Military of the Nguyễn dynasty

The Military of the Nguyễn dynasty was the main armed force of the Nguyễn rulers of Vietnam, serving from 1802 until the August Revolution of 1945. Its roots go back to 1558, when Nguyễn Hoàng formed it as a division of the Revival Lê dynasty's military with 3,000 soldiers, and it later served the Nguyễn lords, who fought the Trịnh lords of the north. The Tây Sơn rebellion drove it out of most of the country, but Nguyễn Phúc Ánh, with French advisers, rebuilt it and defeated the Tây Sơn, then crowned himself Gia Long Emperor, making it the national military. Under the Nguyễn lords it had infantry, marines, artillery and elephant corps. Under French domination it became two of the five indigenous guards of French Indochina, reduced to police and ceremonial roles, and it was disbanded when the dynasty was abolished.