Biography

As prince

Nghệ Tông was born in 1321 as Trần Phủ, third son of the Emperor Minh Tông and Concubine Lê who was the younger sister of Empress Hiến Từ. Under the reign of his eldest brother, Emperor Hiến Tông (1329–1341) and his younger brother, Emperor Dụ Tông (1341–1369), Trần Phủ was entitled as Prince Cung Định (Vietnamese: Cung Định Vương). When Dương Nhật Lễ took over the throne in 1369, Prince Cung Định became the Emperor's father-in-law as Nhật Lễ married his daughter.

During his two years of reigning, Emperor Nhật Lễ enraged the imperial court and Trần clan's members by his irresponsible attitude with the throne and his effort of changing his family name back to Dương which meant the ending of the Trần Dynasty. As a result, there were several plots trying to overthrow and kill Nhật Lễ, one of them was led by Prince Cung Định himself after the advice of his brother Prince Cung Tuyên Trần Kính, his sister Princess of Thiên Ninh Trần Ngọc Tha and the respected Marquis of Chương Túc Trần Nguyên Đán. Ultimately, Prince Cung Tuyên succeeded in re-establishing the ruling of Trần clan when the mandarin Ngô Lai persuaded Nhật Lễ to surrender and return the throne to Trần clan. Prince Cung Định was enthroned on November 15 of Lunar calendar, 1370 as the Emperor Nghệ Tông and decided to change the era name to Thiệu Khánh (紹慶), Dương Nhật Lễ was downgraded to Duke of Hôn Đức (Hôn Đức Công). Subsequently, Nhật Lễ killed Ngô Lai and was beaten to death with his son by an order from Nghệ Tông.

Nghệ Tông was credited with the re-establishment of Trần clan's ruling in Vietnam from Hôn Đức Công who kept the throne in nearly two years after the decease of Trần Dụ Tông. However, Nghệ Tông was proved to be an inefficient ruler during his reign as emperor and afterward as retired emperor from 1372 to his death at 1394. As the Retired Emperor who oversaw the ruling of his three consecutive successors, Duệ Tông, Phế Đế and Thuận Tông, Nghệ Tông was responsible for the rising in imperial court of Đỗ Tử Bình who brought Emperor Duệ Tông to his death and Hồ Quý Ly who ultimately overthrew the Trần Dynasty to found his own dynasty. Nghệ Tông also witnessed many defeats of Đại Việt in the struggle with Champa including Đồ Bàn Battle when Emperor Duệ Tông was killed in action or several attacks by king of Champa Chế Bồng Nga in Thăng Long, capital of Đại Việt. After the decease of Nghệ Tông, the Trần Dynasty fell into the situation of completely chaos and survived for only six more years before Hồ Quý Ly took the throne in 1400.

As emperor

Nghệ Tông took the absolute power when he was 49 and already had experience within the imperial court, however according to Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư, the Emperor lacked an important quality of a good ruler which is the decisiveness and thus led the Trần Dynasty step by step fall into the hand of his officials.

After the coronation, Nghệ Tông tried to restore the order of imperial court which was heavily damaged during the reign of Dụ Tông and Nhật Lễ but the progress came very slowly, partially because he did not have enough competent mandarins like Chu Văn An who died in 1370 or Trần Nguyên Đán who kept away from the court. Nghệ Tông faced his first failure in March 1371 when king of Champa Chế Bồng Nga commanded troop attacked directly Thăng Long, the capital of Đại Việt, after the petition of Nhật Lễ's mother. Unable to confront with the strong and well-organized opponent, the imperial court of the Trần Dynasty had to flee from Thăng Long and let the capital be violently looted by Chế Bồng Nga's army. Two months after the Champa's assault, Nghệ Tông appointed Hồ Quý Ly for one of the highest position in imperial court, this was the evidence for the Emperor's confidence in Hồ Quý Ly who had two aunts entitled as consorts of Minh Tông and married the Princess of Huy Ninh, Nghệ Tông's younger sister. The Emperor also chose Đỗ Tử Bình, another notorious official in future, for the position of military counsellor in April 1372.

