Trịnh Tráng (Hán tự: 鄭梉, 6 August 1577 – 28 May 1657), posthumous name: Nghị Vương (誼王), temple name: Văn Tổ (文祖). He is the second lord of Trịnh ruled Tonkin from 1623 to 1657. He is one of the famous Trịnh lords who ruled Vietnam. He started the Trịnh–Nguyễn War in 1627 and launched several major offensives which failed to crush the Nguyễn lords. Early life Trịnh Tráng was the eldest son of Trịnh Tùng. He took power after a brief succession struggle at the time of Trịnh Tùng's death. The main problem he faced during his rule was the power and independence of the Nguyễn lords who ruled the southernmost provinces of Vietnam. In modern terms the Nguyễn ruled over Thừa Thiên–Huế Province, Da Nang, Quảng Nam Province, and Quảng Ngãi Province. This was the frontier of Vietnam and, as these provinces were newly conquered from the Champa, there was new land to farm and plenty of work for ambitious men. In 1600, the first Nguyễn Lord, Nguyễn Hoàng, refused to acknowledge the authority of the Trịnh-dominated court in Hanoi. With the death of Trịnh Tùng, the current Nguyễn Lord, Nguyễn Phúc Nguyên refused to send any taxes or soldiers to the court. After years of rising tension, Trịnh Tráng went to war against the Nguyễn. Accession In 1623, the current lord, Trịnh Tùng fell ill and give Trịnh Tráng his position and army. His brother, Trịnh Xuân was jealous and want to be the lord. Trịnh Xuân tried to kill Trịnh Tùng with Lê Kính Tông - a current king of Lê. But they did not succeed. On 15 July 1623, Trịnh Xuân burned the Trịnh's palace, Trịnh Tùng and his servants ran away. Trịnh Tùng sent his servants to catch and kill Trịnh Xuân. Two days later, Trịnh Tùng died while he was finding Trịnh Tráng. Trịnh Tráng heard about it and return to go into mourning his father and became Lord of Trịnh. War Trịnh Tráng launched many major offensives against the Nguyễn, but all of them failed. The first attack lasted four months in the summer of 1627. The next was a sea assault, it was defeated in 1633. Two more assaults were made against the Nguyễn's mighty defensive wall in 1642 and 1643. This time, with the aid of advanced Dutch cannons, one wall was breached but the other wall held firm. 1643