Prince Tĩnh Quốc Trần Quốc Khang (1237–1300) was the first prince of the EmperorTrần Thái Tông, the eldest brother of Trần Thánh Tông and princes Trần Quang Khải, Trần Ích Tắc and Trần Nhật Duật. Although a son of Thái Tông in name, Trần Quốc Khang's father was actually Prince Hoài Trần Liễu, who was forced by grand chancellor Trần Thủ Độ to give up his wife, Princess Thuận Thiên, to his younger brother Thái Tông when she was already pregnant with Trần Quốc Khang. For this reason, Trần Quốc Khang was not chosen as successor of Thái Tông for the throne, and he did not have a significant role in royal court either, as his younger brothers did. Afterwards he was appointed as governor of Nghệ An, a position that his descendants inherited. Since Trần Quốc Khang was in fact a son of Trần Liễu, he was also a natural brother of general Trần Hưng Đạo, commander-in-chief of Đại Việt army.
Trần Quốc Khang was born in 1237 as the first son of the Emperor Trần Thái Tông and his new empress Thuận Thiên. According to Đại Việt sử kí toàn thư, Thái Tông and his wife, the Empress Chiêu Thánh, did not have their first son for a while. This situation made grand chancellor Trần Thủ Độ worried, because he had profited from the same circumstance with the Emperor Lý Huệ Tông to overthrow the Lý dynasty and create the Trần dynasty. Therefore, Trần Thủ Độ decided to force Thái Tông's elder brother, Prince Hoài Trần Liễu, to give up his wife Princess Thuận Thiên for the Emperor when she had been already pregnant with Trần Quốc Khang for three months. After the royal marriage, Thuận Thiên was styled the new empress of the Trần dynasty, while Chiêu Thánh was downgraded to princess. In the fury of losing his pregnant wife, Trần Liễu rose a revolt against the royal family, and Thái Tông felt awkward about the situation and decided to become a monk in Yên Tử Mountain. The stable state was only restored when Trần Thủ Độ successfully persuaded Thái Tông to return to the throne and put down Trần Liễu's revolt. Vietnamese historians in the feudal era, such as Ngô Sĩ Liên or Phan Phu Tiên, often criticized decisions of Trần Thủ Độ and Trần Thái Tông in this event and considered it as the root cause for the downfall of the Trần dynasty afterwards, during the reign of Trần Dụ Tông.[1]
After the birth of Quốc Khang, Thái Tông and the Empress Thuận Thiên had two other sons, crown princeTrần Hoảng, who eventually became the Emperor Trần Thánh Tông,[2] and Prince Chiêu Minh Trần Quang Khải. Thái Tông also had several sons with his concubines, such as Prince Chiêu Quốc Trần Ích Tắc and Prince Chiêu Văn Trần Nhật Duật.[3]
Historyedit
Unlike his famous brothers Trần Quang Khải or Trần Nhật Duật, Prince Tĩnh Quốc (Vietnamese: Tĩnh Quốc vương) Trần Quốc Khang was not an important figure in the royal court during Đại Việt's war of resistance against the Mongol invasion. While Trần Quang Khải was appointed by the Emperor Trần Thánh Tông as minister at age 20, Trần Quốc Khang was not considered capable for an important position and thus he held only some nominal high-ranking title, but without real power in the royal court.[4][5] However, Prince Tĩnh Quốc always lived in good term with his brothers. It was said that[6] one time when the Retired Emperor Thái Tông wore a white cotton coat, Trần Quốc Khang tried to make the Retired Emperor award him this coat by a dance and finally achieved his purpose, but when the Emperor also wanted to get the coat by another dance, Prince Tĩnh Quốc said: "Even for the most precious thing, the throne, Your Majesty's humble subject [Quốc Khang] did not want to fight with the second brother [Thánh Tông]. Now the Retired Emperor awards me this negligible coat and the second brother still wants to deprive me of it?"[7] His answer was praised by Thái Tông: "So you think that the throne has the same value as this mediocre coat."[8]
In 1269, Trần Quốc Khang was appointed as commander in chief (thượng tướng quân) to govern the southern frontier province Nghệ An.[9] Prince Tĩnh Quốc decided to build his palace there, which was so luxurious that the Emperor knew about its reputation. Ultimately Prince Tĩnh Quốc transformed his palace into a Buddhist pagoda which still remains today with the name Thông Pagoda.[10] During the invasion of the Yuan dynasty in Đại Việt, Trần Quốc Khang's son, Marquis Chương Hiến (Chương Hiến hầu) Trần Kiện surrendered to Kublai Khan's prince Toghan. He was one of the highest ranking defectors of the Trần dynasty, just lower than Trần Ích Tắc, Trần Quốc Khang's younger brother. Before he could flee to northern border, Trần Kiện was killed in February 1285 by Nguyễn Địa Lô, house servant of Trần Hưng Đạo who incidentally was a son of Trần Liễu and thus a natural brother of Trần Quốc Khang.[11]
