Anarchy of the 12 Warlords

The Anarchy of the 12 Warlords[1] (Vietnamese: Loạn 12 sứ quân, chữ Nôm: 亂𨑮𠄩使君; Sino-Vietnamese: Thập nhị sứ quân chi loạn, chữ Hán: 十二使君之亂), also the Period of the 12 Warlords,[2] was a period of chaos and civil war in the history of Vietnam, from 965 to 968 caused by the succession of the Ngô dynasty after the death of King Ngô Quyền.

In 939, Ngô Quyền became King of Tĩnh Hải quân (as Vietnam was called then) after defeating the Southern Han and declaring independence from centuries of Chinese rule.

King Dương Tam Kha sent an army led by Prince Ngô Xương Văn to suppress the rebellion.

Rather than administering a harsh punishment, Ngô Xương Văn forgave Dương Tam Kha and demoted him to the title of "Lord".

In 951, Ngô Xương Ngập returned to Cổ Loa and was crowned king under the title "Thiên Sách Vương", and with his brother became a co-ruler of the Tĩnh Hải Quân.

Recent findings suggest that there was a 13th warlord that is not included in the list: Dương Huy, who ruled a region to the South-East of Cổ Loa.

[4] Đinh Bộ Lĩnh used to hold some posts in Hoan Châu (Nghệ An and Hà Tĩnh today), but lost his positions and went back to Hoa Lư in 950.

Considering Đinh Bộ Lĩnh as a reasonable leader who could manage the circumstances, Trần Lãm retired and gave all power to him.

However, their ships were wrecked, upon which Đinh Bộ Lĩnh commanded his soldiers to set fire to the camps of the remaining army.