In February of Canh Thìn year (the year of the Dragon – 1400), Hồ Quý Ly forced Trần Thiếu Đế to cede the throne to him, claimed the date as Thánh Nguyên and named the country Đại Ngu.

Hồ Quý Ly was born in 1335 (Ất Hợi year – the year of the Pig); his pen-name is Lý Nguyên.

In 1395, King Trần Nghệ Tông died. Taking that opportunity, Hồ Quý Ly, a nobleman who make reputation for himself and managed his own side in the court, had gradually overwhelmed the Trần’s power. In 1400, Hồ Quý Ly uncrowned King Trần Thiếu Đế, founded the Hồ Dynasty, set the date as Thánh Nguyên, and named the country Đại Ngu.

After ascending the throne, Hồ Quý Ly furthered the basic steps towards the reform in all fields of economy, military, culture, and educatio.

In 1406, the Ming army invaded our country. Hồ Quý Ly could not mobilize all the people for the strength of national unity, thus the revolt against the Ming was failed. The Hồ Dynasty ended after seven years of existence.

The failure of the fight against the Ming army buried the career of Hồ Quý Ly. It can be said that Hồ Quý Ly’s path towards success and glory as well as the career built by Hồ Quý Ly were rapidly scrumbled. His career just began and was uncompleted. However, it fully proved that he was a talented man who took determined action. He is a hero of the nation’s history at the end of the 14^th century and the beginning of the 15^th century.