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88-674: Wang Kŏn was born in 877 to a powerful maritime merchant family of Goguryeo descent based in Songak (modern Kaesong ) as the eldest son of Wang Ryung . According to the Pyeonnyeon tongnok ( 편년통록 ; 編年通錄 ), quoted in the Goryeosa , Wang Kŏn's grandfather Chakchegon was the son of Emperor Suzong of Tang . According to the Encyclopedia of Korean Culture and the Doosan Encyclopedia , this

176-584: A Goguryeo relief force at the Battle of Mount Jupil . Goguryeo's defeat at Mount Jupil had significant consequences, as Tang forces killed over 20,000 Goguryeo soldiers and captured another 36,800, which crippled Goguryeo's manpower reserves for the rest of the conflict. However, the capable defense put up by Ansi's commanding general (whose name is controversial but traditionally is believed to be Yang Manchun ) stymied Tang forces and, in late fall, with winter fast approaching and his supplies running low, Tang forces under

264-671: A blend of people from Buyeo and Yemaek, as leadership from Buyeo may have fled their kingdom and integrated with existing Yemaek chiefdoms. The Records of the Three Kingdoms , in the section titled "Accounts of the Eastern Barbarians", implied that Buyeo and the Yemaek people were ethnically related and spoke a similar language. Chinese people were also in Gorguyeo. Book 28 of Samguk sagi stated that "many people of China fled [to] East of

352-574: A burgeoning metropolitan capital, which led Goguryeo to achieve a high level of cultural and economic prosperity. Jangsu, like his father, continued Goguryeo's territorial expansion into Manchuria and reached the Songhua River to the north. He invaded the Khitans, and then attacked the Didouyu , located in eastern Mongolia, with his Rouran allies. Like his father, Jangsu also achieved a loose unification of

440-635: A combination of Guryeo and the prefix Go ( Korean :  고 ; Hanja :  高 ; lit.  high, big). The name came from Goguryeo- hyeon , a subdivision that was established by the Xuantu Commandery . As Han influence over Korea declined, Goguryeo-hyeon became the center of the early Goguryeo union. From the mid-5th century, Goguryeo was shortened to the calque of Goryeo ( Korean :  고려 ; Hanja :  高麗 ; Korean pronunciation: [ko.ɾjʌ] ; Middle Korean : 고ᇢ롕〮, Kwòwlyéy ), which by itself had

528-438: A famous naval campaign against the southwestern coastline of Later Baekje at Keumsung, later Naju, while Kyon Hwon was at war against Silla. He led several more military campaigns, and also helped conquered people who lived in poverty under Silla rule. The public favored him due to his leadership and generosity. In 913, he was appointed as prime minister of the newly renamed Taebong. Its king, Kung Ye, whose leadership helped found

616-575: A formal alliance with Wei to destroy the Liaodong commandery . When Liaodong was finally conquered by Wei, cooperation between Wei and Goguryeo fell apart and Goguryeo attacked the western edges of Liaodong, which incited a Wei counterattack in 244. Thus, Goguryeo initiated the Goguryeo–Wei War in 242, trying to cut off Chinese access to its territories in Korea by attempting to take a Chinese fort. However,

704-521: A general in the kingdom of Taebong . He was instrumental in helping Wang Kŏn , who later founded the state of Goryeo to achieve power. He is widely viewed as the founder of the Pyongsan Shin clan , which includes the famous actress Shin Se-kyung . Sin is remembered today for giving his life for Wang Kŏn in the aftermath of a rout of their forces by Later Baekje near present-day Daegu . According to

792-559: A great crisis. Turning to domestic stability and the unification of various conquered tribes, Sosurim proclaimed new laws, embraced Buddhism as the state religion in 372, and established a national educational institute called the Taehak ( Korean :  태학 ; Hanja :  太學 ). Due to the defeats that Goguryeo had suffered at the hands of the Xianbei and Baekje , Sosurim instituted military reforms aimed at preventing such defeats in

880-609: A group label associated with Yemaek tribes is a reference in the Han Shu that discusses a Goguryeo revolt in 12 AD, during which they broke away from the influence of the Xuantu Commandery. According to Book 37 of the Samguk sagi , Goguryeo originated north of ancient China , then gradually moved east to the side of Taedong River. At its founding, the Goguryeo people are believed to be

968-442: A major campaign against Goguryeo. In 645, Emperor Taizong , who had a personal ambition to defeat Goguryeo and was determined to succeed where Emperor Yang had failed, personally led an attack on Goguryeo. The Tang army captured a number of Goguryeo fortresses, including the important Yodong/Liaodong Fortress (遼東城, in modern Liaoyang , Liaoning ). During his first campaign against Goguryeo, Taizong famously showed generously to

