Nanyue
Nanyue, also spelled Nam Việt, was an ancient kingdom that existed from 204 BCE to 111 BCE in what is now southern China and northern Vietnam. It was founded by the Qin general Zhao Tuo, who declared independence after the fall of the Qin dynasty and established his capital at Linyi (modern Guangzhou). The kingdom’s territory extended over modern Guangdong and Guangxi provinces in China as well as the Red River Delta in Vietnam.
The political system of Nanyue combined Chinese bureaucratic elements with local tribal structures. Zhao Tuo adopted
Nanyue maintained a pragmatic relationship with the Han Empire. It paid tribute and avoided direct military
The kingdom’s decline began under the reign of Queen Zhao and was accelerated by internal succession disputes.