On November 9 of Lunar calendar, 1372, Nghệ Tông decided to cede the throne to his younger brother, Prince Cung Tuyên Trần Kính who now became the Emperor Trần Duệ Tông, and held the title Retired Emperor to co-rule the country with the Emperor as the tradition of the Trần Dynasty.

As retired emperor

By nature Duệ Tông was an arrogant and hard-headed ruler who ignored the advice from mandarins about the power of Champa's army, therefore right after the enthronement he began to prepare a military campaign in the southern border against Chế Bồng Nga's troop. Another factor that reinforced the Emperor's decision was the refusal of Chế Bồng Nga to pay tribute for Đại Việt, afterwards historical books reveal that actually king of Champa did send fifteen trays of gold to Đại Việt but Đỗ Tử Bình kept the gold for himself while reported to imperial court that there was not any tribute from Champa. After some skirmishes caused by Champa, Duệ Tông began his decisive campaign in December 1376 in which the Emperor personally commanded with the assistance of Hồ Quý Ly and Đỗ Tử Bình. Eventually, the campaign was ended by a disastrous defeat of Đại Việt's army in Đồ Bàn Battle when the Emperor with many high-ranking mandarins and generals of the Trần Dynasty were killed by Champa's force. On the contrary, Hồ Quý Ly and Đỗ Tử Bình survived because Quý Ly, who took charge of logistics, and Tử Bình, who commanded the rearguard, both ran away from the battle instead of trying to rescue the Emperor. Afterwards, Đỗ Tử Bình was only dismissed to the position of plain soldier by the order of Nghệ Tông while Hồ Quý Ly even did not have to face with any charge.

After the death of the Emperor, the Retired Emperor in May 1377 passed the throne to Duệ Tông's eldest prince, Prince Kiến Đức Trần Hiện, now Trần Phế Đế. By the historical records, Phế Đế was actually worse than his father, he had a weak and ignorant character which was profited by Hồ Quý Ly in his gradual control of imperial court. During his reign, the military power was concentrated in the hand of Đỗ Tử Bình who was incapable to deal with many attacks from Champa's army. As a result, Nghệ Tông even decided to hide money in Lạng Sơn in fearing that Chế Bồng Nga's troop might assault and destroy the imperial palace in Thăng Long.

In 1380, Hồ Quý Ly had a minor victory over the troop of Chế Bồng Nga in Thanh Hóa, as a result, Đỗ Tử Bình had to give up his control of Đại Việt army to Hồ Quý Ly. However, in June 1383, Chế Bồng Nga opened a major campaign against Đại Việt, this time Trần Nghệ Tông was so afraid of the enemy that he escaped from Thăng Long ignoring advice from the imperial court. This coward decision of Nghệ Tông was heavily criticized by the historian Ngô Sĩ Liên in his work Đại Việt sử kí toàn thư.

In 1387, Nghệ Tông appointed Hồ Quý Ly as Co-Prime Minister (Đồng bình chương sự), giving him as much power as Nghệ Tông's eldest son, Prime Minister Trần Ngạc (Prince Trang Định). Facing this threat, Emperor Phế Đế allied with Trần Ngạc to overthrow Hồ Quý Ly. However, Quý Ly had already got ahead of this plot by a defamation campaign against the Emperor which ultimately made Nghệ Tông decide to dethrone Phế Đế in December 1388. Phế Đế was downgraded to Prince Linh Đức and forced to commit suicide while his supporters in imperial court were swept by Hồ Quý Ly's side. From now on it was Hồ Quý Ly who held the highest position and power in imperial court.

