The Tran dynasty was a brilliant dynasty with 3 victories to defeat the Mong – Nguyen enemies. That feat clearly marks the talented kings and talented generals.
Based on research and reassessment of history, historian Phan Huy Chu (1782-1840) ranked the 5 best generals of the Tran Dynasty including: Tran Quoc Tuan, Tran Quang Khai, Tran Nhat Duat, Pham Ngu Lao and Tran Khanh Du.
Quoc Cong Tiet Che Hung Dao Dai Vuong
Hung Dao Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan is the most outstanding general of the arrogant Tran dynasty, one of the most talented generals in world military history.
Tran Quoc Tuan’s life was associated with the feat of three times defeating the Mong – Nguyen enemy, the most aggressive and brutal army in the world in the thirteenth century. The victory led him to become one of the outstanding military in world history.
Beside the military talent, Tran Hung Dao also left posterity with great ideas. In particular, the prominence is to take the people as the root as his advice to King Tran Anh Tong before his death: “Pausing the citizen contributions is the sustainable and profound strategy, that is the most preeminent policy to hold the country forever”.
According to some historical documents, even the contemporary Mong – Nguyen army did not dare to call his name directly, they often only called him “An Nam Hung Dao Dai Vuong”.
Tran Khanh Du – a famous general selling coal
Tran Khanh Du (1240-1340), whose name is Nhan Hue Vuong. Despite many bad habits, being criticized by history books, he is a very competent general. In 3 times of resistance war against Mongolia – Nguyen, Tran Khanh Du made great achievements, typically Van Don victory at the end of 1287.
According to Dai Viet history, before that, because he was a crime, Tran Khanh Du was fined 100 whips, stripped of all his possessions, sent back home, worked as a coal burner to earn a living. Later, Tran Khanh Du was pardoned by King Tran Nhan Tong, reinstated, and held the army to kill the enemy.
At the end of 1287, under the command of Tran Khanh Dư, the Tran army defeated the Yuan army’s boat led by Truong Van Ho.
The victory of Tran Khanh Du made the Nguyen army passive. On the way to retreat, they were beaten by Tran Hung Dao and Pham Ngu Lao. Thoat Hoan escaped into the gravure to return home.
In the second resistance war against the Yuan army (1285), Pham Ngu Lao and Tran Quang Khai advanced to attack Chuong Duong and Ham Tu, smashing the great army of the enemy and destroying the Yuan troops occupying Thang Long. Afterwards, he ambushed and defeated the enemy in Van Kiep, blocking their retreat to the Northern border.