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1056-520: A prince from the Buyeo kingdom named Jumong fled after a power struggle with other princes of the court and founded Goguryeo in 37 BC in a region called Jolbon Buyeo , usually thought to be located in the middle Amnok/Yalu and Hun River basin. In 75 BC, a group of Yemaek who may have originated from Goguryeo made an incursion into China's Xuantu Commandery west of the Yalu. The first mention of Goguryeo as

1144-543: A protracted siege that lasted more than 60 days. Emperor Taizong invaded Goguryeo again in 647 and 648, but was defeated both times. Sin Sung-gy%C5%8Fm Sin Sung-gyŏm ( Korean :  신숭겸 ; Hanja :  申崇謙 ; 882 – October 927) was a Korean general during the turbulent Later Three Kingdoms period in the early 10th century. Born in Gwanghaeju (present-day Chuncheon ), he became

1232-571: A small group of his followers from his native country. A traditional account from the "Annals of Baekje" section in the Samguk sagi says that Soseono was the daughter of Yeon Tabal, a wealthy influential figure in Jolbon and married to Jumong. However, the same source officially states that the king of Jolbon gave his daughter to Jumong, who had escaped with his followers from Eastern Buyeo, in marriage. She gave her husband, Jumong, financial support in founding

1320-476: Is derived from the name "Goryeo," which itself is derived from "Goguryeo," to whose heritage (and by extension, territory) Wang Kŏn and his new kingdom laid claim. As the first ruler to more fully unite the people of the Korean Peninsula under a single state, many modern-day Koreans look to his example for applicability to the current state of division on the Korean Peninsula. During the early Goryeo dynasty,

1408-500: Is hagiographical. The Pyeonnyeon tongnok (c. late 12th century) said: While on a sea voyage to meet his father, Emperor Suzong of the Tang dynasty, 16-year-old Chakchegon encountered a dragon king, slayed a shape-shifting fox, and married a dragon woman; the dragon woman later transformed into a dragon and went away. According to the Seongwollok ( 성원록 ; 聖源錄 ), quoted in the Goryeosa ,

1496-479: Is in the 4th-century Gwanggaeto Stele . Jumong is the modern Korean transcription of the hanja 朱蒙 Jumong , 鄒牟 Chumo , or 仲牟 Jungmo . The Stele states that Jumong was the first king and ancestor of Goguryeo and that he was the son of the prince of Buyeo and daughter of Habaek ( Korean :  하백 ; Hanja :  河伯 ), the god of the Amnok River or, according to an alternative interpretation,

1584-921: Is now northeastern Korea as well as the Dongye and other tribes in Southeastern Manchuria and Northern Korea. From the increase of resources and manpower that these subjugated tribes gave him, Taejodae led Goguryeo in attacking the Han Commanderies of Lelang and Xuantu on the Korean and Liaodong peninsulas, becoming fully independent from them. Generally, Taejodae allowed the conquered tribes to retain their chieftains, but required them to report to governors who were related to Goguryeo's royal line; tribes under Goguryeo's jurisdiction were expected to provide heavy tribute. Taejodae and his successors channeled these increased resources to continuing Goguryeo's expansion to

1672-465: Is recorded to have conquered the tribal states of Biryu ( Korean :  비류국 ; Hanja :  沸流國 ) in 36 BC, Haeng-in ( Korean :  행인국 ; Hanja :  荇人國 ) in 33 BC, and Northern Okjeo in 28 BC. Goguryeo developed from a league of various Yemaek tribes to an early state and rapidly expanded its power from their original basin of control in the Hun River drainage. In

1760-544: The Daifang Commandery by separating the southern half from the Lelang commandery. Balgi, a brother of King Sansang of Goguryeo , defected to Kang and asked for Kang's aid to help him take the throne of Goguryeo. Although Goguryeo defeated the first invasion and killed Balgi, in 209, Kang invaded Goguryeo again, seized some of its territory and weakened Goguryeo. Pressure from Liaodong forced Goguryeo to move their capital in

1848-459: The Sangju region, also defected and surrendered to Goryeo and was received as the father of a king. In the same year, Kyon Hwon's oldest son, Kyŏn Sin-gŏm , led a coup with his brothers Yang-gŏm and Yong-gŏm, against their father, who favored their half-brother, Kŭm-gang, as his successor to the throne. Kyon Hwon was sent into exile and imprisoned in the temple of Geumsansa , but escaped to Goryeo and

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1936-600: The Song dynasty envoy Xu Jing, Wang Kŏn's ancestors were Goguryeo nobility. According to Jang Deokho, his ancestors were Goguryeo refugees who settled around Songak, accumulating great wealth through maritime trade and gaining control of the region, including the Ryesong River . During the Later Silla period, the northern regions, including Songak, were the strongholds of Goguryeo refugees, and Wang Kŏn's hometown of Songak would become

