Lam Sơn forces defeated a major Ming army in the Red River Delta, strengthening the insurgency’s position and accelerating the collapse of Ming control in Đại Việt.
Lam Sơn troops ambushed and defeated Ming reinforcements at Chi Lăng Pass, a key step toward forcing Ming withdrawal from Đại Việt.
Lam Sơn forces captured the Ming-held Xương Giang stronghold, cutting off and weakening Ming relief efforts and setting conditions for the final Ming retreat.
Nguyễn Trãi’s Bình Ngô đại cáo (written on Lê Lợi’s behalf) proclaimed victory over the Ming and affirmed Đại Việt’s restored independence, becoming a foundational political statement of the dynasty.
Lê Lợi ascended the throne as Lê Thái Tổ, formally establishing the Early Later Lê (Lê Sơ) dynasty after the Lam Sơn victory over Ming occupation.
Founder-emperor Lê Thái Tổ (Lê Lợi) died after consolidating early Lê rule; succession passed to Lê Thái Tông.
Lê Thái Tông died in 1442; the throne passed to the infant Lê Nhân Tông, ushering in a period dominated by regency politics.
Prince Lê Nghi Dân seized power in a coup that killed Emperor Lê Nhân Tông, destabilizing the court and triggering a counter-coup the following year.
Court officials deposed Lê Nghi Dân after his short reign, paving the way for Lê Thánh Tông’s accession and a major period of consolidation and reform.
Lê Thánh Tông strengthened the state by restructuring administration and reorganizing local governance, including division into 13 đạo (provinces) aligned with a more centralized model.
Đại Việt forces under Lê Thánh Tông captured Champa’s capital Vijaya, decisively reducing Champa and enabling annexation of northern Cham territories into Đại Việt.
Lê Thánh Tông, the dynasty’s most influential reform-era ruler, died after a long reign associated with state centralization, examination-based bureaucracy, and expansion.
Emperor Lê Hiến Tông died in 1504; succession soon passed to the short-reigning Lê Túc Tông amid emerging signs of dynastic instability.
Lê Túc Tông died after a reign lasting only months, opening the way for Lê Uy Mục and a sharper phase of court turmoil.
Lê Chiêu Tông’s reign unfolded during intense factional and military contestation, with powerful figures (including Mạc Đăng Dung) increasingly dominating court politics.
Emperor Lê Tương Dực was killed in 1516 amid factional conflict, marking further erosion of central authority and intensifying elite competition for power.
Mạc Đăng Dung forced the end of Lê Sơ rule and proclaimed the Mạc dynasty in 1527, inaugurating a new era of dynastic conflict with Lê loyalists.
Lê Cung Hoàng, the last Lê Sơ emperor, died in 1527 after being installed as a figurehead under Mạc Đăng Dung’s dominance.
Lê Sơ (Early Later Lê) dynasty (1428–1527)
