 This resulted in more Christians in the south than in the north of Vietnam, a situation that continued from 17th century onward.Prince Nguyễn Ánh, who later became Emperor Gia Long and founded the Nguyễn dynasty from the remnant of old Nguyễn lords, was particularly tolerant of Christians.However, persecution on Christians increased with the death of Gia Long, when successive Vietnamese Emperors imprisoned, murdered and oppressed Christians Brutal treatment of Christians by the Nguyễn rulers induced French military action in 1858 and ultimately the French conquest of Vietnam.