Who were the Tru’ng Sisters?

The Tru’ng sisters (c. 14 - 43 CE) were Vietnamese military leaders who ruled for 3 years after rebelling in 40 CE against the first Chinese domination of Vietnam who had occupied the country for 247 years. Their name in Vietnamese literally means ‘Two Ladies’. Today they are regarded as national heroines of Vietnam.

Their names were Tru’ng Trac and Tru’ng Nhi. Tur’ng Trac was the first woman to be a Vietnamese monarch, as well as the only queen regnant in the history of Vietnam. She was accorded the title Queen Tru’ng.

The exact dates of their birth are unknown but Tru’ng Trac was older than Tru’ng Nhi. They both died however around 43 CE after battling against the punitive forced expedition led by Ma Yuan, a Chinese military general and politician who played a prominent role in defeating the Tru’ng sisters’ rebellion.

The two sisters were daughters of a wealthy aristocratic family, highly educated under the watchful eyes of their father; they both excelled in literature and martial arts. Both were in line to inherit their father’s land and titles.

In Vietnam there are many temples dedicated to the sisters and a yearly holiday in February commemorates their death. They are often depicted as two women riding two giant war elephants, leading their followers into battle against the Chinese. They are the recognized symbols of Vietnamese independence and freedom.