Zhao Tuo

Zhao Tuo (Chinese: 趙佗; Mandarin Pinyin: Zhào Tuō; Jyutping: Jiu⁶ Tō⁴, Vietnamese: Triệu Đà), was the founder of the kingdom of Nanyue. He was a Chinese military commander who gained independence upon the collapse of the Qin Dynasty. Nanyue included northern Vietnam and parts of southern China. His capital was in Panyu, modern Guangzhou, China. His ruling circle included both ethnic Chinese and native Baiyue, and he encouraged intermarriage and assimilation. In Vietnamese, he is referred to as Triệu Đà. The dynasty he founded is called the Triệu Dynasty (Chinese: 赵朝). In traditional Vietnamese history, he was considered the emperor of Vietnam. However, modern Vietnamese historians regarded him as a foreign invader who invaded Vietnam in 207 BC.

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