kingdom · Mainland Southeast Asia
Ly dynasty
Origins
In 1009 the court official Ly Cong Uan, raised in a Buddhist monastery, was chosen to succeed the Early Le dynasty and reigned as Ly Thai To. In 1010 he moved the capital from Hoa Lu to the site of Dai La, renaming it Thang Long, 'rising dragon'. In 1054 the state was renamed Dai Viet.
Rule and society
Ly rulers combined Buddhist patronage with Confucian government. They built the One Pillar Pagoda, founded the Temple of Literature in 1070 and held the first civil service examination in 1075. Dikes on the Red River and a law code strengthened the state. The general Ly Thuong Kiet raided Song China in 1075 and defeated a Song counter-invasion at the Nhu Nguyet river in 1077.
Decline and legacy
From the late 12th century weak rulers let regional clans gain power, and the Tran family came to dominate the court. In 1225 the young empress Ly Chieu Hoang was married to Tran Canh and abdicated in his favour, founding the Tran dynasty.
Lineage
On the connections map
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- Ly dynasty paid tribute to Song Dynasty1010 CE – 1225 CE
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Cite this page
- APA
- The Epoch Institute. (2026). Ly dynasty. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/ly-dynasty
- MLA
- “Ly dynasty.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/ly-dynasty. Accessed .
- Chicago
- The Epoch Institute. “Ly dynasty.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/ly-dynasty.
- Harvard
- The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Ly dynasty’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/ly-dynasty (Accessed: ).
Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