Lê Ngoạ Triều

Infobox Monarch
name =Lê Ngọa Triều
title =King of Vietnam


caption =
full name = Lê Long Đĩnh
predecessor =Lê Trung Tông
successor =Lý Thái Tổ
dynasty =Ngô Dynasty|

Lê Ngọa Triều (IPA|/le ŋɔə˨ tʂɪeʊ˨˩/; Hán tự: ; 986-1009), born "Lê Long Đĩnh" (IPA|/le lɔŋ ɗɪn˧˨˧/; ) was the last king (1005-1009) of the Anterior Lê Dynasty of Vietnam.

After killing the predecessor and also his half-brother Lê Long Việt, Lê Long Đĩnh took the throne and named his era Cảnh Thụy.

Tyrannical and brutal reign

According to "Đại Việt sử kí toàn thư" (The history of Great Viet), he was one of the most brutal and sadistic kings during the era of Vietnam's feudal system. There were some short historic details about it:
*He often executed people who were condemned to death by some frightful ways such as tying them with hay to burn to death or ordering a play-actor called Liêu Thủ Tâm coming from Great Song to gradually mutilate them by a dull knife to death. When the victim was crying and howling, this actor played the fool by talking that the victim was not used to being dead. The king was very excited and pleased.
* After capturing some prisoners of war, he ordered his soldiers to conduct them to the riverside and cram them into cages and set them on the riverbed near the bank when the tidal water level was lowest, and waited until the tide rose, to see them die gradually.
* The king himself often stuck livestock such as pigs or cows to death before allowed his servants to bring them to kitchen. And at court banquets, he himself killed cats to serve his guests and his officials and at the end of the banquets, he exposed the head of the cat to all, making them frightened. He always considered the massacre an easy way to relax.

Later life

According to historical records, he had contracted hemorrhoids and often held court while lying down, earning the popular name “Lê Ngọa Triều” (“Ngọa” means “lie” and “Triều” means “court”). He was not given a temple name because his successor usurped the Le Dynasty and started the Ly Dynasty.

He held the throne for four years, until 1009, when he died at the age of 24. His son Sạ was but a child so under the management of an official named Đào Cam Mộc, all officials enthroned L‎ý Công Uẩn without any debate. The Anterior Le Dynasty finished after three reigns.

References

* "Đại Việt sử lược"
* “Đại Việt sử kí tòan thư”
* [http://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%AA_Ng%E1%BB%8Da_Tri%E1%BB%81u]