<br /> must build strongholds to protect the border” order to stand against the conspiracy invasive of<br /> (NHOND, 2007b). All of the above had set Chenla (Cambodia) and Siam (Thailand), the<br /> urgent requirements for the national defense of Nguyen Dynasty had created a defensive line<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> 35<br /> AGU International Journal of Sciences – 2019, Vol. 7 (1), 35 – 41<br /> <br /> stretching from Tay Ninh to Ha Tien. In that Chau Doc, Tan Chau, Hung Ngu, Thong Binh<br /> line of defense, Chau Doc was the most (NHOND, 2007d) and Tay Ninh (Duong The<br /> important defensive center with an ability to Hien, 2014). Therein, the An Giang - Ha Tien<br /> determine victory or defeat in the Patriotic war region was specially focused to establish a<br /> of Vietnamese people against foreign invaders defensive system with five military centers: Tan<br /> during the period 1802 – 1867. Chau, Chau Doc, That Son, Ha Tien and Rach<br /> 2. CONTENTS Gia. These centers have a close relationship<br /> with each other. The strongholds immediately<br /> 2.1 Chau Doc - gateway to connect many<br /> in front of the border are backed largely from a<br /> political and military factors in the<br /> stronghold system behind.<br /> Southwestern border<br /> From the defensive center in Chau Doc,<br /> Chau Doc was a special strategic location in the<br /> crossing Vinh An canal, it would connect and<br /> context of the Nguyen Dynasty. This is the<br /> closely link with the stronghold system along<br /> heartland of the defensive system on the<br /> the Tien river including: Tan Chau (National<br /> southwest border of the Nguyen Dynasty. King<br /> History of Nguyen Dynasty [NHOND], 2006),<br /> Minh Mang had enacted to remind Nguyen Van<br /> Hung Ngu, Tien An, Nhan Hoi (NHOND,<br /> Thoai when he decided that defense at here<br /> 2006), Vinh Thanh, An Lac (NHOND, 2007a),<br /> “Chau Doc was crucial, and that you (Nguyen<br /> Thu Chien Sai(2) (NHOND, 2007b), Sa Dec<br /> Van Thoai) must be very skillful in all cases,<br /> (NHOND, 2006). These centres were arranged<br /> reassure and console local people. Firstly, you<br /> as defensive forces to keep security and support<br /> must recruit traders, build villages, make men<br /> each other if there were wars. On the other<br /> and households increasingly, the farmland was<br /> hand, they were also able to support other<br /> further exploited. Secondly, the border issues<br /> provinces quickly such as Vinh Long, Dinh<br /> must be carefully planned.” (Son Nam, 2004, p.<br /> Tuong and Gia Dinh.<br /> 83). As an important border area, Chau Doc<br /> became a political and defensive center linked On the Hau river route, Chau Doc connected<br /> closely with other centers by both the closely with the stronghold system including:<br /> waterways and roads. This was a geopolitical - Binh Di, Binh Thien (NHOND, 2007a), Da<br /> military factor that was not everywhere else in Phuc (Cabinet of Nguyen Dynasty [COND],<br /> southern Vietnam. 1993a), Tran Di, Tran Giang, Mi Thanh, Dong<br /> Xuyen, Thuan Tan, Nang Gu, Can Thang, Chau<br /> With north-south and east-west waterway<br /> Giang, (NHOND, 2006) Con Muon, Tai Suat,<br /> systems across Southern Vietnam, the Nguyen<br /> An Chau, Cuong Thang, Cuong Thanh, Cuong<br /> army could to all of the important defensive<br /> Uy (COND, 1993b).<br /> center from its Chau Doc headquarters. Internal<br /> waterway elements made the connectivity and On the Vinh Te canal route, the Nguyen<br /> command role of Chau Doc all the more Dynasty had set an important defensive system<br /> obvious. Chau Doc was the only and shortest stretching from Chau Doc to Ha Tien including:<br /> place from which to communicate, support Vinh Nguon, Vinh Te (NHOND, 2007c), Vinh<br /> defenses and attack in two dimensions with the Gia (COND, 1993b), Vinh Dieu, Nhon Hoi<br /> base defense in the Southwestern border area. (NHOND, 2006), Tien An, Giang Nong<br /> (COND, 1993a).<br /> During the Nguyen Dynasty, the defense policy<br /> in the Southwestern border area was set up with In addition, Thoai Ha canal is also a waterway<br /> a stronghold system from Ha Tien to That Son, route to support Chau Doc actively for<br /> communications, operationsof troops and<br /> <br /> <br /> 36<br /> AGU International Journal of Sciences – 2019, Vol. 7 (1), 35 – 41<br /> <br /> internal political stability. Thoai Ha canal 3.56km long, 2.3m high, 6m wide, a 12m<br /> (1818) and Vinh Te canal (1819-1824) were footway. It required 4,400 people, working for<br /> built and created a defensive strategic seven months (NHOND, 2007c; Le Thanh<br /> quadrangle that included: Chau Doc – Ha Tien Khoi, 2000; United Nations, 1996). This project<br /> – Rach Gia – Dong Xuyen, and the majestic was both a traffic route and a high levee to<br /> That Son mountains, where “strike hard, defend enable travel in the flood season. Besides, it<br /> easily” formed a defensive system in which also served effectively for people’s lives and<br /> “mountains and rivers were integratedd” very served as a defensive work of the Nguyen<br /> solidly. All of above created a defensive shield Dynasty.