Governor Hoàng Diệu, a bright example for posterity to follow
On the morning of 23 April 2018 at Cửa Bắc (North Gate), Thăng Long – Hà Nội Heritage Conservation Centre organized an incense offering ceremony on the 136th anniversary of the passing of Governor Hoàng Diệu. The ceremony was attended by His Excellency Mr. Nguyễn Xuân Phúc – Member of the Politburo and Prime Minister; Mr. Nguyễn Quốc Triệu, Head of the Central Committee for the Health Care of Cadres, Mr. Nguyễn Đức Chung – Member of the Central Party Committee, Deputy Secretary of Hanoi Party Committee and Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee, representatives of local authorities and the district of Ba Đình, cadres, official military and armed forces and mass organizations, representatives of descendants of the Hoàng Family in Xuân Đài (Quảng Nam); teachers and students of Hoàng Diệu Primary Schools as well as local and foreign visitors.
Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc and attendants posing in a photo.
Governor Hoàng Diệu, known by birth as Hoàng Kim Tích, style name Quang Viễn, courtesy name Tĩnh Trai. He was born in 1829 to a family of renowned scholarly traditions in Xuân Đài Village, Diên Phước, Quảng Nam (now Điện Bàn District of Quảng Nam).
Between 1879 and 1882, Hoàng Diệu served as Governor of Hà Ninh, governing the most pivotal region of Tonkin, that is Hanoi and its vicinity. When the French launched a second attack on Hà Nội Citadel, Hoàng Diệu commanded his men to engage the enemy, bravely defending the citadel despite the prior surrender by the central court in Huế. On 25 April 1882, the Citadel of Hà Nội fell, and Hoàng Diệu committed suicide at Võ Miếu rather than being captured by the enemy.
The solitary citadel, he guarded on his own
A match for his trepidity is rarely known
A bright example for thousand years he set
With his unwavering loyalty and his heroic death
He’d rather kill himself than live in shame
The enemy trembled with fear as they heard his name
His bravery at Mount Nùng will live on for a thousand years
Righteous people, upon arrival at the site, will shed tears.
(Vietnamese translation by Chu Thiên)
These lines of poetry, extracted from the two epics “Hanoi Citadel Song of Integrity” and “Song on the Fall of Hanoi Citadel”, contain tears and blood, sung from the bottom of the hearts of the learned young locals of Hanoi who moaned the heroic death of Governor Hoàng Diệu – a man known for his utmost loyalty to the court and patriotism for the country. They move us deeply even generations later.
Descendants of the Hoàng Family in Xuân Đài (Quảng Nam) taking part in the incense offering ceremony in honour of Hoàng Diệu.
On the 25 April 1882, French colonialists attacked the Citadel of Hanoi for the second time. Despite their use of grand vessels and cannons, Governor Hoàng Diệu did not lose composure and was determined to defend the citadel. The fierce resistance from the citadel troops and civilians dealt a severe blow on the invading enemies, forcing them to retreat out of the firing range of our army in order not to suffer heavier casualties. However, because of a traitor who set fire to the ammunition inside the citadel which resulted in chaos, the French took advantage and climbed over the western city gate, pushed down the gate and stormed the citadel in large number. In no time the Western Gate was destroyed. Knowing defeat was near, Governor Hoàng Diệu retraced to the inner hall, penned a letter of apology to the court and then used his turban to commit suicide at Võ Miếu, sending a message that he would rather die than surrender. He wrote:
“I was full of shame when the citadel could not withstand enemy’s attack. I do not fear claiming my own life, following the example of Nguyễn Tri Phương. I cry tears of separation now from His Majesty …”.
Students of the Hoàng Diệu Primary School paying tribute to the deeds and bravery of the heroic governor.
136 years have elapsed since the day Governor Hoàng Diệu sacrificed himself at Võ Miếu, yet the example of his loyalty is still honored and remembered by posterity generations. At the North Gate (Cửa Bắc) of the Thăng Long Imperial Citadel, there is now an annual incense offering ceremony to the memory of Governor Hoàng Diệu and the martyrs who fought and died to protect the Citadel and defend the country. These are extremely meaningful activities to educate traditions to future generations so that they learn to cherish the precious historical values and the heroic traditions of our forefathers.
Khánh Vân
Thăng Long – Hà Nội Heritage Conservation Centre
