6. Bao Dai: Vietnam lost opportunity
Introduction
Under pressure from the Truman administration, Bao Dai name came up again in 1947 when the French was searching for a new political formula to save the day. With the Viet Minh gaining ground, both as a political force as well as a military power to be reckoned with, France played the card of Bao Dai to become head of state for Indochina. It was a telling sign that French authorities were desperate to revamp a colonial system in disarray.
Since his abdication after the August Revolution in 1945, other than the symbolic title given to him by Ho Chi Minh as supreme advisor to the communist government, the deposed emperor just left from the scene, living in exile in Hong Kong. But Bollaert, the French high commissioner approached him to return as the new leader of a 'free Vietnam within the French Union'. After unfruitful discussions for full independence of Indochina, Bao Dai has had enough and took refuge in Cannes, spending his days playing cards and visiting cabarets. Bollaert went ahead with the formation of a new government of general Nguyen Van Xuan, a former leader of the Republic of Cochin China (South VN), a French fabrication to weaken the Ho revolutionary cabinet in 1945. Still, Bao Dai name was put as the [designated] head of state of an [eventual] independent VN.
Tired of the back and forth by Bollaert and sensing that the Americans may support him, he acquiesced with a proviso that his luxurious lifestyle will be paid for by French treasury. France decision to reinstall Bao Dai at the helm of Vietnam and their denial of granting national independence to Bao Dai in 1948 was the biggest mistake they have ever made. More than choosing an indolent person, they have prevented Bao Dai any leeway to satisfy his detractors, on both sides of the political spectrum. The French pulled the rug under Bao Dai on the key question of independence. And his effort for rallying the non communists against the Viet Minh was moot (?). But Bao Dai was not a person without qualities. A look at his upbringing in the context of imperial Annam will shed light into this controversial figure during a fascinating period of its history.
Bao Dai the last emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty
Not much was written about the last VN emperor, except one book by French journalist Grandclement and Bao Dai own biography (Le Dragon d'Annam) which tended to justify his mistakes and defend his inaction. His Majesty didn't seem to attract much attention from historians and students of Indochina. One may question his relevance as a political leader who could have shaped VN destiny at a crucial time in 1945. To the eyes of posterity, his accidental associate Ho Chi Minh has received better scrutiny, admiration and respect although amid some controversy.
The irony of history could not have been greater for France, the birthplace of the Revolution, of Liberty, Fraternity and Equality in 1789. It suddenly became a century later the colonial conqueror and the main obstacle to VN's quest for the same ideals the French nation had fought for. Bao Dai inability to overcome civil war and bloodshed during the 1940's derived more than from his own shortcomings. His failure was due to France inability to uphold her republican values. It was a reflection of a weak political system and her own sense of inadequacy as a democracy.
By choosing his name as Bao Dai or 'new found greatness', his Majesty had a lofty goal for his reign but history demonstrated that his regime was quite the opposite. He could be dubbed as Bảo Dại or the 'Bao the weak', a better characterization of his reign. Historians are still smarting about that period and have ambivalent thoughts about his role during those critical moments. Curiously he was linked all his life to number 13 like a fatal attraction and bad omen for the destiny of his people. But he's still deserving to be told as one chapter in the long VN history book .
Bao Dai's reign
On this memorable day of April 28th, 1922 Vinh Thuy the 9 years old unique male offspring of emperor Khai Dinh was to be named Prince Consort of the Crown and resident of the East Palace ( Đông Cung Hoàng Thái Tử). The decision was made after serious consideration by the French Protectorate Authority and the Cơ Mật, the inner cabinet of the imperial court. France had decided to give VN a new monarch with a 20th century profile. The time has come for a new beginning, giving the kingdom a new face. Khai Dinh, Bao Dai's father was sick and dying. He thought the time was ripe for a quick enthroning of his successor, making a smooth transition of power for the dynasty. More than that he wanted his son, with the nod of the colonial power to get a western education in France, to upgrade the monarchy and the whole nation.
Life in the Fortress City of Hue was not an easy task for any royal member. Bao Dai recounted in his Memoirs the dreadful life he went through, from infancy to adulthood in the Imperial City. From dawn to dusk, his Royal Imperial Highness was alone in his quarters, eating and playing by himself, far away from his parents. Every day was exactly the same with classes in the morning with a preceptor on Confucius teachings. No physical activity was part of the education of the prince. Contemplation or inactivity was the main object. No wonder that the longevity of royal members was strikingly low. To be worthy of the title he wore, emotion was proscribed. His RIH has no right to express it and impassibility was the proper attitude.
Confucius teaching was formulated in a practical and down-to-earth manner, to give the prince the basic elements to fulfill his duties one day as the representative of Heavens on earth. It could be resumed in moral precepts, proverbs and aphorisms like: 'to do good is difficult, like reaching up, to do harm is easy, like going down', or 'obedience is better than external respect'. That kind of education resembled a moral treatise adapted for mature brains ready to embark on a philosophical journey. But it hardly suited a young prince to prepare himself to the mountain of challenges his kingdom faced. And there was no scientific subjects like Maths or Physics to prepare the monarch to the 20th century progress. In his Memoirs, Bao Dai commented that the education he got was 'deprived of maternal love, without friends and companies, in total isolation'. It created in him a kind of reaction, a reflex of self-defense and his character was already been molded from then on to lơok out for solitude and meditation.