On December 27 of Lunar calendar, 1387, Nghệ Tông passed the throne to his youngest son Trần Ngung, now Trần Thuận Tông, who was only eleven, the Retired Emperor also entitled Hồ Quý Ly's daughter as the new empress of Thuận Tông. After another defeat of Đại Việt's army under the command of Hồ Quý Ly by Champa, in November 1389 Nghệ Tông appointed Trần Khát Chân for the position of general who conduct all military operations against Chế Bồng Nga's troop. Only a few months after taking charge of the position, Trần Khát Chân had a decisive victory over Champa on January 23, 1390 which resulted in the death of Chế Bồng Nga and thus the stable situation in southern border of Đại Việt. However, the Trần government still deteriorated. In 1391, the Prime Minister Trần Ngạc escaped the imperial city in other to make another attempt against Hồ Quý Ly. Having obtained Nghệ Tông's passive approval, Quý Ly ordered general Nguyễn Nhân Liệt to beat Trần Ngạc to death. Another imperial prince, Trần Nhật Chương, was killed in 1392 on the direct order of Nghệ Tông for taking opposing stance against Quý Ly.

Trần Nghệ Tông died on December 15 of Lunar calendar, 1394 at the age of 73 and left imperial court in the total control of Hồ Quý Ly. As a result, the Trần Dynasty survived for only six years before Hồ Quý Ly overthrew it and established his own reign, the Hồ Dynasty.

Family

Trần Nghệ Tông had one wife, Lady Huệ Ý, who died before his coronation and was posthumously entitled as Empress Thục Đức. The Emperor had five sons and one daughter:

• Prince Ngự Câu Trần Húc (?–1381) who was killed by Trần Phế Đế

• Trần Thúc Ngạn

• Prince Trang Định Trần Ngạc (?–1391) who was killed by an order of Hồ Quý Ly, Trần Ngạc's son was Trần Quý Khoáng who was afterward enthroned as Emperor of the Later Trần Dynasty

• Prince Giản Định Trần Ngỗi (?–1409) who was afterward the Emperor Giản Định of the Later Trần Dynasty

• Prince Chiêu Định Trần Ngung (1378–1398) who became the Emperor Trần Thuận Tông

• Princess Thiên Huy Trần Thục Mỹ

Legacy

Most cities in Vietnam have named major streets after him.

早年生涯

陳暊是越南陳明宗的第三子，於陳明宗大慶八年（1321年）十二月出生。陳憲宗開祐十年（1338年），陳暊（號恭定王）出任驃騎上將軍領宣光鎮一職，時年十八歲。其後，陳暊在朝廷裡地位日漸攀升。陳裕宗紹豐十三年（1353年），陳暊獲任為右相國；陳裕宗大治十年（1367年），獲任為左相國加封大王。

陳暊在他歷事幾朝皇帝期間，其政績可以說是不過不失。黎澄這樣描述他的表現：「恭定忠信誠確，事君與親，謹慎毫髮，人無間言，接物不親不疏，臨政無咎無譽。明王棄世，居喪三年，淚不乾睫，服除，衣無綵色，食不重味，菴蘿果、海豚魚，是南方珍味，自此絕不到口。」雖然他在這些日子裡「無咎無譽」，而且又並非太子，並無繼任權，但後來他卻碰上難得的機遇。

恢復陳氏，即皇帝位

出逃避禍

大治十二年（1369年），陳裕宗駕崩，因無後嗣，便立楊日禮繼位。（據《大越史記全書‧本紀全書‧陳紀‧陳裕宗》所載，楊日禮名義上是陳明宗之孫，恭肅王陳元昱之子，但其實是優伶楊姜之子。楊日禮的母親懷孕時，陳元昱「悅其艷色納之，及生，以為己子」。）

楊日禮登位後，任命陳暊為太師。楊日禮的表現甚為不濟，《大越史記全書》說他「縱酒淫逸，日事宴遊，好為雜技之戲」，而且「欲復姓楊，宗室百官皆失望」。黎澄《南翁夢錄》亦提到他畢竟是「外人楊氏所生」，被陳氏一族所輕視，所以「潛謀盡去陳氏之有名目者」。大定二年（1370年）九月，太宰恭靖王陳元晫力抗而敗，最終遇害。十月，陳暊獲悉大難臨頭，出逃避難。

