Gyeong Dae-seung
Encyclopedia
Gyeong Dae-seung (1154–1183) was the third major military dictators who ruled during the late period of the Goryeo
Empire. Unlike his predecessors, General Gyeong was determined to fix the empire's problems and help the people prosper. His popularity with the people aroused the jealousy of Emperor Myeongjong of Goryeo
. His military dictatorship over Goryeo signified a brief period of peace within the war-ravaged empire.
Gyeong clan in the year 1154. At the time of his birth, the warrior-class of the nation was highly undermined and deprived of the luxuries that its civilian and scholar counterparts were able to see excessively. The young Gyeong began his military training at the young and tender age of 15, and served under the regimes of both Yi Ui-bang
and Jeong Jung-bu
. When his father died, he took charge of his household and began helping the poor, and made the decision of using the private army that his father had built.
, returned to Kaesong
and took power over Goryeo, destroying all that Gyeong had worked so hard to build.
Goryeo
The Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which came to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...
Empire. Unlike his predecessors, General Gyeong was determined to fix the empire's problems and help the people prosper. His popularity with the people aroused the jealousy of Emperor Myeongjong of Goryeo
Myeongjong of Goryeo
King Myeongjong was monarch of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea. He was the third son of Emperor Injong.Although it was intended that Injong's second son should succeed his father, he was assassinated because Jeong Jung-bu feared that he might become a threat to him in the future...
. His military dictatorship over Goryeo signified a brief period of peace within the war-ravaged empire.
Background
General Gyeong Dae-seung was born to Gyeong Jin into the ChungjuChungju
Chungju is a city in North Chungcheong province, South Korea. Namsan is a mountain located on the outskirts of the city.The city is famous for the annual martial arts festival held in October. Also of note, UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon grew up here....
Gyeong clan in the year 1154. At the time of his birth, the warrior-class of the nation was highly undermined and deprived of the luxuries that its civilian and scholar counterparts were able to see excessively. The young Gyeong began his military training at the young and tender age of 15, and served under the regimes of both Yi Ui-bang
Yi Ui-bang
Yi Ui-bang was a military ruler of Korea during the Goryeo period.-Background:Yi originated from the Jeonju Yi clan...
and Jeong Jung-bu
Jeong Jung-bu
Jeong Jung-bu was a medieval Korean soldier and military dictator during Goryeo Dynasty . He was a career soldier, qualified on military part of civil service examination...
. When his father died, he took charge of his household and began helping the poor, and made the decision of using the private army that his father had built.
The Young Dictator
In 1154, the young General Gyeong led a revolt against the current-reigning dictator Jeong Jung-bu, killing his son and son-in-law in the process of overthrowing any trace of the regime. At the age of 26, Gyeong had overthrown the powerful Jeong military regime, and had become the undisputed military dictator of Goryeo. The greatest help to Gyeong was his lifelong friend General Kim Ja-Gyuk, who wanted to put Gyeong on the Imperial throne. Gyeong did not allow such things to overcome his original purpose for taking power. Gyeong Dae-seung became very popular among the people and received the name, "Righteous, young general." Emperor Myeongjong became jealous of Gyeong's popularity and power, and rejected the young general as merely another bloodthirsty barbaric warrior who was greedy for power. Despite his good intentions and hard efforts to restore peace, Gyeong was faced with assassination attempts, the most notable being an attempt by his friend Kim Ja-Gyuk to poison him. This attempt failed and Gyeong was military dictator over Goryeo for five years until he came down with a sickness (possibly tuberculosis) that eventually killed him.Death and aftermath
Gyeong Dae-seung died at the young age of 30, during the year 1183. With the death of Gyeong, Yi Ui-bang's former lieutenant, Yi Ui-minYi Ui-min
Yi Ui-min was one of the third major military dictators that ruled Goryeo prior to the Mongol Invasions. When Gyeong Dae-seung died, Yi Ui-min seized power. He ruled for 13 years, but was eventually assassinated by General Choe Chungheon in 1196....
, returned to Kaesong
Kaesong
Kaesŏng is a city in North Hwanghae Province, southern North Korea , a former Directly Governed City, and the capital of Korea during the Koryo Dynasty. The city is near Kaesŏng Industrial Region and it contains the remains of the Manwoldae palace. It was formally named Songdo while it was the...
and took power over Goryeo, destroying all that Gyeong had worked so hard to build.
See also
- Jeong Jung-buJeong Jung-buJeong Jung-bu was a medieval Korean soldier and military dictator during Goryeo Dynasty . He was a career soldier, qualified on military part of civil service examination...
- GoryeoGoryeoThe Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which came to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...