Bombardment of Tourane (1847)

The Bombardment of Tourane (present-day Da Nang, Vietnam) occurred in April 1847 when French naval forces, commanded by Admiral Cécille, attacked Tourane harbor. This act of aggression stemmed from the Nguyễn dynasty's persecution of Catholic missionaries in Vietnam, a policy the French government, under King Louis-Philippe, viewed as unacceptable.

The French squadron, consisting of several warships, entered the harbor and demanded the release of imprisoned missionaries and guarantees of future religious freedom for Catholics in Vietnam. The Nguyễn authorities, under Emperor Thiệu Trị, refused these demands.

The ensuing bombardment resulted in the destruction of several Vietnamese vessels and fortifications within the harbor. While the French achieved a tactical victory, the event significantly worsened relations between France and Vietnam. It ultimately contributed to the later French intervention and colonization of Vietnam in the second half of the 19th century. The Bombardment of Tourane is often cited as one of the key precursors to French Indochina.