群臣擁立

在出逃期間，陳暊曾感到沮喪，「意欲自盡」，幸好「左右持之」，阻止了其自殺念頭。後來，陳氏宗室群臣相會，迎立陳暊為皇帝。陳暊最初尚有猶疑，但看見群臣「再三懇切上書，誓死無易」，便於當年（大定二年）的十一月率眾回都。十三日（西曆12月1日），廢楊日禮為昏德公。十五日（西曆12月3日），陳暊即皇帝位，改年號為紹慶，稱為義皇。

陳藝宗即位後，很快便肅清楊日禮的餘黨叛臣。如大臣陳日覈，因曾勸楊日禮殺害陳氏宗室，被判以「傾危社稷罪」而伏誅。

在位期間的舉措

陳藝宗陳暊在皇位僅兩年（1370年農曆十一月至1372年十一月），其後的二十餘年他以太上皇的身份掌權。在他任皇帝的短短兩年間，當中的施政及舉措如下：

• 恢復陳明宗時的舊制：陳藝宗在位時，但凡一應事務，都依照陳明宗開泰年間（1324年至1329年）舊例，他曾為此說：「先朝立國，自有法度，不遵宋制，蓋以南（此處指代越南）北（此處指代中國）各帝其國，不相襲也。大治間，白面書生用事，不達立法，微意乃舉祖宗舊法，恰向北俗上安排，若衣服樂章之類，不可枚舉，故初政一遵開泰年間例。」

• 重用外戚黎季犛：黎季犛是陳朝晚年的著名外戚。他的兩位姑母，都被納入陳明宗後宮，一位是陳藝宗母親，另一是陳睿宗母親。陳藝宗對黎季犛十分寵信，並於紹慶二年（1371年）五月，委任黎季犛為樞密院大使。

就任上皇

退位及擔任上皇

陳藝宗陳暊於紹慶三年十一月九日（1372年12月4日），禪位於太子陳曔（陳明宗第十一子，亦即陳藝宗之弟），是為陳睿宗。陳睿宗紹慶元年正月，上皇陳暊被尊稱為光華英哲太上皇帝。其後，當陳睿宗死，陳晛（即陳廢帝，陳睿宗長子）立，以及陳廢帝被黜，陳顒（即陳順宗，上皇陳暊幼子）立時，陳暊都曾參與決定繼嗣者的事宜，並且在每一朝中一直身居上皇之位，發揮影響力。

財政負擔的增重

據越南近代學者陳仲金所說，在陳暊統治的時期裡，由於戰事頻繁，以致財政日益困難，只好增加賦稅。在以往的太平時期裡，一般平民只按定額納稅，有田土者納錢，無者不納，而當兵者則世襲從軍。即使偶有戰事，也按人民的田畝、漁潭等資產情況繳交粟、錢及布匹，以供軍費。但到了陳暊統治時代，與占城間常有戰亂（詳見下），所以在昌符二年（1378年），開始行人頭稅，每丁每年出錢三貫。這反映了陳暊統治期間時務艱難的狀態。

誤信黎季犛

身居上皇之位的陳暊，對於外戚黎季犛一直十分倚重。在昌符四年（1380年）五月，黎季犛因擊退占人之功，得以「專領元戎，行海西都統制」。昌符十一年（1387年）三月，上皇命黎季犛同平章事，賜劍一把、旗一隻，還題字說「文武全才，君臣同德」，以表示上皇毫不懷疑黎季犛的才能與忠誠。

陳廢帝的被黜及被殺，亦與上皇寵信黎季犛有關。在昌符十二年（1388年）八月，陳廢帝感到黎季犛弄權的威脅，便對大臣說：「上皇寵愛外戚季犛，肆意任用，若不先為之慮，後必難制矣。」此言卻洩漏到黎季犛耳中，黎季犛與親信商量，知道上皇自身「正嫡眾多」，而陳廢帝只不過是上皇姪兒，因而向上皇說：「臣聞里諺曰：『未有賣子而養姪，惟見賣姪而養子』」，用這番話煸惑上皇。果然，上皇不分就裡，下詔稱「官家（指陳廢帝）踐位以來，童心益甚，秉德不常，親暱群小」，以致「扇搖社稷」，因而廢為靈德大王，改立自己的幼子陳顒為帝。而廢帝陳晛最終亦被黎季犛殺害，大臣被牽連而死及受罰者甚眾。

