Vietnam - Ngyuen Dynasty - Emperors of Annam

The kings of Tongking, in imitation of the emperors of China, adopted, when they ascended the throne, a name which was used in counting the years of their reign. Independently of these titles assumed by the emperor at the beginning of a reign, it had been the custom, since the year 36 before the Christian era, to give particular names to the years of their reign, borrowed from some remarkable event, or adopted from mere fancy. These names, which the emperor may change at pleasure, served for dates in letters, in books of accounts, in almanacs, and in conversation, and are recorded with accuracy in history. The Japanese, who are imitators of the Chinese, introduced the practice into their empire, AD 650.

It appears to have been at the commencement of the eleventh century, that it was introduced into Tongking by the first king of the Ly dynasty. This prince did not change the name during the whole of his reign of eighteen years. His successor who was upon the throne twenty-seven years, changed the name of the years of his reign five times; since which time most of the kings of Tongking changed the name more ot less frequently. The notion which leads them to make these changes of the name of the year was often prompted by superstition, as they regard such a change as a means of averting public calamities, and of securiug a more tranquil and happy reign.

It was also the custom in Tongking, as it was in China, to decree to their sovereigns, after their death, an honorary name expressive of some virtue, or some brilliant quality, or some eminent prerogative. It is this name which is commonly used in history. Sovereigns who have been dethroned by a usurper, do not ordinarily receive an honorary name, unless some prince of the same family regains the throne. On the contrary, a name is given them, which refers to their misfortunes, or the titles of the years of their reign, are still employed.

The Prince Regency of Vietnam fully recognizes H.I.H. Prince Nguyen Phuc Bao Thang as the present senior member of the Imperial Nguyen Family. Prince Phuc Bao Thang attained his current status after the death of his elder brother, H.I.H. Crown Prince Nguyen Phuc Bao Long, who expired on 28 July 2007. On the express wishes of their late father, His Imperial Majesty Emperor Bao Dai both brothers were forbidden to take part in any form of politics and this included Vietnamese Orders of Chivalry.

The Prince Regent of Vietnam is Prince Kien Hoa Nguyen Phuc Buu Chanh, Duke of Kien Hoa. He is President of the United International Supreme Council for The Freedom of Vietnam and Southeast Asia, President of the South East Asia Imperial and Royal League, President of the Vietnamese Constitutional Monarchist League and Vice President of the British Committee for Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Burma. H.I.H. Prince Buu Chanh serves for all practical purposes as the de facto Prime Minister for the Imperial Nguyen Dynasty Government in Exile. To this end, he maintains active contact with 48 democratically oriented governments in the world. He also corresponds frequently with 24 crowned heads of state around the globe, including His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI. Beyond that, he remains in touch with many non-governing Imperial and Royal Houses, who have been prominent in world affairs in the past. In particular, the Prince enjoys the friendship and support of King Norodom Sihanouk and Crown Prince Norodom Ranarridh of Cambodia, King Kigeli V of Rwanda, Prince Ermias Selassie, President of the Crown Council of Ethiopia, and the Head of the Royal House of Portugal, H.R.H. Dom Duarte, the Duke of Bragança.