Rachel Evans
Nguyen Cao Ky was a South Vietnamese military and political leader known for his flamboyant manner and militant policies during the Vietnam War. He was born in 1930 in a Buddhist family in the northern province of Son Tay. Ky joined the pro-French Vietnamese National Army and became an infantry officer. He later trained as a pilot and served in France, Northern Africa, and the United States. Ky was a divisive figure in South Vietnam, known for his eccentricities, impulsiveness, and outspoken nature. While he was admired for his dedication to fighting the communists, he also drew criticism for his violent crackdown on Buddhists who disagreed with his policies. In an interview with Oriana Fallaci, Ky compared Catholics to Communists and expressed support for some of the social aims of Ho Chi Minh and the Viet Cong.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date and place of birth | 8 September 1930, Son Tay, northern Vietnam |
| Date and place of death | 23 July 2011, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| Family | Buddhist |
| Military career | South Vietnamese military officer, commander of South Vietnam's Air Force, member of the French forces that opposed the Vietnamese liberation movement |
| Political career | Prime Minister of South Vietnam, Vice President of South Vietnam, outspoken critic of Thieu's administration |
| Religious views | Compared Catholics to Communists in an interview |
| Views on the Vietnam War | Blamed the war on interfering foreigners, showed more application to fighting the communists than many of his colleagues |
| Personality | Flamboyant, eccentric, impulsive, divisive, authoritarian |
| Publications | Twenty Years and Twenty Days (1976), How We Lost the Vietnam War (1976), Buddha's Child: My Fight to Save Vietnam (2002) |
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What You'll Learn
Nguyen Cao Ky's life and career
Nguyen Cao Ky was a South Vietnamese military officer and politician. Born in 1930 in Northern Vietnam, Ky joined the Vietnamese National Army of the French-backed State of Vietnam as an infantry officer. He was sent for pilot training in France, where he met and married his first wife. He served in France and North Africa and later received further military training in the United States.
In the 1960s, Ky became the chief of the Republic of Vietnam Air Force. He participated in the coup that deposed President Ngo Dinh Diem, which resulted in Diem's assassination. Ky played a crucial role in preventing General Nguyen Khanh from being overthrown by rebel forces.
From 1965 to 1967, Ky served as the prime minister of South Vietnam in a military junta. He then served as vice president to his bitter rival, General Nguyen Van Thieu, until his retirement from politics in 1971. Ky was known for his eccentricities and divisive nature, admired by some and loathed by others. He was a dedicated anti-communist, once expressing admiration for Adolf Hitler and threatening to bomb or shoot his political opponents.
After retiring from politics, Ky retained his military commission and helped organise the defence of Saigon in 1975. As North Vietnamese troops entered the city, he fled to the United States, where he led a relatively quiet life, running a liquor store and a fishing boat.
In 2004, Ky made headlines by becoming one of the first South Vietnamese leaders to return to Vietnam after reunification. He defended his actions during the Vietnam War, blaming it on foreign interference. Ky passed away in July 2011. His daughter, Nguyen Cao Ky Duyen, is a popular figure in the Vietnamese entertainment industry.
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Catholicism in Vietnam
In the 17th century, Jesuit missionaries, including Francisco de Pina, Gaspar do Amaral, Antonio Barbosa, and Alexandre de Rhodes, developed an alphabet for the Vietnamese language using the Latin script with added diacritics. This writing system, called chữ Quốc ngữ or "national language script," is still used today.
By the 18th century, the French missionary priest and Bishop of Adraa Pigneau de Behaine had a significant influence on Vietnamese history. He became the advisor to Nguyễn Ánh, a surviving member of the ruling Nguyễn family, and played a role in assisting Ánh in attaining victory. Pigneau reportedly hoped to gain important concessions for the Catholic Church in Vietnam and help its expansion throughout Southeast Asia.
During the reign of Emperor Quang Trung (1753-1792), there was a friendly period for the Catholic Church, as the emperor showed a certain level of support for the Catholic population. After his death, the Tây Sơn dynasty also tried to leverage its relationship with the Church to dissuade the French from supporting the leader of the Đàng Trong. However, the last dynasty of Vietnam, the Nguyễn dynasty (1802-1945), exhibited a hostile attitude towards Catholics, and from 1820-1883, there was a brutal suppression of Catholic followers known as the Lệnh Bách Đạo or "Order to suppress Catholics."
During the period of French colonial rule in Vietnam, Catholicism developed with the Vatican's support. The French influence and promotion of Christianity led to many conversions to Catholicism. In the 20th century, South Vietnam was in favor of Catholicism, and there were restrictions on other religions.
Today, Vietnam has the fifth-largest Catholic population in Asia, with about 7 million Catholics, representing 7.4% of the total population. There are 27 dioceses, including three archdioceses, with 2,228 parishes and 2,668 priests. The main liturgical rites employed in Vietnam are those of the Latin Church.
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Ky's views on Catholicism
In terms of religion, Nguyen Cao Ky was a complex and intriguing figure. While he was born into a Buddhist family and practiced Buddhism in his early years, his views on Catholicism were quite unique and played a significant role in shaping his life and career.