2024-607: The Three Kingdoms of Korea . He defeated Baekje and Silla and gained large amounts of territory from both. In addition, Jangsu's long reign saw the perfecting of Goguryeo's political, economic and other institutional arrangements. Jangsu ruled Goguryeo for 79 years until the age of 98, the longest reign in East Asian history. During the reign of Munja , Goguryeo completely annexed Buyeo, signifying Goguryeo's furthest-ever expansion north, while continuing its strong influence over

2112-617: The Tributary system of China . However, Goguryeo continued insistence on an equal relationship with Sui, its reinstatement of the imperial title "Taewang" (Emperor in Korean) of the East and its continued raids into Sui territory greatly angered the Sui Court. Furthermore, Silla and Baekje, both under threat from Goguryeo, requested Sui assistance against Goguryeo as all three Korean kingdoms had desired to seize

2200-563: The Yellow Sea , opening up direct trade and diplomatic access to the Chinese dynasties and accelerating Silla's adoption of Chinese culture . Thus, Silla could rely less on Goguryeo for elements of civilization and could get culture and technology directly from China . This increasing tilt of Silla to China would result in an alliance that would prove disastrous for Goguryeo in the late 7th century. The Sui dynasty 's reunification of China for

2288-536: The "dragon woman" was a daughter of Tu Ŭn-chŏm from Pyongju (modern-day Pyongsan County ). The story that Wang Kŏn was descended from either Suzong or Xuanzong was dismissed by the Joseon compilers of the Goryeosa . Modern historians believe that Wang Kŏn's ancestors were influential Goguryeoic hojoks (lords) that conducted maritime trade with China for generations. According to the Gaoli tujing (c. early 12th century) written by

2376-545: The 5th century, and is the origin of the English name "Korea". The kingdom was originally called Guryeo ( Old Korean : 句麗, Yale : Kwulye , /ɡuɾ.jʌ̹/ ) or something similar to kaukuri ( /ko̞ːkɯ̟ᵝɾʲi/ )), Both words were derived from "忽" ( *kuru or *kolo ) which meant castle or fortress. The word was possibly a Wanderwort like the Middle Mongolian qoto-n . Several possible cognates for 忽 exist as well, which

2464-569: The 7th century, territorial control of the peninsula would be contested primarily by the Three Kingdoms of Korea . Goguryeo met major setbacks and defeats during the reign of Gogukwon in the 4th century. In the early 4th century, the nomadic proto-Mongol Xianbei people occupied northern China; during the winter of 342, the Xianbei of Former Yan , ruled by the Murong clan, attacked and destroyed Goguryeo's capital, Hwando, capturing 50,000 Goguryeo men and women to use as slave labor in addition to taking

2552-684: The Goguryeo-Baekje alliance. Since the early 7th century, Silla had been forced on the defensive by both Baekje and Goguryeo, which had not yet formally allied but had both desired to erode Sillan power in the Han Valley. During the reign of King Jinpyeong of Silla , numerous fortresses were lost to both Goguryeo and the continuous attacks took a toll on Silla and its people. During Jinpyeong's reign, Silla made repeated requests beseeching Sui China to attack Goguryeo. Although these invasions were ultimately unsuccessful, in 643, once again under pressure from

2640-464: The Goguryeo–Baekje alliance, Jinpyeong's successor, Queen Seondeok of Silla , requested military aid from Tang. Although Taizong had initially dismissed Silla's offers to pay tribute and its requests for an alliance on account of Seondeok being a woman, he later accepted the offer due to Goguryeo's growing belligerence and hostile policy towards both Silla and Tang. In 644, Tang began preparations for

2728-498: The Great (r. 391–412) was a highly energetic emperor who is remembered for his rapid military expansion of the realm. He instituted the era name of Yeongnak or Eternal Rejoicing , affirming that Goguryeo was on equal standing with the dynasties in the Chinese mainland. Gwanggaeto conquered 64 walled cities and 1,400 villages during his campaigns. To the west, he destroyed neighboring Khitan tribes and invaded Later Yan , conquering

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2816-500: The Han River valley, an important strategic area close to the center of the peninsula and a very rich agricultural region. After Baekje exhausted themselves with a series of costly assaults on Goguryeo fortifications, Silla troops, arriving on the pretense of offering assistance, attacked and took possession of the entire Han River valley in 553. Incensed by this betrayal, Seong launched a retaliatory strike against Silla's western border in

2904-639: The Hun River valley to the Yalu River valley near Hwando . In the chaos following the fall of the Han dynasty , the former Han commanderies had broken free of control and were ruled by various independent warlords. Surrounded by these commanderies, who were governed by aggressive warlords, Goguryeo moved to improve relations with the newly created dynasty of Cao Wei in China and sent tribute in 220. In 238, Goguryeo entered into

