Le Thanh Tong

Timeline

1. c. 1442–1460Thang Long · Red River DeltaLe Hao was the youngest son of Le Thai Tong, enfeoffed as Prince of Liang. He ascended in 1460 after his brother Le Nghi Dan was deposed, changing the era name to Quang Thuan, at the age of eighteen. From the start of his reign he set about reforming court governance, which had slackened during the earlier civil strife, laying the foundation for the Hong Duc era.
2. 1461–1470Thang Long · Red River DeltaIn the early years of his reign he changed the era name to Hong Duc, implementing equal-field policy, surveying household registers, and severely punishing corrupt officials. In the 1460s he held imperial examinations, established the National Academy, reformed local administration, repelled Mongol incursions to the north, and campaigned on the Champa frontier to the south; national strength rapidly recovered, marking what history calls the beginning of the 'Hong Duc era.'
3. 1471–1497Thang Long · Red River DeltaIn the 1470s he promulgated the Hong Duc Code, establishing a model for later Vietnamese law; he campaigned south against Champa multiple times, expanding the territory. During his reign culture and education flourished, taxes and labor were orderly, and the Later Le dynasty's power reached its peak. He died at Thang Long in 1497, with the temple name Thanh Tong.