出身及早年的仕途

李常杰出生于寿昌县（今河内）太和坊的一个武将家庭，为10世纪时的统治者吴权之后，铭文资料提到李常杰是「细江句漏县」人即今北宁省顺城县，当是后来改籍升龙太和坊，其父是李太宗时太尉郭盛溢（又作郭盛谥）。李常杰自少就「姿貌扬逸」，并且练骑射，习兵法。在其年青时期，亦即李太宗时开始，就已登上仕途。1036年（李通瑞三年），李常杰因为承父荫，被委任为骑马校尉。1039年，净身（阉割），并于1041年（李乾符有道三年），被召入皇宫，担任侍衞及黄门祗候。

李圣宗时，更获晋升为太保，以及于1061年（李彰圣嘉庆三年），被调任为清化、乂安等地的察访使，镇压当地的芒族动乱。

参与对占城的战争

占城（又作占婆）为越南李朝南邻。李常杰作为李朝主要军事人物，曾数次参予对占的战事。

1069年（李天贶宝象二年，由于当年的农历七月改年号为神武，因此《越史略》列入神武元年）农历二月，李圣宗亲征占城。（据陈仲金说，开战的原因是「占城国常来骚扰。」）越军在战事中相当顺利，节节击败占城军，占城君主律陀罗跋摩三世（又作「施里律茶盘麻常杨溥」、「杨卜尸律陀般摩提婆」、「第矩」、「制矩」等）兵败逃走。到农历五月，「元帅阮常杰（即李常杰）俘获第矩于真腊界」。　

在这一役中，由于李常杰成功俘获占城王律陀罗跋摩三世，迫使他向越军求和「赎罪」，割让了地哩、麻令、布政三州给李朝，然后将占城王释放回国。据陈仲金所说，此三州即为现今越南的广平省及广治省辖地。

经过以上一战后，占婆内乱，占王律陀罗跋摩三世于1074年（李太宁三年）投奔李朝。其后，据法国学者乔治·马司培罗的说法，李朝大概有意助律陀罗跋摩三世归国复位，便于次年（1075年，李太宁四年）派李常杰率兵南下，但被占婆新国王诃梨跋摩三世击退。此战爆发时间，《钦定越史通鉴纲目》称是太宁四年八月。

1075年至1077年（李英武昭胜二年）期间，宋越开战，宋廷联络占城合击李朝，于是占城在1076年（李太宁五年）三月参战。而李常杰则为越军主将。（详情另见：宋越熙宁战争）

1104年（李龙符元化四年）农历二月，李仁宗命年已老迈的李常杰再征占城。开战原因，是由于造反的李觉逃亡入占，劝占城君主制麻那进攻越南，并收复了先前割让的地哩、麻令、布政三州土地。李常杰受命后，便又击破占城，再度取得地哩、麻令及布政。

李常杰在与宋军交战（1075年－1077年）中的表现

李常杰较为人所熟知的事迹，是他参予了在1075年至1077年（李太宁四年至英武昭胜二年）间对宋朝的战争。（《越史略》误记在太宁二年爆发战事。）

率兵侵犯宋朝边境及屠杀

• 奉命「先发诸道兵」抵御宋军：1075年（李太宁四年），宋朝王安石认为越南在不久前遭占城侵扰，国势衰弱至「馀众不万人」，便部署向越南开战。李朝政府获得宋朝在南部「造舟舰教水战」及「禁州县不与我边贸易」的情报后，便自行「先发诸道兵」，由李常杰率领水军，攻入宋朝边境，先后攻陷钦州、（今中国广西钦州）、廉州（今中国广西合浦）及邕州（今中国广西南宁）等地。

• 邕钦廉三州大屠杀：李常杰在整场战事中最瞩目的行动，就是进行了大屠杀。当攻陷邕州后，由于知州苏缄不愿降服而自杀，全城军民「无一人降者」，于是李常杰便「尽屠五万八千馀人，并钦、廉州死亡者几十馀万人，常杰等俘虏三州人而还。」

转攻为守

• 被调回抵御占城：同年，宋朝联络越南的南方劲敌占城共同作战。李朝政府获悉后，便调回李常杰，以抵御占城。李常杰未能取胜，唯有招募人民移居当时是越占边境的地哩、麻令、布政等地。

