Thàng Cang

Thàng Cang (Dieu: 成真; Bin'am: Thàng Cang; November 17, 1924 - July 17, 2002) was a Dieuese statesman and freedom fighter. He was the eldest son of the first Emperor of Daidieu, Cuk Hiaw, and later served as the second Emperor of Daidieu from 1964 to his overthrow in 1972. Thàng Cang was known for changing Daidieu from an absolute monarchy into a democratic constitutional monarchy. He was nicknamed Father of Dieuese Democracy. Thàng Cang is Daidieu's shortest-serving monarch, with a rule of 8 years, 48 days.

Early life
He was born Pùng Thành Vệ (馮誠衛) on November 17, 1924, in his parents' home in Thǎu Hwā (now Ving Hwā),. When Pùng was little, he was influenced by his father's political views, and later became an anti-imperialist and anti-colonialist.

During World War II, Pùng was forced by the French (whom Daidieu was still apart of) to fight for them. However, he turned traitor while in Europe, and deserted his troops to go back to Daidieu. His father commended Pùng for doing that. During the Dieuese War of Liberation, Pùng fought with his father and brothers against the Japanese and the French. Unfortunately, he was shot while in Hāù Trwàn and his left middle finger was cut off.

Crown Prince of Daidieu (1946-1964)
Cuk Hiaw became Emperor of Daidieu on January 1, 1946, and since Pùng was his eldest son, Thàng became Crown Prince. Pùng's new name was Thàng Cang, meaning "become true".

When Thàng Cang visited America during their 1956 presidential election, he was inspired by democracy, and wanted Daidieu to do the same thing. However, his father the Emperor, was angry, and wanted the monarchy to have absolute power in Daidieu.

Thàng Cang married on September 7, 1959, and gave birth to his first child, Thiạn Hè on July 21, 1961.

Emperor of Daidieu (1964-1972)
Eventually Cuk Hiaw abdicated on October 6, 1964, in favour of Thàng Cang. After taking power, he sought to loosen the monarchy's hold on the country. He allowed political parties to form in November 1964, and the first election was on December 7, creating the National Assembly of Daidieu on December 9. Thang was very anti-communist, so when he saw many Dieueses identifying as communist, he rigged the election so that the Communist Party of Daidieu couldn't win. Meanwhile, Thang decided to make propaganda to dissuade people of communism. Unfortunately for the Communist Party, it worked, and they lost the next election in 1968.

1972 coup d'etat
High-ranking military official and member of the Communist Party Kim Nàu Szì and his loyalists planned a coup, and in the early hours of November 22, 1972, they overthrew the government. Prime Minister Hwàng Hwě Jing was executed, and when Thàng heard of the news he and his family quickly escaped. Sadly, his only son and Crown Prince Thiạn Hè (天夏) was killed during the escape, and Thang was very depressed.

Later life
Thang abdicated as the Emperor of the Dieuese government-in-exile on June 1, 1973, in favour of his cousin, Hwèi Ving. As tradition, Thang was given the title Thụǎng Hwàng (上皇) after his abdication and until his death of cancer on July 17, 2002. A four-day mourning period was declared, and all television stations broadcast a montage of Thang's life. All entertainment venues were closed.