The French authority wanted to compensate for that ill-adapted education of the future king. It decided, with the blessing of Khai Dinh, his father to send him to France for his formal upbringing. France has decided to make a big change in her policy towards her colony. The time has come to mold a new king with a new vision of modernity and western values. Gone is the decadence and backwardness of an idiosyncratic court that smells the decrepit mildew. In short, French officials have much hope in the new prince to bring about a kind of renewed leadership and prestige that was sorely lacking during the last few reigns in Annam. And why not, with a monarch educated 'à la francaise', it would be much easier for France to deal with it in the future. That was to be the first miscalculation of the colonial power.
Life went on smoothly for Vinh Thuy in France with the family of M. Charles his official keeper, an old hand in Annam. The 9 years old prince has a new family life in Paris among the Charles' household. He received an education fit for a bourgeois upper class youngster, with private schooling and sporting activities like tennis and horse riding. He has his own car and chauffeur to travel around France and visit the main touristic sites. He spoke French daily and consequently neglected his Vietnamese mother tongue. Upon his father's death in 1925, he came back to Hue just for his enthroning and the funerals of emperor Khai Dinh. The royal court has already named a regent in his absence so that he was allowed to go back to France and perfect his education.
French culture and joie de vivre were absorbed fast in the fresh mind of an Annam teenager, especially when the best and beautiful were offered. Of course, he has his normal friends who treated him as one of theirs, and the prince supposedly didn't get any special treatment. The fact was that Bao Dai was farther away from his homeland, physically and morally, thanks to the excess zeal of the colonial authority. He was groomed and conditioned to think and act as a Frenchman. A mission well achieved by his masters, but it will just rebound on them. After a few years in the university where he studied Science Po (Political Science), Bao Dai was destined to come home to the kingdom of Annam and rule.
The year was 1932 and he was 19. But then something not so peculiar happened. The prince was so accustomed to the velvet life in Outre Mer that he didn't want to leave! Having a luxurious and hedonistic life, devoid of concern and responsibility, owning his sport car, among his entourage and friends, he tasted too much the honey of France to abandon it for the boredom of Hue and its Imperial City. He has a dandy life in France and it would be hard to forego it, even for the sake of his fellow countrymen. His majesty was put on a sleeping pill by the French, so much so that when the time has come to wake up and assume his responsibility as the monarch of a nation, he demurred.
By providing too much comfort and spoil to the future king, by trying to mold him to the image of the protectorate, the beleaguered king became a pawn that will create further embarrassment to the French. The manner the 13th monarch of Annam was groomed sent a unmistakable signal that France had no intention of giving independence to VN, ever. And more has to come. After intensive coaching and cajoling, Bao Dai finally made up his mind and acquiesced to return home, but not without extracting some concession, to be able to go back to France when he needs a break!
The scene was set for a much awaited triumphal homecoming and a new era in the life of an antiquated kingdom. The masses were upbeat, the court was full of high expectations. Everybody was pleased except the main protagonist for he sorely missed Paris. From now on, the reign of Bao Dai, the last emperor of Annam just went ineluctably downhill, before it even started. He should be reminded about his Confucius teaching: 'to do harm is easy, like going down...' Reluctantly Bao Dai went back to the Imperial City in 1932, 6 years after his coronation as the new monarch. He entered the Fortress City in a rickshaw with 4 escort servants with parasol, sign of supreme authority. The Kien Trung palace, his residence as emperor with the deserted court was erry(?) with silence. After so many years of youthful insouciance and freedom, he felt like going to prison. But the bad news have just started for the new king.
The next day he had his first meeting with Nguyen Hưu Bai the minister in charge of transition. To his dismay, all the emperor's prerogatives have been transferred to the colonial power after the death of Khai Dinh. The French administration was now in charge of tax levies and reallocates part of them to the court for its daily subsistence. The decisions were made by the council of regents, during Bao Dai stay in France. He sheepishly asked Nguyen Huu Bai: 'What powers do I have still?' The minister responded without flinching:' Your Majesty has the powers related to the court rites, the right of pardon and the delivery of honorary and posthumous awards...' The French have done some swift house cleaning in the very center of the Annam court before allowing Bao Dai to go back and reign. The new monarch has been stripped of all his clothes and nothing left in his wardrobe...
During his period of apprenticeship, Bao Dai has asked to read first hand the Annals of the Empire, a complete report about his ancestors and their reign. He was curious enough to inquire about the record of his predecessors. And to avoid making the same mistakes now that he knew the limit of his power. It was captivating reading as he recalled. Apart from some reconstructed legends, to reinforce the aura of the dynasty, Bao Dai while looking at the report was troubled and sobered about the fate of his recent ancestors. Five of them in less than 50 years were dethroned, and four died in dubious circumstances. The high mortality rate of the 'sons of Heavens' was not just due to their unhealthy lifestyle . It was plain dangerous to be a monarch during that time. So much so that some wives or concubines of past kings hid their male progenitures(?) from exposure to the court for fear of becoming the mother of a dead king. A good example was the pitiful case of Duy Tan that Khai Dinh replaced in 1916.