• 在越南境内的如月江、富良江一带与宋军交战：1076年（1076年是丙辰年。据《大越史记全书，李太宁五年农历四月以后，改年号为英武昭胜元年。而《越史略》将该年误写成丙辰太宁四年，另外又说在十月改为英武昭胜元年），宋军开进越南境内，但被李常杰于如月江（陈仲金说在北宁省如月村，是梂江的下段）阻击成功。之后，宋军移师到附近的富良江（陈仲金认为富良江正是梂江，中国学者郭振铎、张笑梅所著的《越南通史》中则说是现在的红河。），重整士气，而李常杰部下军士则开始灰心丧气。纵然李常杰尽力勉励军士，但李朝已有意议和，而宋军八万馀人，亦由于难以适应南方的气候及瘟疫，而折损了过半数兵员，但仍占领了越南的广源州（今越南高平省广渊州）、思琅州（今越南高平省上琅州和下琅州）、苏州、茂州（今越南高平省与谅山省交界）等地。）

:※据《越史略》，宋越两军在如月江的对战，发生在丙辰太宁四年农历七月（应是太宁五年，即公元1076年，《大越史记全书》将该战事列在丙辰太宁五年三月），李常杰率水军抵御宋军，而「昭文、宏真二侯皆溺死如月江」。双方隔江对峙一个多月后，李常杰终于在这条战线上击退宋军。

:至于富良江方面的战斗，发生在同年的十二月（南宋李焘将该役列入《续资治通鉴长编》卷二百七十九宋神宗熙宁九年十二月癸卯），宋将郭逵等率兵击杀了越军「大将洪真太子」，俘获了「左郎将阮根」，随后便是「乾德惧，奉表诣军门乞降」，但并没有提及李常杰有否亲身参予富良江战线方面的交锋。）综合中越两国的史料而言，其实双方交战各有胜负。造成难以判定输赢的原因，大概是由于两国修史者都是只各自记述关于己方得胜的战事而已。

• 宋越议和与战事的终结：双方再经过零星的战斗后，到1078年（（李英武昭胜三年），双方举行议和，李朝向宋朝「请还广源、苏茂等州」，而作为回礼，李朝归还俘获的宋朝军民，战事就此告终。

匡扶国政

虽然宋越熙宁战争最后仅以和议告终，但李朝政府对李常杰的表现仍然相当满意，并且对他加官进爵。当1075年（李太宁四年）李常杰奉命抵御占城时，便获授任太尉。其后，又获封以「兼内侍判首都押衙」、「行殿内外都知事」、「遥授诸镇节度」、「同中书门下上柱国」、「天子义弟」、「辅国上将军开国公」等等官职及封衔。以表示朝廷对他的尊崇。

李常杰的匡政，大体上是「内树宽明，外驰简惠」，对于奸恶者则「威而歼恶」，处理狱讼时「狱无滥之」，此外能不失农务，老必安之。当时人称其治国能有「莅民之本，安国之术」。此外，因当时佛教盛行，李常杰亦表尊重，让佛僧长老择地创办佛寺。

到1105年（李龙符元化五年）农历六月，李常杰去世，被追赠以「入内殿都知检校太尉平章军国重事越国公」，食邑万户，以弟弟李常宪继承侯爵。

著作

《伐宋露布》

李朝英武昭胜元年农历十二月，李常杰等进军中国宋朝边境期间，在所经之路发表军事文诰《》，内容大致是「宋行青苗、助役之法，荼毒生民，我今兴师欲相拯救」，以图发动当地民众倒戈攻宋。（该《露布》的部份内容，亦见之于宋人典籍，如司马光《涑水记闻》、李焘《续资治通鉴长编》等等。）

诗作《南国山河》

1076年（李太宁五年，农历四月后改为英武昭胜元年），李常杰与宋军在如月江、富良江一带交战时，军队竟无心恋战。某夜，军队里忽然听到这样的诗句而重拾战意：

根据陈仲金的说法，是李常杰害怕自己的军队灰心丧气，便编撰这诗，并说成是由神仙所作，以令军队恢复斗志。

此诗在越南尽人皆知，美国总统奥巴马访问越南时还用英语背诵，表示这首诗是越南「独立宣言」，表达了「所有越南人民不屈的精神」。「大国不能欺负小国」。

评价

李常杰作为越南李朝的一位重臣，对国政发挥影响力，且是越军主帅，曾向中国宋朝发动攻势，并造成中国境内大量军民伤亡，因此，中越两国的史家，对李常杰有著折然不同的评价：

