The Nguyễn dynasty was the last ruling family of Vietnam.Their rule lasted a total of 143 years. It began in 1802, when Emperor Gia Long ascended the throne after defeating the Tây Sơn dynasty, and ended in 1945, when Emperor Bảo Đại abdicated the throne and transferred power to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. During the reign of Gia Long, the nation officially became known as Việt Nam (越南), but from the reign of Emperor Minh Mạng onward, the nation was renamed to Đại Nam (大南, literally "Great South"). Rule was marked by the increasing influence of French colonialism; the nation was eventually divided into three parts: Cochinchina became a French colony, and Annam and Tonkin became nominally-independent protectorates.