After the disastrous episode with Thanh Thai dubbed the mad king in 1907, resident superior Fernand Levecque went searching for a replacement among the list of male offsprings from the deposed king. Vinh San (future Duy Tan) was nowhere to be seen. Soldiers went around looking and found him under his bed, filled with dirt. Under questioning, he said: 'I was looking for my cricket on the loose...' Suspecting some scheme from court officials, the soldier delivered him on the spot to the French who accepted him as new king, being simply a harmless young lad. His age also was raised to 8 to make it more palatable to the court. The irony was that in 1945, 38 years later, in exile in the Reunion, Duy Tan was earnestly asked by de Gaulle to return to VN and replace the hapless Bao Dai.
During WW2, Vinh San the ex king became a military officer with the rank of lieutenant colonel fighting for France against Nazi Germany. A staunch opponent of French rule during his chaotic reign, Duy Tan legacy outshines among the Nguyen monarchs, and he embodies the best and the noblest of royal tradition. Being manhandled by the French authorities while on the throne, with dignity he put aside his rancor and contributed to France victory in the war. Then in December 1945, tragedy struck when his plane from the Reunion to meet de Gaulle in Paris crashed in Central Africa. VN destiny decidedly had no luck and his disappearance remains one of the most painful episode of our history.
Bao Dai the reformist
Still uneasy about the reality check concerning the dynasty, Bao Dai was coached by M. Charles to get married and think about the future and his succession. It's time for the king to find a suitable partner and his French mentor had to outmaneuver all possible competitors from the court who already chose their mate for the king. It was a French plot against VN plots, a battle between modernism and traditionalism. And the outcome was obvious. Bao Dai was educated in France and made aware of the sordid polygamy stories that have created so many hiccups in the Annam court with the infighting and jealousy which endangered the stability of the realm. France by the intercession of M. Charles has already decided that the future empress will be Catholic, with the same education background as the husband. She was from a well to do southern VN family, educated in France, elegant and a real beauty with an upright and strong personality. In other words a perfect match for Bao Dai. As M. Charles confided, empress Nam Phuong or Perfume of the South will put some ballast into Bao Dai's head if need be! But that was to be another mistake of the colonial power.
The French by trying to micromanage their colony, even finding a suitable catholic wife for Bao Dai had already created a constitutional crisis in Annam. The Imperial Court was not amused with Bao Dai marrying a catholic girl in a very traditional VN society. Remember that not long before VN Catholics had been persecuted in their own soil. And thanks to the French perfidy who exploited the xenophobic nature of Asians, they came to conquer Indochina under the false pretense of protecting their priests and freedom of religion. It was an affront by the French authorities to the Annam court. And it seemed incredible for them to come up with that kind of political faux pas, for such a marriage will have unforeseen effect on the religion of the succession. Catholicism was still viewed as subversive, a state within the state by VN which fought a loosing battle against the invaders. The kingdom of Annam had never accepted the preponderance of a secular power above the one exerted by its ruler. The Vietnamese found the Catholic Church as a perfect example of foreign imperialistic design over the sovereignty of their nation.
French action in this instance could only be explained by the wariness of a demoralized royal court after being stripped of all its powers and forced to go along. Consequently, mandarins and ministers just showed passive resistance although the French didn't seem to mind a bit. But emperor Bao Dai became the unintended victim of their shortsightedness. By marrying a Catholic woman educated in France, Bao Dai was separated from his own milieu and people. He was viewed as a tool of the colonial authority and lacking his popular base. But Bao Dai had a different view. He tried to wear the reformist hat as a kind of fresh air from the West. By marrying a modern type woman he wanted to trigger a small revolution in an outdated monarchy he thought to rejuvenate. With a few liberal measures here and there, he hoped to earn respect and support from the masses. The result was quite different and he soon realized that the French have undercut his actions. After a few months Bao Dai rule was already in jeopardy and heading for a dead end.
By accepting the matrimonial union with a catholic, Bao Dai demonstrated his political immaturity. Granted that he was an inexperienced 21 years old when the wedding took place, in secret to appease the sensibilities of the royal court. But at that critical juncture, he was fully aware that a small mistake could become a fatal flaw. Impassibility must be the proper attitude and emotion or even love must serve the interest of the nation. His Majesty seemed to forget his Confucian lessons. Moreover the matter didn't get resolved quite easily. The royal court demanded that Bao Dai rescinded his marriage, which he steadfastly refused. Or as an alternative solution, Nam Phuong had to renounce her religion to adopt Buddhism and Taoism, the official faiths of the state.
Then the parents of the bride stepped in with an appeal to the Vatican and the Pope to make a decision whether their daughter could marry the Son of Heaven, The answer from His Holiness was a flat No, unless the non catholic spouse allowed her to practice her faith and more importantly that the children be baptized and educated in the catholic church, according to the Canon Law! The implication was clear: by allowing Nam Phuong to become empress, Bao Dai and the royal court accept in writing to have his son be the next catholic monarch of VN. To avoid an impasse the wedding has to remain discreet and non official, which was the case. The beginning of Bao Dai reign was loaded with uncertainty.