<br /> in the Southwest border of the country in which After “Tan lo kieu luong” was built, the<br /> Chau Doc was a command center for the Nguyen Dynasty continuously mobilized<br /> defensive system not only in the ancient An human resources to build some other traffic<br /> Giang province but also in the Southwest routes, both dykes and roads, by the army and<br /> border. the people. It had connected Chau Doc with<br /> In contrast to the North, to expand the border of other constructions to strengthen national<br /> Vietnam in the Nguyen Dynasty, from Chau defense and economic development. Dai Nam<br /> Doc to Chenla along the Mekong river lines, the nhat thong chi noted that besides this levee<br /> Nguyen Army established a defensive system there were also 3 other levees:<br /> by a group of strongholds including Tran Tay(3) A road was the old levee started from the<br /> (NHOND, 2007a), Thi Dam, Vinh Bich, Tam big road to the road which was built by<br /> Bon, Ba Nam, Thiet Thang (NHOND, 2007d) Nguyen Van Thoai in the past with a mile(4)<br /> as outposts to prevent enemies from outside the and one hundred thirty two meters of length,<br /> borders.. five point eight meters of height, its surface<br /> On the road route, although An Giang province was four meters of width, its foot was<br /> is newly reclaimed in this period, road traffic twelve meters of width. Another levee was<br /> remains difficult but to defense of the country mentioned: A road from Vinh Te road to<br /> and people was very important, so the Nguyen Sam Mount, two miles and one hundred -<br /> Dynasty tried to establish roads to connect the thirty seven meters of length, six point five<br /> defensive centers in the Southwest border. Chau meters of height, its surface was four meters<br /> Doc Tan Cuong region, with the advantage of of width, its foot was twelve meters of<br /> flat land, became the home of many roads. width. Finally, a side road from the old<br /> From Chau Doc to the boundary line of Vinh levee to Vinh Te fort, ten miles and one<br /> Long had a road more than 105.2 km, long; a hundred and eight meters of length, three<br /> road to Ha Tien that started from Giang Phuc meters of height, its surface was four meters<br /> station more than – 98 km;, a road to Tran Tay of width, its foot was six meters of width at<br /> from Vinh Te canal more than 19.6 km Tay Xuyen district, it was built in the Minh<br /> (NHOND, 2007c; Le Thanh Khoi, 2000; United Mang time.<br /> Nations, 1996); and a road to That Son by “Tan (NHOND, 2006, Vol. 5, p. 224-225; Le<br /> lo kieu luong” road. Thanh Khoi, 2000; United Nations, 1996).<br /> When Thoai Ngoc Hau returned to defend An The road system from Chau Doc was an<br /> Giang, he built “Tan lo kieu luong” road to important proof that showed the role and<br /> connect Chau Doc with the strongholds of That significant strategy of Chau Doc in the cause of<br /> Son and Ha Tien. “Tan lo kieu luong” road was national defense and renovation and<br /> <br /> <br /> 37<br /> AGU International Journal of Sciences – 2019, Vol. 7 (1), 35 – 41<br /> <br /> establishment of villages in the Nguyen continuous defensive system involving<br /> Dynasty erea waterways and roads in the Southern region.<br /> The road traffic system that came from All strongholds and barracks were continuously<br /> Chau Doc to the South West region, not built, from Chau Doc to Ha Tien by the Nguyen<br /> only served effectively for renovation and Dynasty, with the combination of infantry and<br /> establishment of villages, but also the sailor. They were very mobile and skilled in<br /> important marching route of the Nguyen combat. The Chau Doc region was not only<br /> Army to control the That Son border region, favorable for defense against invaders but also<br /> in addition to transport of food and the important place to ensure the command and<br /> agricultural products to and from Chau Doc support of each element of the Southwest<br /> (Duong The Hien, defensive system of the Nguyen Lords and the<br /> 2014, p. 144-162). Nguyen Dynasty.