Trịnh Cán

Trịnh Cán (died 1782) was a member of the Trịnh lords family, who effectively ruled Đại Việt (Vietnam) during the Later Lê dynasty. He was the designated heir of Trịnh Sâm, but his succession was contested.

Upon Trịnh Sâm's death in 1782, a power struggle erupted. While Trịnh Cán was the intended successor, his young age (around 5 or 6 years old) and the influence of the powerful consort, Empress Dowager Dương Thị Ngọc Hoan (Trịnh Sâm's wife and Trịnh Cán's mother), led to resentment among the Trịnh army. This discontent culminated in a coup led by soldiers supporting Trịnh Khải, Trịnh Sâm's older son. Trịnh Khải successfully seized power, overthrowing Trịnh Cán.

Trịnh Cán was deposed and subsequently died shortly after, possibly due to assassination or the stress of the situation. The coup marked a period of instability and further weakened the Trịnh lords' authority, contributing to the eventual rise of the Tây Sơn brothers.