The Trưng Sisters, Trưng Trắc and Trưng Nhị, were two Vietnamese sisters who led the rebellion against the Chinese Han dynasty rule in 40 AD. They are considered national heros in Vietnam and symbols of independence. The sisters came from an aristocratic military family in northern Vietnam. After the Chinese governor Su Ding executed Trưng Trắc’s husband, the sisters organized an uprising against Chinese control. Riding war elephants and gathering support from local lords and towns, they captured dozens of settlements and forced Chinese occupation out. Trưng Trắc was declared queen, and the sisters ruled for around three years. In 42–43 AD, the Han dynasty sent a large army led by General Ma Yuan to quell the rebellion. The sisters were defeated, and historical accounts differ on what happened afterward. Some say they were executed, while Vietnamese tradition often says they committed suicide rather than surrender. The Trưng Sisters are remembered as early chasers of Vietnamese independence and as powerful female leaders. Temples, streets, schools, and annual festivals in Vietnam honor them, and, as seen in the picture, they are commonly depicted riding elephants into battle.