Bao Dai was the last emperor of Vietnam, ruling from 1926 until 1945. Born on October 22, 1913, he was a member of the Nguyen dynasty. His reign was marked by the struggle between traditional monarchy and the rising influence of nationalist movements. In 1945, following the end of World War II, Bao Dai abdicated the throne as Vietnam declared independence under Ho Chi Minh. He later lived in exile in France and returned to Vietnam briefly in 1949, but his role as a puppet ruler for the French was unpopular, leading to his eventual departure from politics.