Le Hoan

In this Vietnamese name, the family name is 黎 (surname), but is often simplified to Le in English-language text. According to Vietnamese custom, this person should properly be referred to by the given name Hoan.

Lê Hoàn 黎桓 Lê Đại Hành (黎大行)
Emperor of Đại Cồ Việt
A statue of Lê Đại Hành in Hoa Lư
Reign	980–1005
Predecessor	Đinh Phế Đế
Successor	Lê Trung Tông
Spouse	Đại Thắng Minh Hoàng Hậu Phụng Càn Chí Lý Hoàng hậu Thuận Thánh Minh Đạo Hoàng hậu Trịnh Quắc Hoàng hậu Phạm Hoàng hậu
Issue
Lê Long Thâu Lê Ngân Tích Lê Long Việt Lê Long Đinh Lê Long Đĩnh Lê Long Cân Lê Long Tung Lê Long Tương Lê Long Kính Lê Long Mang Lê Long Đề
Full name
Lê Hoàn
Era name and dates
Thiên Phúc (天福): 980–988 Hưng Thống (興統): 989–993 Ứng Thiên (應天): 994–1005
House	Early Lê Dynasty
Father	Lê Mịch
Mother	Đặng Thị
Born	941
Died	1005

Lê Hoàn (941–1005), posthumous name Lê Đại Hành, was a king and emperor of Đại Cồ Việt (Vietnam) under the Anterior Lê Dynasty. He was the commander in chief of the army of Emperor Đinh Bộ Lĩnh, but he also had an illicit relationship with the Empress Dowager, dethroned Đinh Bộ Lĩnh’s heir and proclaimed himself king in 980. He retained the imperial capital at Hoa Lư and succeeded in warding off several Chinese invasions by the Song Court, but continued paying them tributes every three years in exchange for a peaceful relations.

Lê Đại Hành’s reign marked the first attempt to consolidate the Vietnamese nation. He devoted a great deal of energy to developing the road network in order to better administer the country’s different regions. However, the local forces were still reluctant to conform with the central authority and mounted a succession of revolts.

Lê Hoàn’s 25 year reign was marked by foreign wars. The Song Dynasty in China had hoped to take advantage of the instability in Vietnam by launching an invasion of its ex-dependency, but Lê Hoàn defeated the Chinese armies in 981 (see: Battle of Bạch Đằng (981)) and obtained official Chinese recognition of Vietnamese independence.

On the domestic scene, the reign of Lê Hoàn was marked by efforts to strengthen the fragile structure of the infant Vietnamese state. He largely relied on his sons, several of whom he appointed as governors of key provinces. Lê Hoàn died in 1005, leading to a fratricidal strife among his heirs. The victor himself died two years later, leaving an infant son as successor. Through intrigues at court, a popular mandarin (bureaucrat) by the name of Lý Công Uẩn was appointed to the throne and founded a new Lý Dynasty.

In 1005, after 24 years of difficult rule, Lê Đại Hành died. The Tiền Lê dynasty eventually collapsed after the death of one of Lê Đại Hành’s heirs in 1009.

His successor, Lê Trung Tông, neglected to give him a posthumous name in accordance with other East Asian royal traditions. He is thus known by the default name, Lê Đại Hành (黎大行, literally "Lê The Great Conqueror").

Hoa Lu Ancient Capital - Dai Co Viet country's capital

Preceded by Đinh Phế Đế (Đinh Dynasty)

Emperor of Đại Cồ Việt 980–1005

Succeeded by Lê Trung Tông