不過，在上皇的身邊，亦有人關注黎季犛權力過盛的問題，並提醒上皇小心。如司徒陳元旦曾作《十禽詩》說：「人言寄子與老鴉，不識老鴉憐愛不」，就是諷諭上皇把兒子陳順宗付託給黎季犛，不知是否萬無一失。雖然如此，但上皇仍沒有產生戒心。陳順宗光泰七年二月，上皇命畫工畫中國歷史裡的周公輔周成王、霍光輔漢昭帝、諸葛亮輔蜀後主，以及越南歷史裡的蘇憲誠輔李高宗的故事，名為《四輔圖》，以賜給黎季犛，希望他效法周公、霍光等人。四月，上皇召黎季犛入宮，向季犛從容地提到：「平章親族，國家事務，一以委之，今國勢衰弱，朕方老耄，即世之後，官家（指陳朝皇室）可輔則輔之，庸暗則自取之。」黎季犛連忙答以「臣不能盡忠戮力輔官家，傳之後裔，天其厭之」；「縱糜身碎骨，未能報答萬一，敢有異圖！」上皇至去世為止，也沒有作出對黎季犛不利的事情。

內亂

上皇陳暊掌權期間，國內名鎮變亂頻生。如在清化有阮清自稱「靈德王」，作亂於梁江，又有阮忌自稱「魯王」，作亂於農貢；最嚴重的一次是光泰二年（1389年）十二月時，僧人范師溫起事，一度攻陷國都昇龍，當時適值占城進攻大越國，幸好將領黃奉世平定范師溫的亂事，化險為夷。

對外關係

對中國明朝的關係

雖然陳藝宗於1370年即位，但據中國史籍《明實錄》所載，明洪武四年（1371年）時，安南國仍以「國王陳日熞」（前朝國君楊日禮）的名義向明入貢。到明洪武五年二月丙戌（1372年2月12日），才用陳叔明之名，派員到明。但明廷禮部主管者認為「前王乃陳日熞，今表曰叔明，必有以也」，懷疑其國君的合法地位。明太祖更說：「島夷何狡如是！」於是被「卻其貢不受」。到次年，即明洪武六年春正月（1373年），明廷才讓陳叔明（陳暊）「以前王印視事」。

由於明廷認為陳叔明（陳暊）政權來歷不明，所以至死後仍不得明人的弔慰。《明實錄》載，洪武二十九年二月壬寅（1396年3月23日），安南遣使「以其前王陳叔明卒，遣其臣來告哀。」明太祖認為「安南自陳叔明逼逐其陳日熞，使不得其死，因篡位，廢置相，仍未來告。叔明懷奸挾詐，殘滅其王，以圖富貴，不義如此，庸可與乎？今叔明之死若遣使弔慰，是撫亂臣而與賊子也。異日四夷聞之，豈不效尤，狂謀踵發，亦非中懷憮外夷之道也。爾禮部咨其國知之。」簡言之，陳暊的對明關係，處於甚為尷尬的狀態。

對占城國的關係

陳暊任皇帝和上皇的時期，正值是占城雄主制蓬峩（又稱阿答阿者）在位，越占兩國勢成水火，兵釁時起，國都昇龍更數度被占軍攻陷。

• 陳藝宗皇帝紹慶二年（1371年）閏三月，占城入寇國都。事緣楊日禮被廢黜時，其母出逃占城，誘使入寇，以替楊日禮雪恨。占軍從大安海門直攻國都，藝宗逃到東岸江（在古法亭的榜村）躲避。該月二十七日（西曆5月12日），占軍攻陷國都，焚毀宮殿，虜掠女子玉帛而回。《大越史記全書》的作者說這是國防鬆懈所致，並謂戰亂將接踵有來，「時承平日久，邊城無備，寇至無兵可禦，賊燒焚宮室，圖籍為之掃空，國家自此多事矣。」

