Vietnam: Mandarins at the Imperial City celebrating the birthday of Emperor Khai Dinh, Hue (1924)

Hue originally rose to prominence as the capital of the Nguyen Lords, a feudal dynasty which dominated much of southern Vietnam from the 17th to the 19th century. In 1775 when Trinh Sam captured it, it was known as Phu Xuan. In 1802, Nguyen Phuc Anh (later Emperor Gia Long) succeeded in establishing his control over the whole of Vietnam, thereby making Hue the national capital. Hue was the national capital until 1945, when Emperor Bao Da iabdicated and a communist government was established in Ha Noi (Hanoi), in the north. While Bao Da iwas briefly proclaimed 'Head of State' with the help of the returning French colonialists in 1949 (although without recognition from the communists and the full acceptance of the Vietnamese people), his new capital was Sài Gòn (Saigon), in the south.