2992-580: The Khitans are no different from beasts and should be guarded against. The unification of the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 was very important in Korean history; the unification of 668 CE by Silla was only a unification of approximately half of the peoples of the Korean Peninsula and its vicinity (who at the time largely considered themselves one people divided among many states), since the northern part

3080-505: The Khitans who had destroyed Balhae. The Liao dynasty sent 30 envoys with 50 camels as a gift in 942, but he exiled the envoys and starved the camels under a bridge in retribution for Balhae, despite the major diplomatic repercussions. Taejo proposed to Gaozu of Later Jìn that they attack the Khitans as revenge for the destruction of Balhae, according to the Zizhi Tongjian . Furthermore, in his Ten Mandates to his descendants, he stated that

3168-427: The Korean Peninsula, and achieved undisputed control of most of Manchuria and over two thirds of the Korean Peninsula. Gwanggaeto's exploits were recorded on a huge memorial stele erected by his son Jangsu, located in present-day Ji'an on the border between China and North Korea. Jangsu (r. 413–491) ascended to the throne in 413 and moved the capital in 427 to Pyongyang , a more suitable region to grow into

3256-754: The Korean peninsula, and the Mohe people in Manchuria , who would later become the Jurchens . Goguryeo experienced a golden age under Gwanggaeto the Great and his son Jangsu . During this period, Goguryeo territories included three fourths of the Korean Peninsula , including what is now Seoul , almost all of Manchuria, and parts of Inner Mongolia . There is archaeological evidence that Goguryeo's maximum extent lay even further west in now Mongolia , based on discoveries of Goguryeo fortress ruins in Mongolia. Gwanggaeto

3344-488: The Liaodong, Lelang and Xuantu commanderies. As Goguryeo extended its reach into the Liaodong Peninsula , the last Chinese commandery at Lelang was conquered and absorbed by Micheon in 313, bringing the remaining northern part of the Korean peninsula into the fold. This conquest resulted in the end of Chinese rule over territory in the northern Korean peninsula, which had spanned 400 years. From that point on, until

3432-454: The Old Japanese one for castle 城 ki , considered a borrowing from Baekje 己 *kuy , in turn a borrowing from Goguryeo 忽 *kolo . Middle Korean 골〯 kwǒl [ko̞ɭ] and ᄀᆞ옳 kòwòlh [kʌ̀.òl] ("district") are likely descended from *kolo . The name Goguryeo ( Korean :  고구려 ; Hanja :  高句麗 ; Korean pronunciation: [ko̞ɡuɾjʌ̹] ), which means "high castle", is

3520-513: The Queen Dowager and Queen prisoner, and forced Gogukwon to flee for a while. The Xianbei also devastated Buyeo in 346, accelerating Buyeo migration to the Korean peninsula. In 371, Geunchogo of Baekje killed Gogukwon in the Battle of Chiyang and sacked Pyongyang , one of Goguryeo's largest cities. Sosurim , who succeeded the slain Gogukwon, reshaped the nation's institutions to save it from

3608-703: The Sea due to the chaos of war by Qin and Han". Later Han dynasty established the Four Commanderies, and in 12 AD Goguryeo made its first attack on the Xuantu Commandery. The population of Xuantu Commandery was about 221,845 in 2 AD, and they lived in the commandery's three counties of Gaogouli, Shangyintai, and Xigaima. Later on, Goguryeo gradually annexed all the Four Commanderies of Han during its expansion. Both Goguryeo and Baekje shared founding myths and originated from Buyeo . The earliest mention of Jumong

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3696-598: The Wei state responded by invading and defeated Goguryeo. The capital at Hwando was destroyed by Wei forces in 244. It is said that Dongcheon , with his army destroyed, fled for a while to the Okjeo state in the east. Wei invaded again in 259 but was defeated at Yangmaenggok; according to the Samguk sagi , Jungcheon assembled 5,000 elite cavalry and defeated the invading Wei troops, beheading 8,000 enemies. In only 70 years, Goguryeo rebuilt its capital Hwando and again began to raid

3784-515: The alternative proposal that the Guguryeo people were first located in or around Liaoxi (western Liaoning and parts of Inner Mongolia ) and later migrated eastward, pointing to another account in the Book of Han . The early Goguryeo tribes from whom the administrative name is derived were located close to or within the area of control of the Xuantu Commandery. Its tribal leaders also appeared to have held

3872-622: The ancient capital, and soon sent his cousin Wang Sing-nyŏm to defend it. Afterward, he decreed Pyongyang as the Western Capital. He also sought alliances and cooperation with local clans rather than trying to conquer and bring them under his direct control. In 927, Kyon Hwon of Later Baekje led his forces into Silla's capital, Gyeongju , capturing and executing its king, King Gyeongae . Then he established King Gyeongsun as his puppet monarch before he turned his army toward Goryeo. Hearing of

