Ho Cuy Ly

(also Ho Quy Ly). Born 1335; died 1407. Monarch of Dai Viet (Vietnam) in 1400; de facto ruler of the country from 1378 to 1400. Founder of the Ho dynasty.

Ho Cuy Ly waged successful wars against Champa, and in 1389 he regained for Dai Viet lands that had been seized by Champa. Although he abdicated in 1400 in favor of his son, Ho Han Thuong, he was responsible for the introduction in the late 14th to early 15th centuries of a series of reforms that strengthened central power and weakened the great feudal lords. These measures included the land reform of 1397, which limited the size of hereditary feudal holdings and placed restrictions on the number of peasants that could be dependent on a given lord.

Ho Cuy Ly also reorganized the financial system and improved its efficiency. During his reign the educational system was revised in accordance with the needs of the people; mathematics examinations were introduced, and many schools in large cities were given state support. In legislative practice, a national writing system known as Tinh came into use. Ho Cuy Ly also strengthened the army and navy.

Ho Cuy Ly’s efforts at reform were cut short in 1407 when the Chinese Ming Dynasty invaded Dai Viet.