Trịnh Căn (Hán tự:鄭 根; 18 July 1633 – 17 June 1709) ruled northern Vietnam from 1682 to 1709 (he ruled with the title Định Vương). Trịnh Căn was one of the Trịnh lords who ruled Vietnam. With the Trịnh–Nguyễn War ended, his reign was mostly devoted to administrative reforms. Trịnh Căn, the son of Trịnh Tạc, ruled Vietnam during a time of peace and general prosperity. He devoted his time to administrative affairs. One of his improvements was to force all government officials to take examinations in order to promote honesty and to remove incapable civil servants. He also reformed the laws and punishments; under Trịnh Căn mutilation was no longer a punishment for crimes, and public gambling was prohibited. In 1694, the last effective leader of the Lān Xāng federation died. The resulting succession battle caused the federation to collapse. The Vietnamese sent an army into Laos to assert their authority in the area in 1694. After 10 years of conflict with other Lao forces and with Ayutthaya forces under king Phetracha, three weak Lao kingdoms emerged, each of which paid tribute to both Vietnam and Ayutthaya (modern day Thailand). (Note: it is possible, but less likely, that it was a Nguyễn army under Nguyễn Phúc Chu which intervened in Laos). As far as the Lê dynasty was concerned, the emperor, Lê Hy Tông, was forced to abdicate the throne in 1706. He was replaced by Lê Du Tông. See also Lê dynasty List of Vietnamese dynasties Sources Annam and its Minor Currency Chapter 16 (downloaded May 2006) A Glimpse of Vietnam's History (downloaded May 2006) 1633 births 1709 deaths Trịnh lords 17th-century Vietnamese monarchs 18th-century Vietnamese monarchs 17th-century Vietnamese poets