Duong Tam Kha

Dương Tam Kha 楊三哥
King of Vietnam
Full name	Dương Chủ Tướng
Predecessor	Ngô Quyền
Successor	Ngô Xương Ngập and Ngô Xương Văn
Dynasty	Ngô Dynasty

Dương Tam Kha (born Dương Chủ Tướng (楊主將), ?-?) was King of Vietnam during the short time from 944 to 950 in the Ngô Dynasty.

Early years

Dương Tam Kha was one of Dương Đình Nghệ's sons, brother of Ngô Quyền’s wife, empress Dương. According to “Đại Việt sử lược” (大越史略) (abridged historic book of Great Viet), his birth-name was Dương Chủ Tướng (楊主將), but according to “Tống sử” (宋史, History of the Song Dynasty), he was named Dương Thiệu Hồng (楊紹洪). Some historians said that he was the third son of Dương Đình Nghệ, after Dương Nhất Kha and Dương Nhị Kha.

Subordinate general period

He was a subordinate general of Khúc Hạo in the area of Aichau (now Thanh Hoa province). In the year 931, Dương Đình Nghệ defeated Ly‎ Khắc Chính and Ly Tiến, took up the capital of Đại La (former name of Hanoi), professed himself as “Tiết độ sứ” (equivalent to Lord Protector), a handle established by Chinese government to rule Giao Chỉ, a district covered most northern area of Vietnam today. Dương Tam Kha became a subordinate general of his father.

Six years later, Kiều Công Tiễn, also a general of Dương Đình Nghệ, mutinied and killed his master in order to replace Dương Đình Nghệ as “Tiết Độ Sứ”. In 938, Ngô Quyền, son-in-law and also former general of Dương Đình Nghệ defeated the potency of Kiều Công Tiễn and also killed him. After that, Dương Tam Kha follow Ngô Quyền as his general. Some historic books said that he and Ngô Xương Ngập, son of Ngô Quyền, led the army to defeat Kiều Công Tiễn in Đại La.

As the Ngô Quyền’s campaign was being developed, Kiều Công Tiễn sent the envoys to Southern Han to petition for sending army to help himself. King of Southern Han, Liu Yan, dispatched his son, Liu Hung-ts’ao to lead an infantry army to help Kiều Công Tiễn, he also led a different army to supply his son. But Kiều Công Tiễn was killed before this army arrived. In the November of 938, at the Battle of Bạch Đằng, the army was defeated by Ngô Quyền, Liu Hung-ts’ao was killed. Dương Tam Kha participated in this campaign.

Mutiny and accession

In 944, before his death, Ngô Quyền had Dương Tam Kha become regent for his son, Ngô Xương Ngập. But, after the demise of Ngô Quyền, he forced his nephew-in-law to abdicate and installed himself as king, calling himself "King of Pacification Dương." Ngô Xương Ngập fled to Trà Hưong village (modern Hai Duong Province) and was concealed by a leader of area “hào trưởng” named Phạm Lệnh Công. “Hào trưởng” is a title named for a men who is lead his kin and also a large area around his fee. He has a power to own his army. We also know that Dương Đình Nghệ was merely a “hào trưởng” before he defeated Southern Han army and liberated Đại La capital. Phạm Lệnh Công threefold conducted Ngô Xương Ngập to the deep forest to elude the battle of Dương Tam Kha. Thanks to his efforts, Ngô Xương Ngập was in safety. Afterward, Dương Tam Kha adopted the second son of Ngô Quyền. During the time of his reign, he kept the nation going through a flat and stable way, stimulated the exploitation in new areas.

In 950, Dương Tam Kha forced Ngô Xương Văn to quell the rebellion in Thai Binh province but he turn his army to dethrone Dương Tam Kha. Despite the fact that Dương Tam Kha dethroned his brother after the demise of his father, Ngô Xương Văn did not kill him, but degraded him to “Envoy of Chương Dương”.

Later years

He spent his later years reclaiming new land called Giao Thủy with his family and follower. Some historic evidence showed that he was the father of Dương Vân Nga two-dynasty empress and till lived when she married Đinh Tiên Hoàng in 966.

References

• "Đại Việt sử lược"
• vi:Dương Tam Kha

Duong Tam Kha Ngô Dynasty Died: 950
Preceded by Ngô Quyền	King of Nam Việt 944 to 950	Succeeded by Ngô Xương Ngập and Ngô Xương Văn

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