Nguyễn Văn Tường

His father had been involved in a revolt against the Nguyễn dynasty rule, so he was barred from competing in the national examinations that were used to select mandarins and court officials.

In the old days, kings or emperors would occasionally go on trips, sometimes in disguise, in order to assess and gauge their citizens’ life.

In accordance with Confucian tradition, following the death of his father in 1862, Tường had to retire for a five-year mourning period before resuming his administrative career.

After signing the Philastre treaty and recovering possession of Hanoi following the attack by Francis Garnier, Tường was promoted to be of Minister of Domestic and Foreign Affairs.

[2][5] When Tự Đức died, Tường was made regent together with Trần Tiễn Thành and Tôn Thất Thuyết.

Dowager Empress Từ Dụ, the mother of Tự Đức, along with the two imperial consorts Trang Ý and Học Phi formed what were known as the "Tam Cung" (or "three harems"), a triumvirate which dabbled in palace intrigue.

[6] The treatment of Dục Đức has since raised speculation among historians that it was a vengeance killing due to the monarch's interference in the affair between Tường and Học Phi.

[8] Hàm Nghi was eventually installed as the emperor, and Thuyết decided to launch the Cần Vương movement, an uprising against the French.

Thuyết took Hàm Nghi to a mountain base at Tan So, and then went to China to hide and seek reinforcements.