Lê Thái Tổ

Lê Lợi, also known by his temple name as Lê Thái Tổ (黎太祖) and by his royal title Bình Định vương, was a Vietnamese rebel leader who founded the Later Lê dynasty and became the first emperor of the restored Dynasty of Đại Việt following the conquest of Đại Ngu by the Ming dynasty. In 1418, Lê Lợi and his followers rose up against Ming rule. He was known for his effective guerrilla tactics, including constantly moving his camps and using small bands of irregulars to ambush the larger Ming forces. In 1427, Lợi’s resistance movement successfully drove the Ming armies out of Vietnam and restored Vietnamese independence. Lê Lợi is among the most famous figures of Vietnamese history and often considered one of its greatest national heroes.