Overview
Independence began turbulently. Ngô Quyền’s kingdom (939–965) fragmented after his death into the anarchy of the Twelve Warlords, and the young state had to be pulled back together by force.
Key developments
Đinh Bộ Lĩnh reunified the land in 968, proclaimed the state Dai Co Viet, and declared himself emperor — asserting parity with China while accepting tributary forms, a dual posture held at the same time. After Dinh’s assassination, the general Lê Hoàn took the throne (Early Lê, 980–1009) and repelled a Song invasion in 981.
End and transition
When the last Early Lê ruler died in 1009, the palace guard commander Ly Cong Uan was raised to the throne, founding the stable Lý dynasty.