Gia Long was the first emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty in Vietnam, ruling from 1802 to 1820. Born as Nguyen Phuc Anh, he unified Vietnam after years of civil war and established the capital in Hue. His reign marked the beginning of a centralized government and significant reforms in administration and military. During his rule, Gia Long focused on consolidating power and promoting Confucianism as the state ideology. He also worked on infrastructure projects, including roads and irrigation systems, to improve agriculture and trade. His legacy is a mix of modernization efforts and traditional values that shaped Vietnam's future.