3960-473: The command Prince Li Daozong attempted to build a rampart to seize the city in a last ditch effort, but was foiled when Goguryeo troops managed to seize control of it. Afterwards, Taizong decided to withdraw in the face of incoming Goguryeo reinforcements, deteriorating weather conditions and the difficult supply situation. The campaign was unsuccessful for the Tang Chinese, failing to capture Ansi Fortress after

4048-524: The concubine of Geumwa . Jumong was well known for his exceptional archery skills. Eventually, Geumwa's sons became jealous of him, and Jumong was forced to leave Eastern Buyeo . The Stele and later Korean sources disagree as to which Buyeo Jumong came from. The Stele says he came from Buyeo and the Samguk yusa and Samguk sagi say he came from Eastern Buyeo. Jumong eventually made it to Jolbon , where he married Soseono , daughter of its ruler. He subsequently became king himself, founding Goguryeo with

4136-505: The defeated inhabitants of numerous Goguryeo fortresses, refusing to permit his troops to loot downs and enslave inhabitants and when faced with protest from his commanders and soldiers, rewarded them with his own money. Ansi City (in modern Haicheng , Liaoning), which was the last fortress that would clear the Liaodong Peninsula of significant defensive works and was promptly put under siege. Initially, Taizong and his forces achieve great progress, when his numerically inferior force smashed

4224-455: The entire Liaodong Peninsula ; to the north and east, he annexed much of Buyeo and conquered the Sushen , who were Tungusic ancestors of the Jurchens and Manchus ; and to the south, he defeated and subjugated Baekje , contributed to the dissolution of Gaya , and vassalized Silla after defending it from a coalition of Baekje, Gaya, and Wa. Gwanggaeto brought about a loose unification of

4312-536: The first time in centuries was met with alarm in Goguryeo, and Pyeongwon of Goguryeo began preparations for a future war by augmenting military provisions and training more troops. Although Sui was far larger and stronger than Goguryeo, the Baekje-Silla Alliance that had driven Goguryeo from the Han Valley had fallen apart, and thus Goguryeo's southern border was secure. Initially, Goguryeo tried to appease Sui by offering tribute as Korean kingdoms had done under

4400-414: The following year but was captured and killed. The war, along the middle of the Korean peninsula , had very important consequences. It effectively made Baekje the weakest player on the Korean Peninsula and gave Silla an important resource and population rich area as a base for expansion. Conversely, it denied Goguryeo the use of the area, which weakened the kingdom. It also gave Silla direct access to

4488-448: The future leader of Taebong , and he began his service under Kung Ye's command. Wang Kŏn's ability as a military commander was soon recognized by Kung Ye, who promoted him to general and even regarded him as his brother. In 900, he led a successful campaign against local clans and the army of Later Baekje in the Chungju area, gaining more fame and recognition from the king. In 903, he led

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4576-467: The future. Sosurim's internal arrangements laid the groundwork for Gwanggaeto's expansion. His successor and the father of Gwanggaeto the Great , Gogukyang , invaded Later Yan , the successor state of Former Yan, in 385 and Baekje in 386. Goguryeo used its military to protect and exploit semi-nomadic peoples, who served as vassals, foot soldiers, or slaves, such as the Okjeo people in the northeast end of

4664-503: The great nobles of Goguryeo, and plotted with other officials to kill him. However, Yeon Gaesomun caught news of the plot and killed Yeongnyu and 100 officials, initiating a coup d'état . He proceeded to enthrone Yeongnyu's nephew, Go Jang, as King Bojang while wielding de facto control of Goguryeo himself as the Dae Magniji ( 대막리지 ; 大莫離支 ; a position equivalent to a modern era dual office of prime minister and generalissimo ). At

4752-463: The idea but later agreed to their plan. Kung Ye was overthrown in a coup and killed near the capital, Cheorwon . On the sunrise of the next day, the generals installed Wang Kŏn as the new king. Taejo renamed the kingdom Goryeo , thus beginning the Goryeo Dynasty. The next year he moved the capital back to his hometown, Gaegyeong. He promoted Buddhism as Goryeo's national religion, and laid claim to

4840-515: The king would be able to escape the battlefield. While Wang Kŏn escaped the battlefield, Sin and the remaining army fought bravely against the Later Baekje army. But eventually his army was routed and in the woods Sin was shot with arrows and was killed by the enemy. Taejo escaped from this mountain and fled alone to the mountain Apsan  [ ko ] , and he spent a few days hiding in a large cave at