In September 1932 Bao Dai made public his intention to govern with the support of the people through a constitutional monarchy. The idea was bold and made sense considering the rigidity of his courtesans. He wanted to have new faces in his government, with young blood and fresh ideas. Pham Quynh a well known writer was chosen as his chief of staff with the rank of minister. He was a journalist who pushed for a new constitution and as a compromise Pham Quynh accepted the French Protectorate but with increased power for VN. A moderate, he could serve both the interest of Bao Dai and the French. In fact he was suggested to Bao Dai by M. Charles. More important and surprising was Bao Dai choice of Ngo Dinh Diem, a new rising star in the administration to be the minister of interior. Diem was the youngest province chief in Phan Thiet, a public servant with perfect credentials and being part of a family loyal to the dynasty. He was also a catholic and an ardent nationalist with a reputation for honesty and integrity. The new Bao Dai administration seemed to start in good auspices. But again Bao Dai's hope was dashed after a short while.
At the same time Bao Dai wanted to completely overhaul the Imperial court and its customs. He was allergic to the protocols he found too cumbersome and antiquated. Like the lay or prostration that court officials have to perform in front of the emperor. These bending gestures whereas the subject had to lie down with his head touching the ground and practically sniffing dirt at least 3 times were too much for the progressive monarch. These customs were immemorial in the life of the kingdom and time consuming. But by abolishing them, he received negative press. They warned him not to go too fast in his desire for modernization. After all it was bad omen to go against the will of the court members whose only duty is the preservation of the most incongruous traditions.
Now that he has a catholic empress who morally and by religious faith won't accept polygamy and harems, the court is turned upside down to the dismay of the royal officials. Bao Dai wanted to put a lid to all the bizarre nonsense about the court daily life and all the waste for subsidizing hundreds of concubines, eunuchs and buffoons who made past monarchs more distracted than otherwise. By initiating these drastic changes and downsizing the imperial institutions, he didn't endear himself with the support of the whole court which was still fuming about his marriage. On top, Bao Dai spoke French on official ceremonies for those who could understand, his VN expression being limited or non existent.
Bao Dai didn't gauge well the depth of colonial power and completely underestimated the inertia of its bureaucracy, much greater than his own. He proceeded too recklessly being squeezed between his outdated court and the malevolent colonial system. It was the third mistake he made during his reign. Had his experiment succeeded, His Majesty would go forward to modernize and lead his nation in an upbeat mood. Instead, after a few months Diem resigned (or was sacked) in disgust, his attempt at reform stalled. Diem thought the French blocked all efforts of liberalization. While the French were still calling the shots, Diem refused to get involved in any cooperation. Bao Dai expectation on the young promising minister was dashed and his debut as the new reformist monarch was a bitter failure that he will not be able to recover from then on. It's time for Bao Dai to move on, to more earthy pursuits like hunting and mundane activities. Now that the French turned their back on him, it's his turn to demonstrate passive resistance and turn his back on them.
Bao Dai failure as a political leader was not exactly in the interest of the French colonial power. It was a turning point for the nationalists including the Communists to ponder the chance for cooperation with the French. The aborted reforms of 1932 were an early warning sign that French occupation remained here to stay while carrying the big stick. By the same token, the French leaders underestimated Bao Dai nationalist fervor and his genuine conviction to bring about real independence for Indochina.That's the dream he will pursue for the rest of his life, although his message will become hollow compared to other more charismatic leaders. The French realized later to their regret that he still has a role to play in 1947, as their trump card against Ho and the Viet Minh.
Bao Dai was not a nullity, far from it. He was aware of his role as a catalyst for a broad based nationalist movement to achieve independence, without bloodshed and revolution. He abhorred violence and bemoaned his witnessing the misery of his people. His Majesty was quite a sensitive person, perhaps too delicate to face the harsh reality of war and conflict. The tragedy was, apart from being sentimental and weak, that he never aspired to be the ruler of his country. He lacked the fiber to fight and lead. He could have been an artist bon vivant having a good life, a politician, unquestionably not. He was the perfect Hamlet. To be or not to be, that's the kind of question he was never capable to answer. He seemed to lag behind the events and be dragged or towed by them.
As the situation of Indochina worsened, Bao Dai was not aware of any development fostering the rise of the resistance movement, especially from the Communists. He didn't even know who is Ho Chi Minh, the leader of the emerging force against French power. He was a dreamer and a pathetic figure wasting his time and energy in hedonistic pursuit. That's his kind of resistance against the French. To sum up, Bao Dai as a promising new monarch has lost an unique occasion to stand up to serve his country and his subjects. What a pitiful waste for an embattled proud nation!
PS. His Majesty protector of greatness fit the saying by author Stevenson that 'No man is wiser than his destiny'. For a nation mired in tragedy throughout its history, and with an obsession for superstitious phenomenons, the temptation was great to blame Bao Dai for his unlucky sign, as we have mentioned. For the record:
1. he was born in 1913
2. he was the 13th emperor, the last of the Nguyen dynasty
3. he came to the throne in 1926, at the age of 13
4. he effectively reigned for 13 years, from 1932 to 1945
5. he had 13 children with Nam Phuong and other mistresses
6. finally he died in 1997 and was entombed at the 13th hour of the day.
