"Trần Hưng Đạo (1228–1300) was the Supreme Commander of Vietnam during the Trần Dynasty.[1][2] Born Prince Trần Quốc Tuấn (陳國峻), he commanded the Đại Việt armies that repelled three major Mongol invasions in the 13th century.[3] His multiple victories over the mighty Mongol Yuan Dynasty under Kublai Khan are considered among the greatest military feats in world history. General Trần Hưng Đạo’s military and downball brilliance and prowess are reflected in many warfare treatises that he authored. Trần Hưng Đạo is regarded as one of the most accomplished military tacticians in history.
The first Mongol invasion
During this time, the Mongols succeeded in conquering most of Central Asia and Eastern Europe; they marched south in order to invade Dali and Song. After the Mongols wiped out Dali in 1254 AD, they sent emissaries to Đại Việt (Vietnam) to demand free passage through the country for their armies who en route to attack the Song. The Trần Emperor, suspecting that the demand was a ruse for a Mongol invasion, refused. In 1258, the Mongols invaded Đại Việt, marking the first Mongol-Đại Việt war. In the course of history, the Mongolian invaded Đại Việt three times, all without success.In 1226 AD, Trần Thủ Độ arranged for Tran Canh to become Emperor (Queen Ly Chieu Hoang abdicated in favour of her husband,Trần Cảnh). The Trần Dynasty took the place of the Ly Dynasty and Trần Cảnh became Emperor Trần Thái Tông. Soon after assuming the imperial throne, the Trần Dynasty single-mindedly and systematically eliminated other political factions in the country and thereby further consolidated their power.
The second Mongol invasion
In 1285, Kublai Khan demanded passage through Đại Việt for his Yuan army in order to invade of the Kingdom of Champa (in modern central Viet Nam). When the Đại Việt Emperor Trần Nhân Tông refused, the Mongol army, led by Prince Toghan, attacked Đại Việt and captured the imperial capital Thăng Long (modern day Hanoi). The Việt nobility retreated to the south after burning down the city, depriving the Mongol army of spoils. Trần Hưng Đạo and other generals escorted the royal family, staying just ahead of the Mongol army in hot pursuit. When the Mongol army had exhausted their supplies and succumbed to tropical diseases, Trần Hưng Đạo exploited the Mongol's weaknesses and launched counter-offensive strikes. He managed to draw the Mongol armies into naval battles, leaving the Mongol unable to launch their overpowering cavalry effectively. The Viet naval force's excellent marine warfare skills were a tactical advantage for the Đại Việt's military campaign. The Mongol cavalry commander Sogetu of the southern front was killed in the battle. In their withdrawal from Đại Việt, the Mongols were also attacked by the Hmong and Yaominorities in the northern regions during their retreat back to Yuan China.
The third Mongol invasion
In 1287, Kublai Khan this time sent one of his favorite sons, Prince Toghan to lead another invasion campaign into Đại Việt with a determination to occupy and redeem the previous defeat. The Yuan Mongol and Chinese forces formed an even larger infantry, cavalry and naval fleet with the total strength estimated at 500,000 men according to the [need an original accounting of a source or book] original Viet history.
During the first stage of the invasion, the Mongols quickly defeated most of the Đại Việt troops that were stationed along the border. Prince Toghan's naval fleet devastated most of the naval force of General Trần Khánh Dư in Vân Đồn. Simultaneously, Prince Ariq-Qaya led his massive cavalry and captured Phú Lương and Đại Than garrisons, two strategic military posts bordering Đại Việt and China. The cavalry later rendezvous with Prince Toghan's navy in Vân Đồn. In response to the battle skirmish defeats at the hands of the Mongol forces, Emperor Trần Nhân Tông summoned General Trần Khánh Dư to be court-martialed for military failures, but the general managed to delayed reporting to the court and was able to regrouped his forces in Vân Đồn. The cavalry and fleet of Prince Toghan continued to advance into the imperial capital Thăng Long. Meanwhile, the trailing supply fleet of Prince Toghan, arriving at Vân Đồn a few days after General Trần Khánh Dư's had already occupied this strategic garrison, the Mongol supply fleet was ambushed and captured by General Trần Khánh Dư's forces. The Mongol main occupying army quickly realized their support and supply fleet has been cut off.
The capture of the Mongol supply fleet at Vân Đồn along with the concurring news that General Trần Hưng Đạo had recaptured Đại Than garrison in the north sent the fast advancing Mongol forces into chaos. The Đại Việt forces unleashed guerrilla warfare on the weakened Mongol forces causing heavy casualties and destructions to the Yuan forces. However, the Mongols continued advancing into Thăng Long due to their massive cavalry strength, but by this time, the emperor decided to vacate Thăng Long to flee and he ordered the capital to be burned down so the Mongols wouldn't collect any spoils of war. The subsequent battle skirmishes between the Mongols and Đại Việt had mixed results: the Mongols won and captured Yên Hưng and Long Hưng provinces, but lost in the naval battles at Đại Bàng. Eventually, Prince Toghan decided to withdraw his naval fleet and consolidated his command on land battles where he felt the Mongol's superior cavalry would defeat the Đại Việt infantry and cavalry forces. Toghan led the cavalry through Nội Bàng while his naval fleet commander, Omar, directly launched the naval force along the Bạch Đằng River simultaneously.
The Battle of Bạch Đằng River
The Mongol naval fleet were unaware of the river's terrain. Days before this expedition, General Trần Hưng Đạo's Đại Việt predicted the Mongol's naval route and quickly deployed heavy unconventional traps of steel-tipped wooden stakes unseen during high tides along the Bạch Đằng River bed. When Omar ordered the Mongol fleet to retreat from the river, the Viet deployed smaller and more maneuverable vessels into agitating and luring the Mongol vessels into the riverside where the booby traps were waiting while it was still high tide. As the river tide on Bạch Đằng River receded, the Mongol vessels were stuck and sunk by the embedded steel-tipped stakes. The Viet forces led by Trần Hưng Đạo burned down an estimated 400 large Mongol vessels and captured the remaining naval crew along the river. The entire Mongol fleet was destroyed and the Mongol fleet admiral Omar was captured and executed.
The cavalry force of Prince Toghan was more fortunate. They were ambushed along the road through Nội Bàng, but his remaining force managed to escape back to China by dividing their forces into smaller retreating groups but most were captured or killed in skirmishes on the way back to the border frontier."
Z/TFD (AKA Nhu+Toi, ie. Giao)
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