4928-706: The kingdom but who began to refer to himself as the Buddha, began to persecute people who expressed their opposition against his religious arguments. He executed many monks, then later even his own wife and two sons, and the public began to turn away from him. His costly rituals and harsh rule caused even more opposition. In the night of July 24, 918, four top-ranked generals of Taebong— Hong Yu (홍유; 洪儒 ), Pae Hyŏn-gyŏng (배현경; 裵玄慶 ), Sin Sung-gyŏm and Pok Chigyŏm (복지겸; 卜智謙 )—met secretly and agreed to overthrow Kung Ye's rule and crown Wang Kŏn as their new king. Wang Kŏn first opposed

5016-409: The kingdoms of Silla and Baekje, and the tribes of Wuji and Khitan. Goguryeo reached its zenith in the 6th century. After this, however, it began a steady decline. Anjang was assassinated, and succeeded by his brother Anwon , during whose reign aristocratic factionalism increased. A political schism deepened as two factions advocated different princes for succession, until the eight-year-old Yang-won

5104-425: The legend, the two exchanged armor so that the king would be able to escape the battlefield. While Wang Kŏn escaped the battlefield, Sin and the remaining army fought bravely against the Later Baekje army. But eventually his army was routed and in the woods Sin was shot with arrows and was killed by the enemy. He was beheaded and his head was sent to Kyŏn Hwŏn , King of Later Baekje. Through his only son, Sin became

5192-405: The meaning of "high and beautiful". The earliest record of the name of Goguryeo can be traced to geographic monographs in the Book of Han and is first attested as the name of one of the subdivisions of the Xuantu Commandery , established along the trade routes within the Amnok river basin following the destruction of Gojoseon in 113 BC. The American historian Christopher Beckwith offers

5280-544: The new statelet, Goguryeo. After Yuri , son of Jumong and his first wife, Lady Ye, came from Dongbuyeo and succeeded Jumong, she left Goguryeo, taking her two sons Biryu and Onjo south to found their own kingdoms, one of which was Baekje . Jumong's given surname was "Hae" ( Korean :  해 ; Hanja :  解 ), the name of the Buyeo rulers. According to the Samguk yusa , Jumong changed his surname to "Go" ( Korean :  고 ; Hanja :  高 ) in conscious reflection of his divine parentage. Jumong

5368-415: The news, Taejo planned a strike with 5,000 cavalrymen to attack Kyon's troops on the way back home at Gongsan near Daegu in the Battle of Gongsan. He met the Later Baekje army and suffered a disastrous defeat, losing most of his army including his generals Kim Nak and Sin Sung-gyom , the very same man who crowned Wang as a king. According to the legend, Taejo and Sin Sung-gyom exchanged their armor so that

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5456-407: The north and west. New laws regulated peasants and the aristocracy, as tribal leaders continued to be absorbed into the central aristocracy. Royal succession changed from fraternal to patrilineal, stabilizing the royal court. The expanding Goguryeo kingdom soon entered into direct military contact with the Liaodong Commandery to its west. Around this time, Chinese warlord Gongsun Kang established

5544-438: The northern parts of the Korean Peninsula and Manchuria, which he considered his rightful legacy as the successor of Goguryeo. According to the Goryeosa , in 918, the ancient capital of Pyongyang had been in ruins for a long time and foreign barbarians were using the surrounding lands as hunting grounds and occasionally raiding the borders of Goryeo; therefore, in his first year as king, Wang Kŏn ordered his subjects to repopulate

5632-557: The original 305,000 soldiers of Sui's nine division armies, it is said that only 2,700 escaped to Sui China. The 613 and 614 campaigns were aborted after launch—the 613 campaign was terminated when the Sui general Yang Xuangan rebelled against Emperor Yang , while the 614 campaign was terminated after Goguryeo offered a truce and returned Husi Zheng (斛斯政), a defecting Sui general who had fled to Goguryeo, Emperor Yang later had Husi executed. Emperor Yang planned another attack on Goguryeo in 615, but due to Sui's deteroriating internal state he

5720-499: The original capital of Later Goguryeo in 901. According to a document created during the reign of King Uijong of Goryeo , the Sillan monk Doseon prophesied that Wang Kŏn would rise to power and become king after visiting Wang Kŏn's father. Wang Kŏn began his career in the turbulent Later Three Kingdoms . In the later years of Silla , many local leaders and bandits rebelled against the rule of Queen Jinseong , who did not have strong and wise enough leadership or policies to improve

5808-507: The others' territories to rule the peninsula, and attempted to curry Sui's favor to achieve these goals. Goguryeo's expansion and its attempts to equalize the relationship conflicted with Sui China and increased tensions. In 598, Goguryeo made a preemptive attack on Liaoxi which led to the Battle of Linyuguan , but was beaten back by Sui forces. This caused Emperor Wen to launch a counterattack by land and sea that ended in disaster for Sui. Sui's most disastrous campaign against Goguryeo