Under pressure from the Truman administration, Bao Dai name came up again in 1947 when the French was searching for a new political formula to save the day. With the Viet Minh gaining ground, both as a political force as well as a military power to be reckoned with, France played the card of Bao Dai to become head of state for Indochina. It was a telling sign that French authorities were desperate to revamp a colonial system in disarray.
Since his abdication after the August Revolution in 1945, other than the symbolic title given to him by Ho Chi Minh as supreme advisor to the communist government, the deposed emperor just left from the scene, living in exile in Hong Kong. But Bollaert, the French high commissioner approached him to return as the new leader of a 'free Vietnam within the French Union'. After unfruitful discussions for full independence of Indochina, Bao Dai has had enough and took refuge in Cannes, spending his days playing cards and visiting cabarets. Bollaert went ahead with the formation of a new government of general Nguyen Van Xuan, a former leader of the Republic of Cochin China (South VN), a French fabrication to weaken the Ho revolutionary cabinet in 1945. Still, Bao Dai name was put as the [designated] head of state of an [eventual] independent VN.
Tired of the back and forth by Bollaert and sensing that the Americans may support him, he acquiesced with a proviso that his luxurious lifestyle will be paid for by French treasury. France decision to reinstall Bao Dai at the helm of Vietnam and their denial of granting national independence to Bao Dai in 1948 was the biggest mistake they have ever made. More than choosing an indolent person, they have prevented Bao Dai any leeway to satisfy his detractors, on both sides of the political spectrum. The French pulled the rug under Bao Dai on the key question of independence. And his effort for rallying the non communists against the Viet Minh was moot (?). But Bao Dai was not a person without qualities. A look at his upbringing in the context of imperial Annam will shed light into this controversial figure during a fascinating period of its history.
Bao Dai the last emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty
Not much was written about the last VN emperor, except one book by French journalist Grandclement and Bao Dai own biography (Le Dragon d'Annam) which tended to justify his mistakes and defend his inaction. His Majesty didn't seem to attract much attention from historians and students of Indochina. One may question his relevance as a political leader who could have shaped VN destiny at a crucial time in 1945. To the eyes of posterity, his accidental associate Ho Chi Minh has received better scrutiny, admiration and respect although amid some controversy.
The irony of history could not have been greater for France, the birthplace of the Revolution, of Liberty, Fraternity and Equality in 1789. It suddenly became a century later the colonial conqueror and the main obstacle to VN's quest for the same ideals the French nation had fought for. Bao Dai inability to overcome civil war and bloodshed during the 1940's derived more than from his own shortcomings. His failure was due to France inability to uphold her republican values. It was a reflection of a weak political system and her own sense of inadequacy as a democracy.
By choosing his name as Bao Dai or 'new found greatness', his Majesty had a lofty goal for his reign but history demonstrated that his regime was quite the opposite. He could be dubbed as Bảo Dại or the 'Bao the weak', a better characterization of his reign. Historians are still smarting about that period and have ambivalent thoughts about his role during those critical moments. Curiously he was linked all his life to number 13 like a fatal attraction and bad omen for the destiny of his people. But he's still deserving to be told as one chapter in the long VN history book .
Bao Dai's reign
On this memorable day of April 28th, 1922 Vinh Thuy the 9 years old unique male offspring of emperor Khai Dinh was to be named Prince Consort of the Crown and resident of the East Palace ( Đông Cung Hoàng Thái Tử). The decision was made after serious consideration by the French Protectorate Authority and the Cơ Mật, the inner cabinet of the imperial court. France had decided to give VN a new monarch with a 20th century profile. The time has come for a new beginning, giving the kingdom a new face. Khai Dinh, Bao Dai's father was sick and dying. He thought the time was ripe for a quick enthroning of his successor, making a smooth transition of power for the dynasty. More than that he wanted his son, with the nod of the colonial power to get a western education in France, to upgrade the monarchy and the whole nation.
Life in the Fortress City of Hue was not an easy task for any royal member. Bao Dai recounted in his Memoirs the dreadful life he went through, from infancy to adulthood in the Imperial City. From dawn to dusk, his Royal Imperial Highness was alone in his quarters, eating and playing by himself, far away from his parents. Every day was exactly the same with classes in the morning with a preceptor on Confucius teachings. No physical activity was part of the education of the prince. Contemplation or inactivity was the main object. No wonder that the longevity of royal members was strikingly low. To be worthy of the title he wore, emotion was proscribed. His RIH has no right to express it and impassibility was the proper attitude.
Confucius teaching was formulated in a practical and down-to-earth manner, to give the prince the basic elements to fulfill his duties one day as the representative of Heavens on earth. It could be resumed in moral precepts, proverbs and aphorisms like: 'to do good is difficult, like reaching up, to do harm is easy, like going down', or 'obedience is better than external respect'. That kind of education resembled a moral treatise adapted for mature brains ready to embark on a philosophical journey. But it hardly suited a young prince to prepare himself to the mountain of challenges his kingdom faced. And there was no scientific subjects like Maths or Physics to prepare the monarch to the 20th century progress. In his Memoirs, Bao Dai commented that the education he got was 'deprived of maternal love, without friends and companies, in total isolation'. It created in him a kind of reaction, a reflex of self-defense and his character was already been molded from then on to lơok out for solitude and meditation.
