FRANCE, ANNAM, AND CHINA. 121 



Thun-long-Thun, which signifies the " City of the Red Dragon^' and 

 is a very ancient capital, for it was built as far back as the 7 th 

 century, at which period it was included in the Empire of China, 

 and subsequently, for a long period, it became a separate kingdom 

 under the Dinh dynasty. 



In the loth century Tonquin was annexed to the Empire of 

 Annam, whose capital was th'en, as is now. Hub. 



In the 15th century the founder of the Annam dynasty, Leh, 

 delivered the Empire entirely from the domination of China, after 

 a prolonged and frightful struggle, which terminated by a general 

 massacre of the Chinese scattered throughout the whole of the 

 Peninsula. 



In the course of the last century, French missionaries had sought 

 to establish themselves in Annam, and to propagate the Christian 

 religion ; but their propaganda, sometimes tolerated by the 

 authorities in Annam, and sometimes giving them offence, was 

 not made without difficulties and grave dangers. 



In 1774 a Revolution, conducted by three brothers called 

 Tayson, overthrew the dynasty of Lfeh, and exterminated all the 

 members, not only of this family, but those of Trinh and 

 Nguybn except one, who was saved by the French missionary, ' 

 Pigneau-de-Behaine, and who claimed the titles of Bishop of Adran, 

 and Vicar Apostolic of Cochin-China. 



This able missionary gave to the young Prince a good Christian 

 education, and he resolved to re-establish him upon the Throne of 

 his fathers. But all the attempts of the young Pretender being 

 checked, the Bishop of Adran proposed to him to come to Paris, 

 to ask the support of the French Government. 



FROM 1787 TO 1874. 



With the young son of Nguybn, Pigneau-de-Behaine, in 1787, 

 started for Europe, and succeeded in concluding with Louis XVI., 

 and the Court at Versailles, a Treaty of Alliance, offensive and 

 defensive. 



By this Treaty, France agreed to place at the disposition of 

 the Pretender four frigates, and about 2,000 troops. 



Nguyfen on his side, agreed to surrender to France the Bay 

 and the Peninsula of Tourane, as well as two small adjacent 