• 越南方面：

　• 在李朝，李常杰就获得甚高评价。当时碑铭资料称：「唯公（指李常杰）辅君，国家殷富，多历年所，可圣臣遗千古之熙绩也」；「而公三朝弼政，兼御定边乱，于其数年，而八方宁谧，其功盛矣。」

　• 越南阮朝时，史家潘辉注在其著作《历朝宪章类志·卷九·人物志》里，称李常杰在越南历史上「古今武功第一」。

　• 20世纪初，越南史家陈仲金在其所著的《越南史略》中评价他「具将才，精韬略，北伐宋，南平占，实为我国的一员名将。」

　• 越南1971年出版的《越南历史》宣称李常杰一切的军事行动，尽属是合理而高明的「自衞」战略：「李常杰的积极自衞的进攻战略，也体现了民族的这种精神和意志。他对抗战的胜利立下了卓越功勋并且作出了伟大的贡献。李常杰是一位民族英雄；是一位把天才的韬略与卓越的政治和外交才能相给合的杰出的军事家。」

• 中国方面：

　• 中国学者郭振铎及张笑梅则认为，李常杰在宋朝境内的邕州、钦州、廉州所进行的屠杀，是「对中国人民反侵略的血腥大屠杀，在中越封建社会的历史上所仅见。」另外，又批评越南社会科学委员会所编撰的《越南历史》里对李常杰的高度赞扬，「实令人发指，这是对历史事实的大嘲笑。」不过，同书也肯定了李常杰的才干，称他「具将才，精韬略，北侵宋朝，南犯占城，为李朝一名野心勃勃的将军」。

　• 中国学者戴可来在翻译陈仲金的《越南史略》时，亦称李常杰攻打北宋是「赤裸裸的侵略行径」，「作者和其他越南史学家于此多方辩解，是错误的」。

总而言之，越南人对李常杰的评价甚高，但中国人对其评价以负面居多。

后世越南人的尊崇和纪念

由于越南史料中记载李常杰侵宋取得巨大胜利，越南人对其甚为尊崇。根据越南史料《皇越神祇总册》和《历朝宪章类志》的记载，李常杰死后，其故乡太和坊的土人祀其为福神，祈祷多应。此后越南各个朝代都尊其为上等福神，号称「翊运广威大王」。河内市有祭祀他的机舍灵祠。至今越南人仍认为他是民族英雄。

1974年西沙之战时南越方第十六号军舰即以李常杰命名。

注释

Background

Born Ngo Tuan

Lý Thường Kiệt was born in Thăng Long (now Hanoi), the capital of Đại Việt (ancient Vietnam). His real name was Ngô Tuấn. His father was a low-ranking military officer. He was originally from Thái Hòa ward (太和坊) of Thăng Long citadel. According to Hoàng Xuân Hãn, Thái Hòa was also the name of a small mountain in the west of Thăng Long citadel, south of the Bách Thảo dike, near the place turn down to the horse racing. Lý Thường Kiệt surname was not originally Lý, because he was given the royal surname. As for his original surname, there are now two major controversial theories:

• Ngô surname: This theory is based on "Genealogy of the Vietnamese Ngô family" and "Thần phổ Lý Thường Kiệt" written by Nhữ Bá Sĩ in the Nguyễn Dynasty. According to this evidence, his original name was Ngô Tuấn (吴俊), the name after maturity was Thường Kiệt (常杰), after being given the royal surname, was named Lý Thường Kiệt. He was the son of Sùng Tiết general Ngô An Ngữ, the grandson of ambassador Ngô Xương Xí and the great-grandson of Thiên Sách vương Ngô Xương Ngập - the eldest son of Ngô Quyền. This theory was most widely accepted, but it was considered a "new theory", because the time of the evidence was still young, an unknown genealogy and was written during the Nguyễn Dynasty.