Prince Tĩnh Quốc Trần Quốc Khang died in March 1300 at the age of 63. Afterwards, his position of governor of Nghệ An was inherited by his descendants for several generations.[12]
^In Vietnamese: "Cái quý nhất là ngôi hoàng đế, hạ thần còn không tranh với chú hai. Nay đức chí tôn ban cho thần một vật nhỏ mọn mà chú hai cũng muốn cướp lấy chăng?". Ngô Sĩ Liên 1993, p. 180
^On Vietnamese: "Thế ra mày coi ngôi vua với cái áo xoàng này chẳng hơn kém gì nhau." Ngô Sĩ Liên 1993, p. 181
trần, quốc, khang, prince, tĩnh, quốc, 1237, 1300, first, prince, emperor, trần, thái, tông, eldest, brother, trần, thánh, tông, princes, trần, quang, khải, trần, Ích, tắc, trần, nhật, duật, although, thái, tông, name, father, actually, prince, hoài, trần, liễ. Prince Tĩnh Quốc Trần Quốc Khang 1237 1300 was the first prince of the Emperor Trần Thai Tong the eldest brother of Trần Thanh Tong and princes Trần Quang Khải Trần Ich Tắc and Trần Nhật Duật Although a son of Thai Tong in name Trần Quốc Khang s father was actually Prince Hoai Trần Liễu who was forced by grand chancellor Trần Thủ Độ to give up his wife Princess Thuận Thien to his younger brother Thai Tong when she was already pregnant with Trần Quốc Khang For this reason Trần Quốc Khang was not chosen as successor of Thai Tong for the throne and he did not have a significant role in royal court either as his younger brothers did Afterwards he was appointed as governor of Nghệ An a position that his descendants inherited Since Trần Quốc Khang was in fact a son of Trần Liễu he was also a natural brother of general Trần Hưng Đạo commander in chief of Đại Việt army Trần Quốc Khang陳國康Prince Tĩnh QuốcBorn1237 1237 Thang Long Đại ViệtDied1300 aged 62 63 Thăng Long Đại ViệtHouseTrần dynastyFatherTrần Thai Tong in name Trần Liễu by nature MotherPrincess Thuận Thien This article contains Vietnamese text Without proper rendering support you may see question marks boxes or other symbols instead of chữ Nom chữ Han and chữ Quốc ngữ Contents 1 Background 2 History 3 References 3 1 Notes 3 2 BibliographyBackground editTrần Quốc Khang was born in 1237 as the first son of the Emperor Trần Thai Tong and his new empress Thuận Thien According to Đại Việt sử ki toan thư Thai Tong and his wife the Empress Chieu Thanh did not have their first son for a while This situation made grand chancellor Trần Thủ Độ worried because he had profited from the same circumstance with the Emperor Ly Huệ Tong to overthrow the Ly dynasty and create the Trần dynasty Therefore Trần Thủ Độ decided to force Thai Tong s elder brother Prince Hoai Trần Liễu to give up his wife Princess Thuận Thien for the Emperor when she had been already pregnant with Trần Quốc Khang for three months After the royal marriage Thuận Thien was styled the new empress of the Trần dynasty while Chieu Thanh was downgraded to princess In the fury of losing his pregnant wife Trần Liễu rose a revolt against the royal family and Thai Tong felt awkward about the situation and decided to become a monk in Yen Tử Mountain The stable state was only restored when Trần Thủ Độ successfully persuaded Thai Tong to return to the throne and put down Trần Liễu s revolt Vietnamese historians in the feudal era such as Ngo Sĩ Lien or Phan Phu Tien often criticized decisions of Trần Thủ Độ and Trần Thai Tong in this event and considered it as the root cause for the downfall of the Trần dynasty afterwards during the reign of Trần Dụ Tong 1 After the birth of Quốc Khang Thai Tong and the Empress Thuận Thien had two other sons crown prince Trần Hoảng who eventually became the Emperor Trần Thanh Tong 2 and Prince Chieu Minh Trần Quang Khải Thai Tong also had several sons with his concubines such as Prince Chieu Quốc Trần Ich Tắc and Prince Chieu Văn Trần Nhật Duật 3 History editUnlike his famous brothers Trần Quang Khải or Trần Nhật Duật Prince Tĩnh Quốc Vietnamese Tĩnh Quốc vương Trần Quốc Khang was not an important figure in the royal court during Đại Việt s war of resistance against the Mongol invasion While Trần Quang Khải was appointed by the Emperor Trần Thanh Tong as minister at age 