 Pigneau would ingratiate himself to and eventually become confidant to Nguyễn Ánh, the last of the Nguyễn lords, then engaged in a civil war.Pigneau hoped that with a Nguyễn Ánh victory, he would gain concessions for the Catholic Church in Vietnam.Pigneau and other missionaries bought military supplies and enlisted European soldiers for Nguyễn Ánh and took part in military operations.