Nguyễn Tri Phương
Nguyễn Tri Phương was a Nguyễn Dynasty mandarin and military commander. He commanded armies against the French Cochinchina Campaign at the battles of Đà Nẵng, Gia Định and Hanoi.
Phương had risen quickly in military ranks after recapturing Hà Tiên and defeating the Siamese army at Châu Đốc. He succeeded Trương Minh Giảng in 1841 as viceroy of Thiệu Trị in Southern Cochinchina. He then became a senior advisor to the next emperor Tự Đức. He was wounded and captured by the French in 1873. He refused to be treated by French and began a hunger strike, dying shortly afterwards. His ceremonial dress was taken as a trophy by Francis Garnier.
He was venerated alongside Hoàng Diệu by the Vietnamese people as loyal subjects who sacrificed themselves for Vietnam. Many cities and streets in Vietnam were named after him.