The French authority wanted to compensate for that ill-adapted education of the future king. It decided, with the blessing of Khai Dinh, his father to send him to France for his formal upbringing. France has decided to make a big change in her policy towards her colony. The time has come to mold a new king with a new vision of modernity and western values. Gone is the decadence and backwardness of an idiosyncratic court that smells the decrepit mildew. In short, French officials have much hope in the new prince to bring about a kind of renewed leadership and prestige that was sorely lacking during the last few reigns in Annam. And why not, with a monarch educated 'à la francaise', it would be much easier for France to deal with it in the future. That was to be the first miscalculation of the colonial power.
Life went on smoothly for Vinh Thuy in France with the family of M. Charles his official keeper, an old hand in Annam. The 9 years old prince has a new family life in Paris among the Charles' household. He received an education fit for a bourgeois upper class youngster, with private schooling and sporting activities like tennis and horse riding. He has his own car and chauffeur to travel around France and visit the main touristic sites. He spoke French daily and consequently neglected his Vietnamese mother tongue. Upon his father's death in 1925, he came back to Hue just for his enthroning and the funerals of emperor Khai Dinh. The royal court has already named a regent in his absence so that he was allowed to go back to France and perfect his education.
French culture and joie de vivre were absorbed fast in the fresh mind of an Annam teenager, especially when the best and beautiful were offered. Of course, he has his normal friends who treated him as one of theirs, and the prince supposedly didn't get any special treatment. The fact was that Bao Dai was farther away from his homeland, physically and morally, thanks to the excess zeal of the colonial authority. He was groomed and conditioned to think and act as a Frenchman. A mission well achieved by his masters, but it will just rebound on them. After a few years in the university where he studied Science Po (Political Science), Bao Dai was destined to come home to the kingdom of Annam and rule.
The year was 1932 and he was 19. But then something not so peculiar happened. The prince was so accustomed to the velvet life in Outre Mer that he didn't want to leave! Having a luxurious and hedonistic life, devoid of concern and responsibility, owning his sport car, among his entourage and friends, he tasted too much the honey of France to abandon it for the boredom of Hue and its Imperial City. He has a dandy life in France and it would be hard to forego it, even for the sake of his fellow countrymen. His majesty was put on a sleeping pill by the French, so much so that when the time has come to wake up and assume his responsibility as the monarch of a nation, he demurred.
By providing too much comfort and spoil to the future king, by trying to mold him to the image of the protectorate, the beleaguered king became a pawn that will create further embarrassment to the French. The manner the 13th monarch of Annam was groomed sent a unmistakable signal that France had no intention of giving independence to VN, ever. And more has to come. After intensive coaching and cajoling, Bao Dai finally made up his mind and acquiesced to return home, but not without extracting some concession, to be able to go back to France when he needs a break!
The scene was set for a much awaited triumphal homecoming and a new era in the life of an antiquated kingdom. The masses were upbeat, the court was full of high expectations. Everybody was pleased except the main protagonist for he sorely missed Paris. From now on, the reign of Bao Dai, the last emperor of Annam just went ineluctably downhill, before it even started. He should be reminded about his Confucius teaching: 'to do harm is easy, like going down...' Reluctantly Bao Dai went back to the Imperial City in 1932, 6 years after his coronation as the new monarch. He entered the Fortress City in a rickshaw with 4 escort servants with parasol, sign of supreme authority. The Kien Trung palace, his residence as emperor with the deserted court was erry(?) with silence. After so many years of youthful insouciance and freedom, he felt like going to prison. But the bad news have just started for the new king.
The next day he had his first meeting with Nguyen Hưu Bai the minister in charge of transition. To his dismay, all the emperor's prerogatives have been transferred to the colonial power after the death of Khai Dinh. The French administration was now in charge of tax levies and reallocates part of them to the court for its daily subsistence. The decisions were made by the council of regents, during Bao Dai stay in France. He sheepishly asked Nguyen Huu Bai: 'What powers do I have still?' The minister responded without flinching:' Your Majesty has the powers related to the court rites, the right of pardon and the delivery of honorary and posthumous awards...' The French have done some swift house cleaning in the very center of the Annam court before allowing Bao Dai to go back and reign. The new monarch has been stripped of all his clothes and nothing left in his wardrobe...
During his period of apprenticeship, Bao Dai has asked to read first hand the Annals of the Empire, a complete report about his ancestors and their reign. He was curious enough to inquire about the record of his predecessors. And to avoid making the same mistakes now that he knew the limit of his power. It was captivating reading as he recalled. Apart from some reconstructed legends, to reinforce the aura of the dynasty, Bao Dai while looking at the report was troubled and sobered about the fate of his recent ancestors. Five of them in less than 50 years were dethroned, and four died in dubious circumstances. The high mortality rate of the 'sons of Heavens' was not just due to their unhealthy lifestyle . It was plain dangerous to be a monarch during that time. So much so that some wives or concubines of past kings hid their male progenitures(?) from exposure to the court for fear of becoming the mother of a dead king. A good example was the pitiful case of Duy Tan that Khai Dinh replaced in 1916.
