Dinh Bo Linh was the son of Dinh Cong Tru, the governor of Hoan Chau during the time of Duong Dien Nghe and King Ngo Quyen. After the Ngo king Ngo Xuong Van was killed in battle, the whole country was in chaos. His son Ngo Xuong Xi lost the kingship authority and became a war lord. Totally, there were 12 war lords around the nation, each holding an independent territory. They fought each other for years. However, thanks to Dinh Bo Linh able leadership, the country was finally whole again in 968. After unifying the country, Dinh Bo Linh proclaimed himself emperor, styled Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang, meaning the first Emperor. Ngo Quyen, who routed the Chinese (Nam Han) in a naval battle in 938 and brought independence to Vietnam after over 1000 years of Chinese colonization, was only a king, not an Emperor.

Dinh Tien Hoang's most significant achievement would be unifying a chaotic Vietnam in 968. Without him, no body would know what future awaited Vietnam then. During his reign, he made a code of law, improved the army, economy and agriculture.

His main mistake was that he did not make his eldest son Lien the heir apparent, leading to internal rivalry between Lien and his youngest brother Hang Lang. However, based on his accomplishments I would give him a 8 out of 10 rating.