MINH MANG
(Minh Mạng)
Thailand had invaded Cambodia, and Vietnam intervened and repulsed the Thai. However, they tried to “civilize” the backward Cambodians, and these efforts at cultural and political reform were no appreciated. A full scale rebellion broke out. See {607693} and {43139}. The Vietnamese, the stronger, generous power who had provided so much, could not understand the anti-Vietnamese feeling.
The Emperor thought neighboring Cambodia was barbaric and backward. See {607690}. Meanwhile, like most civilizations he had problems with a minority of his own populace. He came up with a type of Peace Corps concept, but the volunteers were very different. The program was implemented with mixed results. The term of service was three years.
At the time Cambodia was a “third world” nation and Vietnam a regional superpower.
Vietnam and Thailand were both major powers both militarily and economically. Cambodia, adjacent to both was poor and weak. The two powers wanted little in Cambodia, but wanted to keep the other out. Both had military incursions into Cambodia, and thought that the cost of permanent occupation or annexation of the backward Cambodian Khmer areas was not worth the expense. However, Cambodia could do nothing which would offend either power.
Minh Mạng was the second emperor of the Nguyễn dynasty of Vietnam, reigning from 14 February 1820 until his death, on 20 January 1841. He was the fourth son of Emperor Gia Long, whose eldest son, Nguyễn Phúc Cảnh, had died in 1801. He was well known for his opposition to French involvement in Vietnam and his rigid Confucian orthodoxy.