After the disastrous episode with Thanh Thai dubbed the mad king in 1907, resident superior Fernand Levecque went searching for a replacement among the list of male offsprings from the deposed king. Vinh San (future Duy Tan) was nowhere to be seen. Soldiers went around looking and found him under his bed, filled with dirt. Under questioning, he said: 'I was looking for my cricket on the loose...' Suspecting some scheme from court officials, the soldier delivered him on the spot to the French who accepted him as new king, being simply a harmless young lad. His age also was raised to 8 to make it more palatable to the court. The irony was that in 1945, 38 years later, in exile in the Reunion, Duy Tan was earnestly asked by de Gaulle to return to VN and replace the hapless Bao Dai.
During WW2, Vinh San the ex king became a military officer with the rank of lieutenant colonel fighting for France against Nazi Germany. A staunch opponent of French rule during his chaotic reign, Duy Tan legacy outshines among the Nguyen monarchs, and he embodies the best and the noblest of royal tradition. Being manhandled by the French authorities while on the throne, with dignity he put aside his rancor and contributed to France victory in the war. Then in December 1945, tragedy struck when his plane from the Reunion to meet de Gaulle in Paris crashed in Central Africa. VN destiny decidedly had no luck and his disappearance remains one of the most painful episode of our history.
Bao Dai the reformist
Still uneasy about the reality check concerning the dynasty, Bao Dai was coached by M. Charles to get married and think about the future and his succession. It's time for the king to find a suitable partner and his French mentor had to outmaneuver all possible competitors from the court who already chose their mate for the king. It was a French plot against VN plots, a battle between modernism and traditionalism. And the outcome was obvious. Bao Dai was educated in France and made aware of the sordid polygamy stories that have created so many hiccups in the Annam court with the infighting and jealousy which endangered the stability of the realm. France by the intercession of M. Charles has already decided that the future empress will be Catholic, with the same education background as the husband. She was from a well to do southern VN family, educated in France, elegant and a real beauty with an upright and strong personality. In other words a perfect match for Bao Dai. As M. Charles confided, empress Nam Phuong or Perfume of the South will put some ballast into Bao Dai's head if need be! But that was to be another mistake of the colonial power.
The French by trying to micromanage their colony, even finding a suitable catholic wife for Bao Dai had already created a constitutional crisis in Annam. The Imperial Court was not amused with Bao Dai marrying a catholic girl in a very traditional VN society. Remember that not long before VN Catholics had been persecuted in their own soil. And thanks to the French perfidy who exploited the xenophobic nature of Asians, they came to conquer Indochina under the false pretense of protecting their priests and freedom of religion. It was an affront by the French authorities to the Annam court. And it seemed incredible for them to come up with that kind of political faux pas, for such a marriage will have unforeseen effect on the religion of the succession. Catholicism was still viewed as subversive, a state within the state by VN which fought a loosing battle against the invaders. The kingdom of Annam had never accepted the preponderance of a secular power above the one exerted by its ruler. The Vietnamese found the Catholic Church as a perfect example of foreign imperialistic design over the sovereignty of their nation.
French action in this instance could only be explained by the wariness of a demoralized royal court after being stripped of all its powers and forced to go along. Consequently, mandarins and ministers just showed passive resistance although the French didn't seem to mind a bit. But emperor Bao Dai became the unintended victim of their shortsightedness. By marrying a Catholic woman educated in France, Bao Dai was separated from his own milieu and people. He was viewed as a tool of the colonial authority and lacking his popular base. But Bao Dai had a different view. He tried to wear the reformist hat as a kind of fresh air from the West. By marrying a modern type woman he wanted to trigger a small revolution in an outdated monarchy he thought to rejuvenate. With a few liberal measures here and there, he hoped to earn respect and support from the masses. The result was quite different and he soon realized that the French have undercut his actions. After a few months Bao Dai rule was already in jeopardy and heading for a dead end.
By accepting the matrimonial union with a catholic, Bao Dai demonstrated his political immaturity. Granted that he was an inexperienced 21 years old when the wedding took place, in secret to appease the sensibilities of the royal court. But at that critical juncture, he was fully aware that a small mistake could become a fatal flaw. Impassibility must be the proper attitude and emotion or even love must serve the interest of the nation. His Majesty seemed to forget his Confucian lessons. Moreover the matter didn't get resolved quite easily. The royal court demanded that Bao Dai rescinded his marriage, which he steadfastly refused. Or as an alternative solution, Nam Phuong had to renounce her religion to adopt Buddhism and Taoism, the official faiths of the state.
Then the parents of the bride stepped in with an appeal to the Vatican and the Pope to make a decision whether their daughter could marry the Son of Heaven, The answer from His Holiness was a flat No, unless the non catholic spouse allowed her to practice her faith and more importantly that the children be baptized and educated in the catholic church, according to the Canon Law! The implication was clear: by allowing Nam Phuong to become empress, Bao Dai and the royal court accept in writing to have his son be the next catholic monarch of VN. To avoid an impasse the wedding has to remain discreet and non official, which was the case. The beginning of Bao Dai reign was loaded with uncertainty.
