Ngô Bạch Xí
Senior General Ngô Bạch Xí Marquis of Nha Tàu, Prince of Chayadaeng | |
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| Native name | |
| Other name(s) | Sống Thực (𤯩實; Σώγγ Θῠκ) |
| Nickname(s) | Child of Victory, Grand Old Man |
| Born | 17 June 1221 Châu Cái, Quyền Dynasty |
| Died | 3 February 1305 (aged 83) Hòa Binh, Kiếm Hoà Dynasty |
| Allegiance |
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| Rank | Senior General
General of the Right (1277 – 1279) |
| Spouse(s) | Phan Lan |
| Children | |
Ngô Bạch Xí (17 June 1221 – 3 February 1305), courtesy name Sống Thực, was a military general who served under Kiều Thạc Nhu. Xí was one of, if not the, most reliable commanders of Nhu, with his brilliance in warfare contributing to her significant victories such as in Gopalpathar and Chayadaeng. Recognizing his talent, Nhu nicknamed him "the Child of Victory." During the Invasion of the Rideva Empire, his ability to plan tact strategies never diminished despite his old age, leading his subordinates and soldiers to call him "Grand Old Man."
Xí was born to a commoner family that resided within the County of Khoái Siêu. He then enlisted in the Khoái Siêu army in 1248, where his commanding skills were noticed by Count Kiều Thạc Sáng. After achieving victories that preserved the territorial integrity of Khoái Siêu, Sáng enobled him the title "Marquis of Nha Tàu." He continued to serve under Sáng's successor Kiều Thạc Bộ, but assisted Nhu and Khuê in his assassination. After Nhu proclaimed herself as Empress of the Kiếm Hoà Dynasty, he fought in her Northern and Eastern Campaigns under the rank of General Who Pacifies the North. During the Cham-Quenminese War of 1274, he was tasked with countering Indrapramati's army, and although he dealt with a couple of defeats, he was able to succeed in his task at Bù Gia Mập. Afterwards, he was recalled to the Chamian homeland to participate in the Battle of Gopalpathar, where his successful attack on the left flank of the Chamian army lead to a significant Kiếm Hoà victory. During the Kiếm Hoà-Tuntayakul War, Xí played a major role in the Battle of Chayadaeng in his counterattack against Queen Manyaphathon's war elephants, whereupon his attack lead Nhu to enoble him the title "Prince of Chayadaeng." He then commanded an army in his successful campaign in Kansdoen under the rank of "Senior General to Pacify the Southeast." He could not participate in the Pacification of the Nambya Republic due to sickness, but he returned to active service during the Invasion of the Rideva Empire under the rank "Senior General of the Right," where he achieved more successful victories as an independent commander.
In his later life, Xí's relationship with Nhu would deteriorate over the latter's increasingly despotic demeanor. The final straw came when he was tortured for speaking against her land taxes for the Flood Disaster of 1299. Consequently, Xí was made an accomplice of Nhu's assassination in 26 April 1300. He lived in his retirement estate Hòa Binh until his death in 3 February 1305.