Nguyễn Thiện Thuật


Nguyễn Thiện Thuật was a Vietnamese revolutionary leader, who commanded armed forces during the anti-colonial struggle.
As a high-ranking official under the Nguyễn Dynasty, he governed Hải Dương, Hải Phòng, and Quảng Ninh. When Hà Nội surrendered to the French in 1883, the Nguyễn Văn Thương regime signed the Treaty of Huế and acknowledged the French protectorate over the northern and central parts of the Vietnam. When he was ordered to stop fighting, Nguyen resigned from his post and retreated to Đông Triều, where he organized and continued armed resistance against the French. He also joined forces with the Black Flag Army led by Lưu Vĩnh Phúc. A nine-year revolt ensued in the swampy area of Bãi Sậy. Due to constant attacks from the French, the resistance was weakened. Nguyen left for China, with the hope of reviving the revolution at a later time, but died in Guangxi in 1926.
His grandson was Chinese Nationalist Army major general Nguyễn Chấn Á who returned to Vietnam as one of the Taiwan military advisors.

Biography

Nguyễn Thiện Thuật was born on March 23, 1844 in Xuân Dục village, Đường Hào district, was the eldest child of a poor Confucian, he was a descendant of Nguyễn Trãi. His father was lecturer Nguyễn Tuy, his younger brothers were Nguyễn Thiện Dương and Nguyễn Thiện Kế, they both participated in Bãi Sậy uprising that was led by Thuật.
After he graduated baccalaureate in 1874, he was deputed as a deputy. In 1876, he continued to take part in Confucianism examination and only got Bachelor's degree.