• Quách surname: This theory is based on the stele "An Hoạch Báo Ân tự bi ký" (created in 1100) and the "Cồ Việt quốc Thái úy Lý công thạch bi minh tính tự" (created in 1159), these are both original steles of the Lý Dynasty and the translation is available in "The epitaphs of Lý-Trần Dynasty" by Lam Giang, Pham Van Tham and Pham Thi Hoa. According to the information of both steles, Lý Thường Kiệt originally surname was Quách, first name was Tuấn, the name after maturity was Thường Kiệt very similar to the information of family theory. According to the stele, his hometown is An Xá village, Quảng Đức district (Cơ Xá, Gia Lâm district today), and perhaps later transformed into Thái Hòa ward as Toan Thu noted. His father was commander-in-chief under the reign of Lý Thái Tông, there are two different names, according to Đại Việt sử lược his father named commander-in-chief Quách Thịnh Ích (郭盛谥), and An Nam Chí Lược written as commander-in-chief Quách Thịnh Dật (郭盛溢), hometown in Câu Lậu and Tế Giang districts (now in Mỹ Văn, Hưng Yên). After the Emperor gave him the royal surname, Quách Tuấn was named Lý Thường Kiệt. According to the epitaph of commander-in-chief Đỗ Anh Vũ, Anh Vũ's father called Lý Thường Kiệt his uncle.

Chinese histories often say that Kiệt is Lý Thường Cát or Lý Thượng Cát. In the family, he has a younger brother named Lý Thường Hiến (李常宪). Perhaps like his brother, "Thường Hiến" is the name after maturity, not the real name; it is customary in the old days that the name after maturation has a similar or opposite meaning to the real name and is used to call outside as an understanding of the politeness, only in the home to call the real name.

Family

According to the comment of Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư history book, his family succeeded as mandarins in the way of hereditary, that is the ordination was permanent throughout the generations, so his family could be seen as a bureaucracy with a strong roots. From a young age, Lý Thường Kiệt has proved to be a person with the will and energy, studying, practicing both literature and martial arts, having studied military tactics.

Due to two different sources, Lý Thường Kiệt's father position is also different. The Việt điện u linh tập history book that were compiled with surname sources all mention Lý Thường Kiệt's father named An Ngữ, and was a "Sùng ban Lang tướng". The An Nam chí lược history book in the Lý Dynasty has two names Sùng ban and Lang tướng, but that policy copies the two names apart. Perhaps "Sùng ban Lang tướng" is "Lang tướng belonging to Sùng ban", because even in Chí lược book there was a position called "Vũ nội Lang tướng", but it is not clear how these positions are in the court. As for surname sources, Lý Thường Kiệt was the son of Quách Thịnh Ích, a commander-in-chief, so his position was different.

Nhữ Bá Sĩ wrote about the legend youth of Lý Thường Kiệt as follows:

Scholar Hoàng Xuân Hãn, when extracting content from Nhữ Bá Sĩ's stele, also commented: ''"This paragraph, copied from Nhữ Bá Sĩ stele, a new stele built in Tự Đức's reign. Certainly, Nhữ Bá Sĩ copied the oral tradition of the people. The word of the people is mostly an oral or a fabrication, we cannot fully believe the details that are so clearly written in the oral. But the above mentioned Thường Kiệt education is consistent with what we still know about the Lý Dynasty."

đoàn trần lâm là 1 nhà bác học nổi tiếng vs những phát mink quan trọng của thế giới nên chúng ta hãy tôn trọng anh ấy nêu k có anh ấy thì thế giới sẽ không đươcj như ngày hôm nay

Nam Quốc Sơn Hà

He may have been the author of Chinese poem, Nam Quốc Sơn Hà. However controversy surrounds its exact authorship.

The poem was written to motivate troops to fight against the Song dynasty.

According to the 20th century historian Trần Trọng Kim, Ly was afraid that his soldiers would lose morale so he wrote this poem and said it was done by the Gods to restore their fighting spirit.

In US President Barack Obama's visit to Vietnam, he referred to the poem as Vietnam's "declaration of independence" saying that large countries should not bully smaller countries.

Nonetheless, to this day the poem is still well known in Vietnam, and Ly is considered a national hero, with some Vietnamese still delivering tribute to and worshipping him as a deity at his shrine in Hanoi.

Phạt Tống lộ bố văn

General Ly Thuong Kiet was also the author of the Phạt Tống lộ bố văn (chữ Hán : 伐宋露布文, An Account of the Campaign to Punish the Song), another poem against the Song Dynasty.