As Ky rose through the ranks of the Air Force and solidified his position as a powerful political figure, his religious views began to evolve. He developed a deep respect for Catholicism and was particularly drawn to its structured and disciplined nature. Ky admired the sense of community and moral framework that Catholicism offered, and he saw these aspects as beneficial for a country struggling with war and social instability.
One of Ky's most notable actions that reflected his views on Catholicism was his support for Catholic refugees fleeing the communist regime in the north. Ky, a strong anti-communist himself, understood the persecution and challenges faced by these Catholics, and he made significant efforts to provide them with assistance and resettlement opportunities in the south. He saw this as a moral obligation and a way to uphold the values of religious freedom and tolerance.
Additionally, Ky's time in power was marked by a relatively tolerant approach to religion. While he himself was not a devout Catholic in terms of religious practice, he respected the faith and allowed for a degree of religious freedom in South Vietnam. This was a significant departure from the more hardline Buddhist policies of his predecessor, Diem, who had favored Buddhism and faced criticism for his handling of religious minorities.
In summary, Nguyen Cao Ky's views on Catholicism were shaped by a combination of personal respect for the religion's structure and discipline, a practical understanding of its importance in South Vietnamese society, and a commitment to religious freedom and tolerance. His actions and policies reflected these views, leaving a lasting impact on the religious landscape of South Vietnam during a tumultuous era.
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The Catholic Church in Vietnam
The first Catholic missionaries to Vietnam arrived from Portugal and Spain in the 16th century, achieving modest success among the local populations. It was only after the arrival of Jesuits in the 17th century that Christianity began to gain a significant number of converts within the local populations in both Tonkin (Đàng Ngoài) and Cochinchina (Đàng Trong). In the 17th century, Jesuit missionaries developed an alphabet for the Vietnamese language, using the Latin script with added diacritic marks. This writing system, called chữ Quốc ngữ or "national language script", is still used today.
Towards the end of the 18th century, the French missionary priest and Bishop of Adraa Pigneau de Behaine had a significant influence on Vietnamese history. In 1777, he met with Nguyễn Ánh, the most senior member of the ruling Nguyễn family, who had fled into the Mekong Delta region after the Tây Sơn brothers killed the Nguyễn lords. Pigneau became Nguyễn Ánh's political and military advisor, hoping to gain important concessions for the Catholic Church in Vietnam and aid its expansion throughout Southeast Asia.
By 1802, when Nguyễn Ánh conquered all of Vietnam and declared himself Emperor Gia Long, the Catholic Church in Vietnam had three dioceses with a total of over 300,000 members. Gia Long tolerated the Catholic faith of his French allies and permitted unimpeded missionary activities, which were dominated by the Spanish in Tonkin and the French in the central and southern regions.
In modern times, there have been restrictions on Catholic life in Vietnam, and the government has sought involvement in the nomination of bishops. In 2007, a dissident Catholic priest, Thaddeus Nguyễn Văn Lý, was sentenced by a Vietnamese court to eight years in prison on charges of "anti-government activities". However, in 2018, the Holy See announced that it would have a permanent representative in Vietnam, and in 2023, Vietnam and the Vatican agreed to establish a Resident Papal Representative in the country, moving closer to establishing formal diplomatic relations.
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Ky's political views
As a military leader, Ky rose to prominence during the rule of Ngo Dinh Diem, who was known for his fervent anti-communism and Catholic-oriented policies. While Ky shared Diem's anti-communist sentiments, he was not a Catholic himself and did not always agree with Diem's policies. Ky's religious beliefs are a matter of some debate, but it is believed that he followed a blend of Mahayana Buddhism and Taoism, with possible influences from other religions, including Catholicism.
Ky's time in power was marked by his strong nationalism and his desire to assert South Vietnam's independence, not only from North Vietnam but also from the influence of the United States. He sought to balance the relationship with the US, recognizing their support but also wanting to ensure South Vietnam's autonomy. Ky worked to strengthen South Vietnam's military and promoted a form of revolutionary nationalism, emphasizing the need for a strong, independent, and unified South Vietnam.
In terms of domestic policies, Ky supported land reform and sought to improve the lives of ordinary citizens. He implemented measures to boost the economy and address issues of corruption. Ky also worked to promote social changes, including the improvement of women's rights and the establishment of a more equitable society. However, his rule was also marked by political repression and the use of strong-arm tactics to maintain control, which drew criticism from some quarters.
Overall, Ky's political views were shaped by his desire to protect South Vietnam from communism and external influence, while also seeking to improve the lives of its citizens and promote a form of revolutionary nationalism. His time in power was marked by a complex mix of policies and actions that reflected these varying priorities.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Nguyen Cao Ky was born to a Buddhist family in the northern province of Son Tay.
Nguyen Cao Ky was a South Vietnamese military officer and politician. He served as the chief of the Republic of Vietnam Air Force in the 1960s, before leading the nation as the prime minister of South Vietnam in a military junta from 1965 to 1967.
Ky was a member of the French forces that opposed the Vietnamese liberation movement. He was also highly favoured by the US due to his vehement anti-communist stance.
