Abstract

Trương Minh Giảng (1792–1841) was a prominent mandarin of the Nguyễn dynasty. In August Quý Tỵ year (1833), he was appointed by Emperor Minh Mạng as Minister of War (Thượng thư Bộ Binh) and concurrently as Governor-General of An Giang and Hà Tiên (Tổng đốc An–Hà), while also entrusted with the Imperial Seal of the Protectorate over Cambodia (Bảo hộ Chân Lạp quốc ấn). He retained these appointments until July Canh Tý year (1840), continuing to serve as Governor-General of An-Hà and Commander of Trấn Tây (Trấn Tây tướng quân), holding de facto authority over the imperial protectorate in Cambodia.

During his eight-year tenure in these two critical southwestern frontier provinces and the Trấn Tây region of Cambodia, Trương Minh Giảng advanced numerous sound and innovative recommendations aimed at restoring and firmly consolidating the border defense system in An Giang and Hà Tiên. His guiding principle of integrating the national defense consolidation with ensuring social stability and fostering livelihoods enabled him to effectively discharge his duties in local governance and border defense, while asserting the central court's political authority in diplomatic relations with Cambodia and Siam. Trương Minh Giảng's legacy in regarding the border defense system was not only acknowledged and honored by the Nguyễn court but also commands the enduring admiration of posterity .

Adopting a historical approach and utilizing historical and logical methods, combined with analysis, synthesis, and historical evaluation, this article draws upon primary sources from major Nguyễn Dynasty chronicles. It aims to elucidate the three key issues: (1) Trương Minh Giảng’s proposals for consolidating the strategic position of An-Hà, (2) his role in fortifying the An-Hà border defense system during the 1833-1840 period, and (3) his role in stabilizing the security and national defense posture in the An-Hà borderland (1833-1840).