The Journey to Become the Queen of Chan Lap of Princess Ngoc Van

Princess Ngoc Van is one of the princesses who had the greatest influence on the history of Vietnam. In 1620, she was given in marriage to the King of Chenla and became the queen of this country.

Princess Ngoc Van, whose full name is Nguyen Phuc Ngoc Van, (her date of birth and of death are unknown), is the second daughter of Lord Sai Nguyen Phuc Nguyen (ruled the country from 1613 to 1635). The historical context of this time was that, although the Le dynasty was still the official dynasty, the real power lied in the hands of Lord Trinh in Dang Ngoai and Lord Nguyen in Dang Trong. Therefore, some of the documents referred to her as “Công nữ” (Lord’s daughter), not as the Princess (King’s daughter).

In 1620, Ngoc Van got married to King Chey Chetta II of Chenla country and became the country with the title of Somdach Prea Peaccayo dey Preavoreac.

Thanks to this marriage, the amity between the two countries was good so that Lord Nguyen can put the force in order to deal with Lord Trinh in Dang Trong. At the same time, this marriage also created more opportunities for Vietnam to expand the territory to the south.

Before getting married to the King of Chenla, Ngoc Van princess was famous for being a beautiful and talented girl. The Princess had engaged with Tran Dinh Huy, a handsome, both scholar and a warrior young man, the son of a heroic lineage, close to Lord Nguyen.

However, because of the safety of the country, Princess Ngoc Van accepted to put her own love aside and marry the King of Chenla.

King Chey Chetta II (Sultan of Chenla country) hoped that this marriage would expand the relationship of two countries, also make a strong fulcrum of military and political security for his country.

The important changes in the relations between the two countries thanks to Princess Ngoc Van

King Chey Chetta II appointed Princess Ngoc Van the queen of Chenla with a noble title of Somdach Prea Peaccayo dey Preavoreac.

The Queen (Princess Ngoc Van) brought many Vietnamese people to the country of Chenla and gave them vital positions on the court, she set up a workshop and opened many stores near the capital.

King Chey Chetta II also allowed a number of Vietnamese women to go to Chenla and hold important positions in the court of Chan Lap. Along with that, the king Chey Chetta II also favored for much Vietnamese to build factories and run businesses near the capital.

Especially, in 1623, the ambassador of Lord Nguyen went to Oudong and requested to build a tax department in Prey Nokor (ie. Saigon today) and put here a commodity tax base. King Chey Chetta II approved this request, and the court of Thuan Hoa encouraged Vietnamese migrants came here to do business with the reason to help Chenla government maintain the peace, also sent a general to Prey Nokor.

However, significant upheaval accidentally happened to Princess Ngoc Van

In 1928, King Chey Chetta II passed away. After that, Chendla politics witnessed an intense volatility because of the competition to gain the throne.

Chau Ponhea To, the son of King Chey Chetta II and Princess Ngoc Van, succeeded his father as the tradition of with the render assistance of his uncle Ta Preah Outey. However, Chau Ponhea To ruled the country for only two years because the king was killed by his uncle Outey Preah. Then, the 2nd son of King Chey Chetta II and Princess Ngoc Van continued to the throne and chose the royal title of Ponhea Nu. To 1640, Nu Ponhea suddenly passed away.

Despite losing two children, Princess Ngoc Van still remained her Queen mother position. After more than 50 years living in the court of Chan Lap, the Empress Ngoc Van followed the king Ang Non to rule the land of Saigon today. Then, she retired to live in Ba Ria. Here, she founded Gia Lao Pagoda in Chua Chan Mount, Dong Nai and lived for the rest of her life.

Source : http://www.indochinatravelpackages.com/blogs/