Duc Duc Tomb is located in An Cuu Ward, Hue City, Thua Thien Hue Province. In comparison with other royal tombs of the Nguyen Dynasty in Hue, Duc Duc’s tomb presents a simpler and modest architecture.
Besides simplicity in architecture, Duc Duc Tomb also has the following characteristics.
- The tomb of an Emperor who reigned for only 3 days before his being dethroned and jailed to death by the Court.
- The nearest tomb to the Citadel of Hue (No.11 Tan Lang St.).
- The tomb compound containing two others of Emperors Thanh Thai and Duy Tan.
- The tomb constructed several times after the Emperor’s death as a result of the Nguyen Dynasty’s decadence.
Born in 1852 and died in 1883, Duc Duc was Emperor Tu Duc’s nephew and eldest foster son. Because of Duc Duc’s pro – French attitude, he was dethroned by the Court just after his three day succession to the throne in June 1883.
In 1889, the irony of history found Duc Duc’s son crowned as Emperor Thanh Thai. He then built his father’s tomb and a nearby temple in 1899. Due to his anti – French thoughts, Thanh Thai was later replaced by his son, Duy Tan, in 1907. In 1916, Duy Tan’s attempted overthrow of the French rulers was discovered. Both father and son were exiled to the Reunion Island (Africa).
Relics of Thanh Thai and Duy Tan were brought back to Hue and buried in the tomb in 1954 and 1987, respectively. The three Emperors have been honoured in the temple.
Though simple in architecture and decoration, Duc Duc Tomb has in common the architectural manner with others and artistic style of its own. It marks an eventful historical period of the Nguyen Dynasty and enriches the Royal tomb compound in Hue.
Leave a Reply