5896-709: The outset of his rule, Yeon Gaesomun took a brief conciliatory stance toward Tang China. For instance, he supported Taoism at the expense of Buddhism , and to this effect in 643, sent emissaries to the Tang court requesting Taoist sages, eight of whom were brought to Goguryeo. This gesture is considered by some historians as an effort to pacify Tang and buy time to prepare for the Tang invasion Yeon thought inevitable given his ambitions to annex Silla. However, Yeon Gaesomun took an increasingly provocative stance against Silla Korea and Tang China . Soon, Goguryeo formed an alliance with Baekje and invaded Silla, Daeya-song (modern Hapchon) and around 40 border fortresses were conquered by

5984-427: The peak of Apsan. While Taejo retreated from the battle and fled to Apsan Mountain, he left many place names related to him in Daegu. However, Goryeo quickly recovered from defeat and successfully defended Later Baekje's attack on its front. In 935, the last king of Silla, King Gyeongsun, felt there was no way to revive his kingdom and surrendered his entire land to Taejo. Taejo gladly accepted his surrender and gave him

6072-513: The poor condition of the people. Among those rebels, Kung Ye of the northwestern region and Kyŏn Hwŏn of the southwest gained more power. They defeated and absorbed many of the other rebel groups as their troops marched against local Silla officials and bandits. In 895, Kung Ye led his forces into the far northwestern part of Silla, where Songdo was located. Taejo's father, Wang Ryung, along with many local clans, quickly surrendered to Kung Ye. Wang Kŏn followed his father into service under Kung Ye ,

6160-399: The region to feed its population and thus, following historical pastoralist tendencies, would have sought to raid and exploit neighboring societies for their land and resources. Aggressive military activities may have also aided expansion, allowing Goguryeo to exact tribute from their tribal neighbors and dominate them politically and economically. Taejo conquered the Okjeo tribes of what

6248-418: The ruler title of "marquis" over said nominal Gaogouli/Goguryeo county . The collapse of the first Xuantu Commandery in 75 BC is generally attributed to the military actions of the Goguryeo natives. In the Old Book of Tang (945), it is recorded that Emperor Taizong refers to Goguryeo's history as being some 900 years old. According to the 12th-century Samguk sagi and the 13th-century Samguk yusa ,

6336-402: The ruling family by Taejo, thus uniting the two successor nations of Goguryeo . Taejo felt a strong familial kinship with Balhae, calling it his "Relative Country" and "Married Country", and protected Balhae refugees, many of whom were also of Goguryeo origin. This was in strong contrast to Later Silla, which had endured a hostile relationship with Balhae. Taejo displayed strong animosity toward

6424-521: The south in 551. In the late 6th and early 7th centuries, Goguryeo was often in military conflict with the Sui and Tang dynasties of China. Its relations with Baekje and Silla were complex and alternated between alliances and enmity. A neighbor in the northwest were the Eastern Türks which was a nominal ally of Goguryeo. In 551 AD, Baekje and Silla entered into an alliance to attack Goguryeo and conquer

6512-545: The sun god Haebak ( Korean :  해밝 ). The Samguk sagi and Samguk yusa paint additional detail and names Jumong's mother as Yuhwa ( Korean :  유화 ; Hanja :  柳花 ). Jumong's biological father was said to be a man named Haemosu who is described as a "strong man" and "a heavenly prince." The river god chased Yuhwa away to the Ubal River ( Korean :  우발수 ; Hanja :  優渤水 ) due to her pregnancy, where she met and became

6600-470: The time of Taejodae in 53 AD, five local tribes were reorganized into five centrally ruled districts. Foreign relations and the military were controlled by the king. Early expansion might be best explained by ecology; Goguryeo controlled territory in what is currently central and southern Manchuria and northern Korea , which are both very mountainous and lacking in arable land. Upon centralizing, Goguryeo might have been unable to harness enough resources from

6688-667: The title of taeja ( 태자 ; 太子 ) was only a peerage title for sons of the king; a separate title existed for the heir apparent called the jeongyun ( 정윤 ; 正尹 ). Goguryeo Goguryeo (37 BC – 668 AD) ( Korean :  고구려 ; Hanja :  高句麗 ; RR :  Goguryeo ; lit.  high castle; Korean pronunciation: [ko̞.ɡu.ɾjʌ̹] ; Old Korean : Guryeo) also later known as Goryeo ( Korean :  고려 ; Hanja :  高麗 ; RR :  Goryeo ; lit.  high and beautiful; Korean pronunciation: [ko.ɾjʌ] ; Middle Korean : 고ᇢ롕〮, kwòwlyéy ),

6776-499: The title of prince, and accepted his first cousin as his fifth wife and queen (Wang had six queens, and many more wives as he married daughters of every single local leader). In turn, King Gyeonsun married King Taejo's eldest daughter, Princess Nakrang , whose daughter also intermarried into the royal Wang clan through her marriage with King Gyeongjong ; the grandson of King Taejo and Queen Sinmyeong. It caused much disgust to Kyon Hwon. Kyon's father, Ajagae , who held his own claim to

