Nguyễn Hoàng
This time, chaos ensued. A rival general, Nguyễn Hoàng Dụ, turned his army loose to raze and loot. The inhabitants of the capital seized their chance to loot the palaces and administrative buildings of the hated former king, Tương Dực. During the confusions, Trần Cảo's forces marched into the capital, destroying the Lê dynastic temple and proclaiming a new reign. These events dealt a heavy blow to Lê prestige and legitimacy, as well as its capacity to rule. The court annals noted that "After Tran Cao entered the Capital and the dynastic temple was sacked, after [Nguyễn Hoàng Dụ's army] rebelled and the Capital was deserted", they wrote, "seeing this was enough to know that the Le could no longer prosper".