Battle of Chi Lăng
Chi Lăng Pass, Lạng Sơn Province, Vietnam
What happened
Vietnamese forces of the Lam Sơn uprising, led by Lê Lợi, fought a Ming Chinese relief army under General Liu Sheng. Lê Lợi had been fighting Ming rule over Vietnam since 1418. A Ming army marched south to rescue troops besieged at Đông Quan. At Chi Lăng the Vietnamese pretended to flee, drawing the Ming cavalry into marshes where their horses got stuck, and then ambushed them.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It led the Ming emperor to decide to withdraw from northern Vietnam. Soon afterwards the Ming withdrew from northern Vietnam.
What came next
In 1428 Lê Lợi became emperor, founding the Later Lê dynasty. In 1431 the Ming recognised him as king.
Did you know?
Legend says Lê Lợi later returned a magic sword to a golden turtle in a lake in Hanoi, now called Hoàn Kiếm Lake, the 'Lake of the Returned Sword'.
Timeline
- 1418Lê Lợi begins the Lam Sơn uprising.
- 18 September 1427The Vietnamese win at Chi Lăng.
- October 1427The Ming decide to withdraw.
- 1428Lê Lợi becomes emperor.
- 1431The Ming recognise Lê Lợi as king.