Nanyue is an ancient kingdom that consists of parts of the modern Chinese provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi, and Yunnan and northern Vietnam.

Nanyue is established in 204 BCE at the final collapse of the Qin Dynasty by Zhao Tuo, who is the military commander of Nanhai Commandery at theis time, and initially comprises the Nanhai, Guilin, and Xiang Commanderies.

In 196 BCE, Zhao Tuo makes tributary obeisance to the Emperor Gaozu of Han and Nanyue is referred to by Han leaders as a "foreign servant", a synecdoche for a vassal state.

Around 183 BCE, relations between the Nanyue and the Han Dynasty sour, and Zhao Tuo begins to refer to himself as an emperor (suggesting Nanyue's sovereignty).

The kingdoms of Minyue, Yelang, Ouluo and Tongshi declare their allegiance to Nanyue rule, greatly expanding Nanyue's territory and control.

In 179 BCE, relations between the Han and Nanyue improve, and Zhao Tuo once again makes submission, this time to Emperor Wen of Han as an subject state.

The submission is somewhat superficial, as Nanyue seems to have retained autonomy from the Han, and Zhao Tuo is referred as "Emperor" throughout Nanyue until his death.

In 113 BCE, fourth-generation leader Zhao Xing seeks to have Nanyue formally included as part of the Han Empire.

His prime minister Lü Jia objects vehemently and subsequently kills Zhao Xing, installing his elder brother Zhao Jiande on the throne and forcing a confrontation with the Han Dynasty.

The next year, Emperor Wu of Han sends 100,000 troops to war against Nanyue.

By the end of the year and the beginning of 111 BCE, the army has destroyed Nanyue.

The kingdom lasts 93 years in total and has five generations of kings.The Kingdom of Nanyue's founding preserves the Lingnan region's societal order and stability during the chaos surrounding the collapse of the Qin Dynasty, and allows the southern region to avoid much of the hardship experienced by the northern, predominantly Han Chinese regions.

The kingdom is founded by leaders originally from the Chinese heartland, and is responsible for bringing Chinese bureaucracy and more advanced agriculture and handicraft techniques to the inhabitants of the southern regions, as well as knowledge of the Chinese language and writing system.

Nanyue leaders promote a policy of "Harmonizing and Gathering the Hundred Yue Tribes", and encourages fellow Han Chinese to immigrate from their Yellow River homeland to the south.

They support mutual assimilation of the two cultures and peoples, and promulgate Han culture and the Chinese language throughout the region, though many elements of original Yue culture are preserved.

In Vietnam, the rulers of Nanyue are referred to as the Triệu Dynasty.

The name "Vietnam" is derived from Nam Việt, the Vietnamese pronunciation of Nanyue.