In September 1932 Bao Dai made public his intention to govern with the support of the people through a constitutional monarchy. The idea was bold and made sense considering the rigidity of his courtesans. He wanted to have new faces in his government, with young blood and fresh ideas. Pham Quynh a well known writer was chosen as his chief of staff with the rank of minister. He was a journalist who pushed for a new constitution and as a compromise Pham Quynh accepted the French Protectorate but with increased power for VN. A moderate, he could serve both the interest of Bao Dai and the French. In fact he was suggested to Bao Dai by M. Charles. More important and surprising was Bao Dai choice of Ngo Dinh Diem, a new rising star in the administration to be the minister of interior. Diem was the youngest province chief in Phan Thiet, a public servant with perfect credentials and being part of a family loyal to the dynasty. He was also a catholic and an ardent nationalist with a reputation for honesty and integrity. The new Bao Dai administration seemed to start in good auspices. But again Bao Dai's hope was dashed after a short while.
At the same time Bao Dai wanted to completely overhaul the Imperial court and its customs. He was allergic to the protocols he found too cumbersome and antiquated. Like the lay or prostration that court officials have to perform in front of the emperor. These bending gestures whereas the subject had to lie down with his head touching the ground and practically sniffing dirt at least 3 times were too much for the progressive monarch. These customs were immemorial in the life of the kingdom and time consuming. But by abolishing them, he received negative press. They warned him not to go too fast in his desire for modernization. After all it was bad omen to go against the will of the court members whose only duty is the preservation of the most incongruous traditions.
Now that he has a catholic empress who morally and by religious faith won't accept polygamy and harems, the court is turned upside down to the dismay of the royal officials. Bao Dai wanted to put a lid to all the bizarre nonsense about the court daily life and all the waste for subsidizing hundreds of concubines, eunuchs and buffoons who made past monarchs more distracted than otherwise. By initiating these drastic changes and downsizing the imperial institutions, he didn't endear himself with the support of the whole court which was still fuming about his marriage. On top, Bao Dai spoke French on official ceremonies for those who could understand, his VN expression being limited or non existent.
Bao Dai didn't gauge well the depth of colonial power and completely underestimated the inertia of its bureaucracy, much greater than his own. He proceeded too recklessly being squeezed between his outdated court and the malevolent colonial system. It was the third mistake he made during his reign. Had his experiment succeeded, His Majesty would go forward to modernize and lead his nation in an upbeat mood. Instead, after a few months Diem resigned (or was sacked) in disgust, his attempt at reform stalled. Diem thought the French blocked all efforts of liberalization. While the French were still calling the shots, Diem refused to get involved in any cooperation. Bao Dai expectation on the young promising minister was dashed and his debut as the new reformist monarch was a bitter failure that he will not be able to recover from then on. It's time for Bao Dai to move on, to more earthy pursuits like hunting and mundane activities. Now that the French turned their back on him, it's his turn to demonstrate passive resistance and turn his back on them.
Bao Dai failure as a political leader was not exactly in the interest of the French colonial power. It was a turning point for the nationalists including the Communists to ponder the chance for cooperation with the French. The aborted reforms of 1932 were an early warning sign that French occupation remained here to stay while carrying the big stick. By the same token, the French leaders underestimated Bao Dai nationalist fervor and his genuine conviction to bring about real independence for Indochina.That's the dream he will pursue for the rest of his life, although his message will become hollow compared to other more charismatic leaders. The French realized later to their regret that he still has a role to play in 1947, as their trump card against Ho and the Viet Minh.
Bao Dai was not a nullity, far from it. He was aware of his role as a catalyst for a broad based nationalist movement to achieve independence, without bloodshed and revolution. He abhorred violence and bemoaned his witnessing the misery of his people. His Majesty was quite a sensitive person, perhaps too delicate to face the harsh reality of war and conflict. The tragedy was, apart from being sentimental and weak, that he never aspired to be the ruler of his country. He lacked the fiber to fight and lead. He could have been an artist bon vivant having a good life, a politician, unquestionably not. He was the perfect Hamlet. To be or not to be, that's the kind of question he was never capable to answer. He seemed to lag behind the events and be dragged or towed by them.
As the situation of Indochina worsened, Bao Dai was not aware of any development fostering the rise of the resistance movement, especially from the Communists. He didn't even know who is Ho Chi Minh, the leader of the emerging force against French power. He was a dreamer and a pathetic figure wasting his time and energy in hedonistic pursuit. That's his kind of resistance against the French. To sum up, Bao Dai as a promising new monarch has lost an unique occasion to stand up to serve his country and his subjects. What a pitiful waste for an embattled proud nation!
PS. His Majesty protector of greatness fit the saying by author Stevenson that 'No man is wiser than his destiny'. For a nation mired in tragedy throughout its history, and with an obsession for superstitious phenomenons, the temptation was great to blame Bao Dai for his unlucky sign, as we have mentioned. For the record:
1. he was born in 1913
2. he was the 13th emperor, the last of the Nguyen dynasty
3. he came to the throne in 1926, at the age of 13
4. he effectively reigned for 13 years, from 1932 to 1945
5. he had 13 children with Nam Phuong and other mistresses
6. finally he died in 1997 and was entombed at the 13th hour of the day.
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