Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh (阮有鏡, 1650–1700), also known as Nguyễn Hữu Kính and his noble rank Lễ Thành Hầu, was a high-ranking general of Lord Nguyễn Phúc Chu. His military expeditions into the Mekong Delta placed the region firmly under Vietnamese administrative control. Considered to be the most famous military general during the time of Vietnam's southward expansion (Nam tiến), Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh founded the city of Saigon in 1698. His establishment of Saigon and military forts in and around the Mekong Delta served as the foundation for later military expeditions by the Vietnamese imperial court in its quest to expand its southern territory. In Vietnam, Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh is widely beloved and revered by the Vietnamese as a national hero with various shrines (miếu) and communal houses (đình) dedicated to him.

Biography

Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh was born in Lệ Thủy District in Quảng Bình Province, Bắc Trung Bộ, Vietnam (then part of Đàng Trong). In 1698, Canh was sent by Nguyễn Phúc Chu to the south. He founded Gia Dinh garrison there. He called on people from many places in Central Vietnam to settle in these regions. He ordered the building of roads, canals, markets. Saigon has turned into a busy port city since then.

Conferred titles and posthumous name

Below is the list of conferred titles and posthumous name bestowed upon Lễ Thành Hầu Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh by Vietnamese monarchs.