<br /> <br /> It could be said that these military and In the Nguyen Dynasty, Chau Doc region was<br /> economic constructions have great significance highly appreciated by Nguyen Dynasty when it<br /> in protecting and developing the An Giang came to building the command post of both An<br /> border area during the Nguyen Dynasty. Giang and Ha Tien:<br /> <br /> Because Chau Doc had a great influence on the In terms of shape, although My Duc (Chau<br /> defense policy of the Nguyen Dynasty, Doc) was narrow but it could control the<br /> therefore, establishing a system of both security Phu Cu, Kim Du (Ha Tien). It looked like<br /> and border defense was an important part of the lap or the throat of the mountains and<br /> national defense in the Southwest border in the sea. It was really the important land<br /> general and An Giang in particular. defensively. As the Tien river, and Hau river<br /> of An Giang province originated from<br /> 2.2 Chau Doc – a national defensive center<br /> Phnom Penh, he left of the Hau river was<br /> on the Southwest border in the Nguyen<br /> inhabited by Kinh people, the land was flat,<br /> Dynasty<br /> and had convenient transportation. When the<br /> In the Nguyen Dynasty, when it came to the country was first founded, the King set up a<br /> strategic location of the An Giang region, fort here (Chau Doc old fort). Nowadays (in<br /> military experts were always highly 1850), it was Dong Phu fort. This land was<br /> appreciative of the role of Chau Doc. It met the the important place to control Chenla. Long<br /> requirements to become a center for political, Son was located on the Tien Giang River,<br /> military and economic factors in many periods. and. King Tu Duc agree that it was not as<br /> Chau Doc was considered a complex border important as Dong Phu<br /> region, exploit later, but the strategic location (NHOND, 2007, Vol 7,<br /> “to lean mountain, to view river”, “before three p.178).<br /> rivers, after seven mountains”, barricading of<br /> In the defensive strategy of the Nguyen<br /> both waterways and roads from Chenla came<br /> Dynasty in An Giang, Chau Doc was<br /> down Vietnam. From the Nguyen Lords to the<br /> considered the hub with many forts,<br /> Nguyen Dynasty, this was the place where they<br /> strongholds, and citadels, and played the role of<br /> concentrated many important strongholds and<br /> commander in the defensive system. The<br /> barracks in a strategic role in the Southwest<br /> Nguyen Dynasty soon realized the strategic<br /> defensive system from Chau Doc to That Sơn,<br /> importance of Chau Doc that few other places<br /> and Ha Tien. All these strongholds created a<br /> <br /> <br /> 38<br /> AGU International Journal of Sciences – 2019, Vol. 7 (1), 35 – 41<br /> <br /> had. Dai Nam Nhat Thong Chi wrote, “Chau commander was changed annually. The king<br /> Doc is located 203 miles to the West of Ha Tien ordered 40 cast iron guns and and gunpowder to<br /> province, 244.5 miles in the North of Phnom be placed there (NHOND, 2007a, p. 946). Chau<br /> Penh (the capital of Chenla), it was really the Doc fort was located opposite Tan Chau fort<br /> important place” (NHOND, 2006, p. 216). 32.5 miles east of the Tien river, while to the<br /> In the waterways, Chau Doc was accessible to west Ha Tien fort was more than 203 miles<br /> all important waterways within the Southern away, and in the north Phnom Penh citadel was<br /> region as well as to the East Sea (South China 240.5 miles. Therefore, Chau Doc fort was a<br /> Sea) and the West Sea (Gulf of Thailand), strategic defense region (NHOND, 2006, p.<br /> possibly to Chenla, Siam, Ai Lao (Laos). On 216). It is considered an important military base<br /> the land Chau Doc had a road that went to Vinh to protect the Southwest border or control<br /> Long, Ha Tien, Tran Tay (Chenla) and That Chenla or prevent the Siamese Army.<br /> Son regions. Thus, combining the waterways During the Nguyen Dynasty, on the<br /> and roads, Chau Doc was well-placed to ensure Southwestern border from Chau Đoc to Ha<br /> transport and communication. Those were very Tien, the command base of the governor An -<br /> important factors in the defensive work. Ha was in Chau Doc. Therefore, Chau Doc<br /> On the other hand, in the defense strategic of became the command center of the Chau Doc -<br /> the Nguyen Dynasty on the Southwestern Ha Tien region. In the mechanism of<br /> border, Chau Doc was the most important front administrative organization and decentralization<br /> - line, showing the huge impact of this land on of the local administrative system, An Giang<br /> the national security and many important and Ha Tien were two big provinces adjacent to<br /> military bases were built. each other, and the Nguyen Dynasty<br /> dispatched an An - Ha Director general to<br /> An important work built in the 14th year of Gia<br /> govern it from his