Hongning

Hongning (Vietnamese: Hồng Ninh / 興寧 Hongning / 1591 – December 1592) was the sixth era name of Mạc Mậu Hợp, the fifth ruler of the Mạc dynasty of Vietnam.

In the 11th month of Hongning 2 (1592), the Mạc court repeatedly fled as it suffered continuous defeats in its war with the Later Lê dynasty. During the flight, members of the Mạc imperial clan and senior officials were captured and executed, and the court therefore appointed the imperial prince Mạc Toàn as regent and established a separate court (分朝, bunchō). In the 12th month, the army of the Later Lê dynasty captured Emperor Mạc Mậu Hợp, who was beheaded at Bồ Đề Ferry (菩提津) and his head was displayed. Afterward, despite the official fall of the dynasty, the Mạc dynasty survived in the Cao Bằng region.

Era name changes

• Hưng Trị (興治) 4 (1591): the era was changed to Hongning (洪寧).¹²

• Hongning (洪寧) 2, 25th day of the 11th month³ (Gregorian calendar 28 December 1592): Mạc Toàn was appointed regent, and the era was changed to Vũ An (武安).¹²⁴

• Hongning (洪寧) 2, 1st day of the 12th month⁵ (Gregorian calendar 3 January 1593): Emperor Mạc Mậu Hợp was captured and beheaded, and the Hongning era name was discontinued.