6864-472: The various countries he had defeated: Later Baekje, Silla, and also Balhae , which disintegrated around the same time. Thus he sought to secure stability and unity for his kingdom which had been lacking in the later years of Silla. After the destruction of Balhae by the Khitans in 926, Balhae's last crown prince and much of its ruling class sought refuge in Goryeo, where they were warmly welcomed and included into

6952-418: Was a Korean kingdom which was located on the northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula and the southern and central parts of modern-day Northeast China ( Manchuria ). At its peak of power, Goguryeo encompassed most of the Korean Peninsula and large parts of Manchuria , along with parts of eastern Mongolia , Inner Mongolia , and modern-day Russia . Along with Baekje and Silla , Goguryeo

7040-422: Was able to defeat the Sui navy, thus when the Sui's nine division armies finally reached Pyongyang, they didn't have the supplies for a lengthy siege. Sui troops retreated, but General Eulji Mundeok led the Goguryeo troops to victory by luring the Sui into an ambush outside of Pyongyang. At the Battle of Salsu , Goguryeo soldiers released water from a dam, which split the Sui army and cut off their escape route. Of

7128-565: Was finally crowned. But the power struggle was never resolved definitively, as renegade magistrates with private armies appointed themselves de facto rulers of their areas of control. Taking advantage of Goguryeo's internal struggle, a nomadic group called the Tuchueh attacked Goguryeo's northern castles in the 550s and conquered some of Goguryeo's northern lands. Weakening Goguryeo even more, as civil war continued among feudal lords over royal succession, Baekje and Silla allied to attack Goguryeo from

7216-539: Was in 612, in which Sui, according to the History of the Sui dynasty, mobilized 30 division armies, about 1,133,800 combat troops. Pinned along Goguryeo's line of fortifications on the Liao River , a detachment of nine division armies, about 305,000 troops, bypassed the main defensive lines and headed towards the Goguryeo capital of Pyongyang to link up with Sui naval forces, who had reinforcements and supplies. However, Goguryeo

7304-435: Was never able to launch it. Sui was weakened due to rebellions against Emperor Yang's rule and his failed attempts to conquer Goguryeo. They could not attack further because the provinces in the Sui heartland would not send logistical support. Emperor Yang's disastrous defeats in Korea greatly contributed to the collapse of the Sui dynasty. In the winter of 642, King Yeongnyu was apprehensive about Yeon Gaesomun , one of

7392-457: Was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea . It was an active participant in the power struggle for control of the Korean peninsula and was also associated with the foreign affairs of neighboring polities in China and Japan . The Samguk sagi , a 12th-century text from Goryeo , indicates that Goguryeo was founded in 37 BC by Jumong , a prince from Buyeo , who was enthroned as Dongmyeong . Goguryeo

7480-506: Was one of the great powers in East Asia until its defeat by a Silla–Tang alliance in 668 after prolonged exhaustion and internal strife following the death of Yeon Gaesomun . After its fall, its territory was divided between the Tang dynasty , Later Silla and Balhae . The name "Goryeo" (alternatively spelled "Koryŏ"), a shortened form of Goguryeo (Koguryŏ), was adopted as the official name in

7568-487: Was ruled by Balhae, which asserted itself as a reincarnation of Goguryeo. However, Wang Kŏn's unification in 936 was a more complete unification (in which only a single state emerged among the people, as opposed to the 7th century, when two, Unified Silla and Balhae , emerged); the people of the Korean Peninsula thereafter remained under a single, unified state until 1948, when Korea was divided into north and south by Soviets and U.S. forces. The modern name of "Korea"

7656-508: Was treated like Taejo's father, who died just before his surrender. In 936, Wang led his final campaign against Sin-gom of Later Baekje. Sin-gom fought against Taejo, but facing much disadvantage and inner conflict, he surrendered to Taejo. Wang finally conquered Later Baekje, and unified the nation for the second time since Unified Silla ; he ruled until 943, and died from disease. Taejo sought to bring even his enemies into his ruling coalition. He gave titles and land to rulers and nobles from

7744-483: Was used at a later stage as an administrative subdivision with the spelling of hwol [hʌ̹ɭ] , as in 買忽 mwoyhwol/michwuhwol [mit͡ɕʰuhʌ̹ɭ] , alongside the likely cognate of 骨 kwol [ko̞ɭ] . Nam Pung-hyun presents it also as a Baekje term, probably a cognate with the Goguryeo word with the same meaning and spelling. The iteration of 徐羅伐 Syerapel as 徐羅城 *SyeraKUY equated the Old Korean word for village, 伐 pel with

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