• 陳睿宗皇帝於隆慶五年（該年亦即陳廢帝昌符元年，1377年）親征占城時戰死，占城更再次進犯越都昇龍。前一年（隆慶四年，1376年）五月，占城入寇大越邊地，陳睿宗遂決定親征。結果在隆慶五年正月，陳睿宗在占城境內被制蓬峩的軍隊擊斃。上皇陳暊便於五月十三日（6月19日），立陳晛為帝，是為陳廢帝。該年六月，占城再入寇大越，上皇聞悉後，便派將到大安海口佈防，占軍知上皇已有戒備，改由神符海口（在今越南寧平省）擄掠昇龍，數天後才離去。

• 昌符二年（1378年）五月，占城出兵入寇乂安府，並於六月入大黃江，擊敗越軍，又一次進犯京師，擄掠而還。

• 昌符四年（1380年），二、三月間，占軍入寇大越國的乂安、清化等地。上皇派黎季犛、杜子平等率軍，在虞江（在今越南清化省）迎戰占軍。五月，黎季犛在虞江得勝，占王制蓬峩戰敗遁歸。

• 昌符六年（1382年）二月，占城入寇清化，前進至神投津（在今越南寧平省）時，被越將阮多方擊敗。阮多方乘勝追擊，至三月，追到乂安城而還。

• 昌符七年（1383年），在大越上皇陳暊及占王制蓬峩的領導下，雙方互有攻守。該年正月，上皇命黎季犛率舟師攻占城，但行軍至吏部娘灣（在今越南河靜省奇英縣）時，戰船遭風濤折壞而回。六月，占王制蓬峩領軍到廣威鎮，向越都昇龍進逼。上皇派軍抵禦，不利，便命阮多方留守國都，自己卻離京逃到東岸江（在古法亭的榜村）。當時有士人阮夢華「衣冠下水，牽挽御舟，請留討賊」，上皇卻畏懼不從。此舉被後黎朝史官吳士連猛烈抨擊：「藝皇無勇，賊未至而先避，其如國人何？」到該年十二月，占軍才撤退。

• 光泰二年（1389年）及光泰三年（1390年）間的戰事最為激烈，占王制蓬峩最終戰死。光泰二年十月，占軍入寇清化等地，黎季犛等將率兵抵抗，但都不敵而退。十一月，上皇命將陳渴真領兵抵禦。此時，上皇感到絕望，看見陳渴真「慷慨涕泣拜辭」，自己「亦泣，下目送之」。與此同時，十二月，大越國內又有僧人范師溫的作亂，並曾一度攻陷國都升龍，上皇與陳順宗皇帝棄京出逃，瞬即遣將軍黃奉世討平。到光泰三年正月二十三日（西曆2月8日），陳渴真部隊於海潮江（在今越南太平省與興安省境內）遇上占軍，用火銃擊斃制蓬莪，越軍將其首級割下。捷報傳來時，正在熟睡的上皇還虛怯得以為是占軍攻到，但當看到制蓬峩的首級後大喜，說：「我與蓬莪相持久矣，今日始得相見，何異漢高祖見項羽首！天下定矣。」占城將領羅皚則帶著制蓬峩的屍身與餘眾落荒而回。

• 陳暊與占城之間的連年大戰，雖然最終獲勝，但亦使陳朝元氣大傷，秩序大亂，國內投向占城的民眾甚多。《大越史記全書》載，「是時，乂安人懷貳，新平、順化多叛從占，故土哩之人四散遊擊，莫之能禦，朝廷雖以黎可鑄為兩路安撫使，但在京遙鎮，未嘗到郡」，就只有少數的地方土豪願意歸降陳氏朝廷，可見當時管治上的困難。經過連年混戰後的亂局後，朝廷上亦出現厭棄戰爭，要求和平的聲音。司徒陳元旦便向上皇忠告：「願陛下敬明國如父，愛占城如子，則國家無事，臣雖死且不朽。」