headquarters in the An Giang<br /> Long (1815) was Chau Doc fort. This fort was<br /> citadel<br /> built by the proconsul Vinh Thanh Luu Phuoc<br /> Tuong, who commanded a total of about seven In Chau Doc, the An Giang citadel is an<br /> thousand soldiers (NHOND, 2007a, p. 917- important place. It was built with a perimeter of<br /> 941). Chau Doc fort was built in the shape of a 1.048km, 9m high, and three doors in the front,<br /> hexagon, surrounded by trenches through the left and right sides. Bamboo was planted on the<br /> Hau river, from the front to the rear 488m long, outer surface, the trenches were dug six meters<br /> 7m high, the walls were 24m thick, its back deep, around the outside of the trenches dikes<br /> toward the Northwest(5), its face toward the 2.7m deep called the Ho Ha dike. Previously, it<br /> Southeast(6), contiguous on the front to the Hau was Chau Doc fort built from the 15th year of<br /> river, trenches were 80m wide and 11m deep on Gia Long (1816) and the 13th year of Minh<br /> the rear, right and left. Inside, there were Mang (1832), when it was then capital of An<br /> military buildings and storage (NHOND, 2006, Giang province (NHOND, 2006, p.192-193).<br /> p. 216). In 1835, An Giang citadel was granted: a Thao<br /> In 1817, when Chau Doc fort was completed, Nghich cannon, a Vo Cong cannon, twenty Qua<br /> king Gia Long dispatched 100 soldiers from Son cannons. Chau Doc fort was granted: ten<br /> four other townships, 500 soldiers from Uy Hồng Y cannons, two Phach Son cannons, ten<br /> Vien fort, at the same time, and selected many Qua Son cannons. Chau Giang fort was<br /> good commanders to protect it. The soldiers granted: two Hong Y cannons, six Qua Son<br /> were changed every three months, and the cannons. (NHOND, 2007a, p. 827)<br /> <br /> <br /> 39<br /> AGU International Journal of Sciences – 2019, Vol. 7 (1), 35 – 41<br /> <br /> Chau Giang fort was repaired on the base of activities of organizing the Southwestern border<br /> ancient Chau Doc fort in the period of Nguyen defense of the Nguyen Dynasty in the Chau<br /> Lords in Dong Xuyen district (on par with Chau Doc area allows us to affirm the special role<br /> Doc fort). In 1818, king Gia Long ordered the and strategic significance of this land in the<br /> proconsul of Vinh Thanh Nguyen Van Xuan to cause of national defense not only this stage but<br /> rebuild it at the upstream area about a mile also the next stages. From 1867, when the<br /> away from the old place. The new fort was built French colonized the southwestern provinces,<br /> on land with two facades, one facing north, the Chau Doc's strategic position in the defense<br /> other facing south. The center of the gazebo policy of the Nguyen dynasty completely<br /> was built sharp like an octagon. (NHOND, disappeared to start a new role during the<br /> 2006, p. 217) French colonial period.<br /> Chau Doc fort and Doc Tin warehouse had a *Explication:<br /> team of soldiers to keep the warehouse. Each (1)<br /> Chau Doc Tan Cuong was named by king<br /> team had a captain and a deputy captain. The Gia Long in 1805, meaning the newly<br /> source of soldiers holding warehouses was the reclaimed land of the country.<br /> men who lived in communes and villages near (2)<br /> Thu Chien Sai was a fort that located on the<br /> the citadel. (COND, 1993a, p. 452)<br /> West of Tra Thon river in Cho Moi district, An<br /> With many important military projects, Chau Giang province today. (Son Nam, 1988, p. 11)<br /> Doc became a defensive center on the (3)Tran Tay or Tran Tay Thanh is the territory<br /> Southwest border as part of the defense strategy<br /> of Southeastern Cambodia today. From 1835 to<br /> of the Nguyen Dynasty.<br /> 1841, it was ruled by the Nguyen Dynasty.<br /> 3. CONCLUSION (4)<br /> One mile was four hundred and forty five<br /> With an overall view of defensive posture in the meters in the Nguyen Dynasty (Le Thanh Khoi,<br /> Southwest border, the Nguyen Dynasty had 2000)<br /> determinedly created a solid defensive system (5)<br /> Kien direction in Feng Shui<br /> to beat all invasions from Chenla and Siam in<br /> (6)<br /> the border area from An Giang to Ha Tien. In Ton direction in Feng Shui<br /> that defensive system, Chau Doc with its REFERENCES<br /> importance in both geopolitically and militarily<br /> Cabinet of Nguyen Dynasty, Institute of<br /> area determined the success or failure of the<br /> History. (1993a). Kham Dinh Dại Nam Hoi<br /> whole system. Chau Doc was built by the<br /> Dien Su Le, vol 9. Hue: Thuan Hoa<br /> Nguyen Dynasty into a perfect command,<br /> Publishing House.<br /> communication and connection center. 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