Why Famous:The ruler of the protectorate of Annam, then a French-controlled colony within French Indochina. During World War II Bảo Đại was a client of the Japanese occupation, before Viet Minh leader Ho Chi Minh convinced him to abdicate in August 1945. He returned as Chief of State in the internationally recognized State of Vietnam from 1949 until 1955.
Ngô Đình Diệm's fraudulent 1955 referendum permanently removed Bảo Đại as the head of state of Vietnam.