The Nguyễn lords (Vietnamese: Chúa Nguyễn; 1558–1777), also known as Nguyễn clan or House of Nguyễn, are a series of rulers of now southern and central Vietnam, at this time called Đàng Trong or Inner Land as opposite to Đàng Ngoài or Outer Land, ruled by the Trịnh lords.
While they recognize and claim to be loyal subjects of the Later Lê dynasty, they are de facto kings of Cochinchina, while the Trịnh lords rule the north, where the emperor remain most of the time a puppet figure.
They fight a long, bitter war that lasts forty-five years and separates Vietnam into two polities for nearly two centuries.
After the Tây Sơn wars, their descendants will finally rule over the whole of Vietnam as the Nguyễn dynasty and posthumously elevate their titles to emperors.
Their rule consolidates earlier southward expansion into Champa and pushes into Cambodia.
