Vietnam: Court mandarin, Hue, late 19th century

Hue originally rose to prominence as the capital of the Nguyen Lords, a feudal dynasty which dominated much of southern Vietnam from the 17th to the 19th century. In 1775 when Tr?nh Sâm captured it, it was known as Phu Xuan. In 1802, Nguy?n Phúc Ánh (later Emperor Gia Long) succeeded in establishing his control over the whole of Vietnam, thereby making Hu? the national capital. Hue was the national capital until 1945, when Emperor Bao Dai abdicated and a communist government was established in Ha N?i (Hanoi), in the north. While Bao Dai was briefly proclaimed 'Head of State' with the help of the returning French colonialists in 1949 (although without recognition from the communists and the full acceptance of the Vietnamese people), his new capital was Sai Gn (Saigon), in the south.