 Minh Mạng, the Emperor of Vietnam, was opposed to the introduction of Christianity and Vietnamese troops arrested the priests when they reached the first Montagnard villages.They were taken to Hue, spent time in many prisons, were tortured, and were sentenced to death.Minh Mạng's successor, Thiệu Trị, however, pardoned them on 19 March 1843 after an appeal by King Louis Philippe I of France.