Duy Tan

Duy Tân, originally named Vinh San, was the emperor of Vietnam from 1907 to 1916. He became a symbol of the Vietnamese anticolonialist movement against the French before and during World War I. He was the son of Emperor Thanh Thai, who was deposed by the French. The French hoped that Duy Tân, being young, would be easily influenced and controlled. However, Duy Tân was sympathetic to the plans of the Vietnamese liberation leaders and cooperated with rebel plans to stage revolts. The plot was discovered, and Duy Tân was caught trying to escape. He was dethroned by the French and exiled to Réunion island. During World War II, Duy Tân served in Europe with the Free French Army as Major Vinh San and was awarded the highest French honors for bravery. He died in an airplane crash and is buried in what is now the Central African Republic.