Capture of Nam Định (1883)

The Capture of Nam Định in March 1883 was a significant event in the Tonkin Campaign of the Sino-French War. It involved the French bombardment and subsequent capture of the citadel of Nam Định, a major city in the Red River Delta of Tonkin (northern Vietnam).

Prior to the capture, Nam Định was a strategically important city held by Vietnamese forces, backed by the Black Flag Army and Chinese troops. The French, under the command of Admiral Amédée Courbet, aimed to secure control of the Red River Delta and weaken Vietnamese resistance to French colonial expansion.

The attack commenced with a naval bombardment of the Nam Định citadel. The French naval artillery caused significant damage to the fortifications and inflicted casualties on the defenders. Following the bombardment, French troops launched an assault on the weakened citadel.

The Vietnamese, Black Flags, and Chinese defenders put up a determined resistance, but they were ultimately outmatched by the superior French firepower and tactics. After fierce fighting, the French forces successfully stormed the citadel and captured Nam Định.

The capture of Nam Định was a major victory for the French and further consolidated their control over the Red River Delta. It demoralized the Vietnamese resistance and contributed to the eventual French victory in the Tonkin Campaign. The event was followed by looting and destruction within the city, as well as the displacement of a significant portion of its population. While a strategic victory, the capture of Nam Định was marked by reports of excessive force and civilian suffering.