While they recognized and claimed to be loyal subjects of the Later Lê dynasty, they were de facto kings of Cochinchina, while the Trịnh lords ruled the north, where the emperor remained most of the time a puppet figure.
Skønt de anerkendte og hævdede at være loyale undersåtter af Lê-dynastiet, var de de facto konger af Cochinkina, mens Trịnh-herrerne regerede nord, hvor kejseren det meste af tiden forblev en marionetfigur.