For visitors to the ancient city of Huế, King Tự Đức’s tomb is one of the biggest attractions.

Tự Đức (1829 – 1883) was the fourth king of the Nguyễn Dynasty, the last family to rule Việt Nam. He also sat on the throne for longer than anyone else in his family.

The king had a hundred wives but no heir. His legacy is a breathtaking mausoleum on the outskirts of Huế, the imperial capital.

Anecdotal evidence says the king had hundreds of wives and concubines.

Sadly, a harem does not guarantee offspring, siring whom is the most important duty of every man, let alone a king, in a Confucian society.

Bad luck begot bad luck and the adopted heir of the longest ruler had the shortest reign ever: He was overthrown after three days on a throne on which his father had sat for 30 years.—VNS