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The upheavals of Twelve Warlords was a period of chaos and civil war in Vietnam, from 944 to 968 AD.

After Ngo Quyen's death, his brother-in-law Duong Tam Kha usurped the throne, proclaimed himself Duong Binh Vuong and ruled from 944 to 950.

In 950, Ngo Xuong Van, the younger son of Ngo Quyen staged a coup against Duong Binh Vuong. He crowned as Nam Tan Vuong and sent the envoys to find his older brother, Ngo Xuong Ngap, escaped from Duong Court in 944 and hid in the countryside. In 951, Ngo Xuong Ngap also crowned as Thien Sach Vuong, and there were two Kings co-ruled Vietnam that period.

From 944, the situation of the Ngo Dynasty had became unstable, many rebellions risen everywhere to claim to the territory. The wars between Ngo and the lords had prolonged almost 20 years. In one of the such battles in 965, Nam Tan Vuong was killed and Ngo Dynasty collapsed, the country was fractioned into 12 regions with 12 warlords ruled.

The war between 12 warlords reached its top in the period of 966-968, leaving the hardship and misery in the life of people. Dinh Bo Linh, adopted son of Lord Tran Lam, who ruled the region of Bo Hai Khau (now Thai Binh), had succeeded Lam after his death and suppressed successfully the other 11 warlords in 968, took control over the country. In the same year, Dinh Bo Linh ascended the throne, proclaimed himself Dinh Tien Hoang De (The First Emperor of the Dinh Dynasty) and named the country Dai Co Viet, settled the Capital at Hoa Lu (now Ninh Binh).