20 Trần Quốc Khang was not considered capable for an important position and thus he held only some nominal high ranking title but without real power in the royal court 4 5 However Prince Tĩnh Quốc always lived in good term with his brothers It was said that 6 one time when the Retired Emperor Thai Tong wore a white cotton coat Trần Quốc Khang tried to make the Retired Emperor award him this coat by a dance and finally achieved his purpose but when the Emperor also wanted to get the coat by another dance Prince Tĩnh Quốc said Even for the most precious thing the throne Your Majesty s humble subject Quốc Khang did not want to fight with the second brother Thanh Tong Now the Retired Emperor awards me this negligible coat and the second brother still wants to deprive me of it 7 His answer was praised by Thai Tong So you think that the throne has the same value as this mediocre coat 8 In 1269 Trần Quốc Khang was appointed as commander in chief thượng tướng quan to govern the southern frontier province Nghệ An 9 Prince Tĩnh Quốc decided to build his palace there which was so luxurious that the Emperor knew about its reputation Ultimately Prince Tĩnh Quốc transformed his palace into a Buddhist pagoda which still remains today with the name Thong Pagoda 10 During the invasion of the Yuan dynasty in Đại Việt Trần Quốc Khang s son Marquis Chương Hiến Chương Hiến hầu Trần Kiện surrendered to Kublai Khan s prince Toghan He was one of the highest ranking defectors of the Trần dynasty just lower than Trần Ich Tắc Trần Quốc Khang s younger brother Before he could flee to northern border Trần Kiện was killed in February 1285 by Nguyễn Địa Lo house servant of Trần Hưng Đạo who incidentally was a son of Trần Liễu and thus a natural brother of Trần Quốc Khang 11 Prince Tĩnh Quốc Trần Quốc Khang died in March 1300 at the age of 63 Afterwards his position of governor of Nghệ An was inherited by his descendants for several generations 12 References editNotes edit Ngo Sĩ Lien 1993 p 165 National Bureau for Historical Record 1998 p 198 Ngo Sĩ Lien 1993 p 166 Ngo Sĩ Lien 1993 p 176 National Bureau for Historical Record 1998 p 213 Ngo Sĩ Lien 1993 pp 180 181 In Vietnamese Cai quy nhất la ngoi hoang đế hạ thần con khong tranh với chu hai Nay đức chi ton ban cho thần một vật nhỏ mọn ma chu hai cũng muốn cướp lấy chăng Ngo Sĩ Lien 1993 p 180 On Vietnamese Thế ra may coi ngoi vua với cai ao xoang nay chẳng hơn kem gi nhau Ngo Sĩ Lien 1993 p 181 National Bureau for Historical Record 1998 p 218 Ngo Sĩ Lien 1993 p 181 Ngo Sĩ Lien 1993 p 192 Ngo Sĩ Lien 1993 p 210 Bibliography edit Ngo Sĩ Lien 1993 Đại Việt sử ky toan thư in Vietnamese Nội cac quan bản ed Hanoi Social Science Publishing House National Bureau for Historical Record 1998 Kham định Việt sử Thong giam cương mục in Vietnamese Hanoi Education Publishing House Trần Trọng Kim 1971 Việt Nam sử lược in Vietnamese Saigon Center for School Materials Chapuis Oscar 1995 A history of Vietnam from Hong Bang to Tu Duc Greenwood Publishing Group ISBN 0 313 29622 7 vteTrần imperial family Colour note Emperor Empress Regnant Retired Emperor Prince Princess Trần Kinh Trần Hấp Trần LyTrần Hoằng Nghi Trần Tự KhanhTrần ThừaLy Huệ TongTrần Thị DungTrần Thủ Độ Princess Thuận Thien Trần LiễuTrần Thai Tong Princess Chieu ThanhLe Phụ Trần Tuệ TrungTrần Hưng ĐạoTrần Quốc KhangTrần Thanh TongTrần Ich TắcTrần Quang KhảiTrần Nhật Duật Phạm Ngũ LaoPrincess Anh NguyenTrần Quốc TảngTrần Nhan TongTrần Khanh DưTrần Đạo TaiPrincess An Tư Princess Huyền TranTrần Quốc ChẩnTrần Anh TongTrần Văn BichPrincess Thụy Bảo Trần Minh TongTrần Nguyen ĐanTrần Binh Trọng Prince Cung TucTrần Hiến TongTrần Dụ TongTrần Nghệ TongTrần Duệ TongTrần Thị ThaiNguyễn Phi Khanh Dương Nhật LễPrince Trang ĐịnhGiản Định ĐếTrần Thuận TongTrần Phế ĐếNguyễn Trai Trung Quang ĐếTrần Thiếu Đế Notes Ngo Sĩ Lien 1993 Đại Việt sử ky toan thư in Vietnamese Nội cac quan bản ed Hanoi Social Science Publishing House National Bureau for Historical Record 1998 Kham định Việt sử Thong giam cương mục in Vietnamese Hanoi Education Publishing House Trần Trọng Kim 1971 Việt Nam sử lược in Vietnamese Saigon Center for School Materials Chapuis Oscar 1995 A history of Vietnam from Hong Bang to Tu Duc Greenwood Publishing Group ISBN 0313296227 Family tree of Vietnamese monarchs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Trần Quốc Khang amp oldid 1148066489, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