去世及身後的越南政局

上皇陳暊於光泰七年十二月十五日（即1395年1月6日）去世，葬於安生原陵，廟號藝宗，謚曰光堯英哲皇帝。

上皇陳暊去世後，外戚黎季犛成為新任君主陳順宗的輔政太師，把持朝政。至此，黎季犛準備篡奪皇位，陳朝步上滅亡之路。

文才

陳藝宗陳暊在年幼時，已具有文才。據黎澄《南翁夢錄》所載，他八九歲時，有一回與父親陳明宗一起，陳明宗命他以竹奴為主題作詩，藝宗隨即占口說：「有偉此君，中空外功，削汝為奴，恐傷天性。」父親也感詫異。《大越史記全書》亦載他十一歲時，有一回在宮中遇大風雨，便賦詩說：「安得壯士力蓋世，可禦大屋之頹風」，得到陳明宗（時為上皇）的賞識，賞金十兩。他的詩文作品，部份收錄在《南翁夢錄》和《大越史記全書》等越南歷史古籍中。另外，據《欽定越史通鑑綱目》所載，他的著作有《葆和殿餘筆》八卷及《詩集》一卷。

家庭

「宗族遠近，咸被恩憐」

因當時亂事頻生，陳藝宗對於陳氏親族給與照料，撫恤生活遇上困難的人。黎澄《南翁夢錄‧藝王始末》中記載，藝宗「即位之後，盡取兄弟姊妹子女孫侄之孤幼者，鞠養宮中，視同巳出，宗族遠近，咸被恩憐。有遭亂後，貧窶不能婚嫁者，婚嫁之；未葬者，葬之。末派支流，莫不收錄，翕然戚里，盎若春和。」透過這些措施，務求使陳氏宗室的生活條件得到改善。

陳氏宗室的厄運

陳氏一族亦受陳藝宗的昏庸所累，就是他寵信黎季犛，使不少宗室子孫遭到殺害。其結果是造就了黎季犛的篡位。

親屬

• 父：陳明宗，陳藝宗是他的第三子。

• 母：黎氏，陳藝宗紹慶二年（1371年）正月，追尊為明慈皇太妃。

• 兄弟：

　• 兄：陳憲宗陳旺，陳明宗皇太子。

　• 兄：陳元晫，陳明宗次子。

　• 弟：恭肅王陳元昱。

　• 弟：陳裕宗陳暭，陳明宗第十子。

　• 弟：陳睿宗陳曔，陳明宗第十一子。

• 配偶：

　• 正配：惠懿夫人，陳藝宗紹慶元年（1370年）十一月，追冊為淑德皇后。

• 子

　• 五橋大王陳頊。

　• 簡定帝陳頠，陳藝宗次子。

　• 莊定王陳𩖃，重光帝之父，1392年被殺。

　• 陳順宗陳顒，陳藝宗季子。

• 女

　• 天徽公主陳氏實美，初嫁陳廢帝，封光鸞皇后，後再嫁陳元淵、陳沆

　• 莊徽公主陳氏，嫁陳元胤

　• 宣徽公主陳氏，嫁陳頊

　• 紹寧公主陳氏

　• 陳氏，嫁楊日禮

評價

• 越南後黎朝時期的史官，認為陳藝宗雖曾為陳朝化解危機，但性格優柔寡斷，終究未能防止外戚篡位之禍。《大越史記全書》的編著者評道：「帝削平內難，光復洪圖，規恢功烈，炳彪宇宙，然恭儉有餘，而明斷不足，外寇侵犯京畿，內姦覬覦神器，社稷消剝，以至於亡。」吳士連更直接地抨擊他用人失當，「乃委政外戚，使陳氏社稷馴致危亡，所謂前有讒而不見，後有賊而不知者也。」

• 出身自陳末時期外戚一族的黎澄，則形容陳藝王能齊家治國，是「賢君」典範，「翕然戚里，盎若春和。國人化之，俗漸淳厚。此土之君，斯其賢者歟！」

• 近代學者陳仲金對陳藝宗評價亦甚低，說他「是一位平庸的君主，胸無大志，智力低下，致受奸臣蒙騙，盡殺同族子孫，遠棄忠臣義士；而一味寵愛和任用季犛一人，使其掌權得勢，達到推翻陳氏社稷的境地。」

注釋