The process of establishing and implementing state sovereignty over Ha Chau (Ha Tien) region from the 17th century to the first half of the 19th century

Abstract

Prior to the 19th century, Ha Chau - Ha Tien was among Vietnam’s southwestern frontier regions with a relatively large natural area. The land, however was not strongly exploited and had a faint mark of human activities. Since the 17th century, with the reclamation process of Viet inhabitants, and the establishment of Mac Cuu and the Mac family from the late 17th century, profound changed came to reshape the land. An important historical milestone occurred in 1708 when Mac Cuu handed over control of Ha Chau - Ha Tien to the Nguyen Lord of Cochinchina. The event had an important historical significance, marking official establishment of Vietnam’s state sovereignty over this southwestern border land. As a result, the process of exercising state sovereignty over Ha Chau - Ha Tien area was carried consistently out via the states’ land-management activities and Vietnamese economic expansion. Based on primary historical sources and land-registered records of the Nguyen Dynasty, this article aims to analyze and prove in depth the process of establishing territorial sovereignty and exercising Vietnam’s sovereignty in the southwestern borderland and the relationship between Dai Nam and Chenla during period of the 17th to the first half of the 19th centuries.