Muyeol of Silla
Encyclopedia
King Taejong Muyeol born Kim Chunchu, was the 29th monarch of the southern Korean kingdom of Silla
(Sinra) and ruled from 654 to 661. He is credited for leading the unification of the Three Kingdoms of Korea
. He was a childhood friend of Kim Yusin, who eventually became his brother-in-law after he married the latter's sister.
. When King Jinji was overthrown, all royalty from his line, including Kim Yongsu, were deemed unfit to rule over the kingdom. However, as he Yongsu was one of the few remaining seonggols, and married a seonggol princess (King Jinpyeong's
daughter Princess Cheonmyeong), their child, Kim Chunchu, became seonggol and thus had a claim to the throne. Kim Yongsu was a powerful figure in the government. However, he lost all of his power to Kim Baekban, the brother of the king. In order to survive, he had accepted to become a jingol, the rank that was right below seonggol. Therefore, he lost his chance of becoming the king, and so did his child, Kim Choonchu. However, when all the seonggols were dead, somebody with the royal blood in the jinggol rank had to succeed the throne. The people in the government wanted Kim Alcheon (a.k.a. So Alcheon), who was then Sangdaedeung
(highest post of government) of Silla to succeed the throne. His father was a seonggol, who married a jingol wife so that his son would not be a seonggol and suffer from the fight for the throne. However, Kim Yushin
supported Kim Chunchu, and Kim Alcheon
refused the throne and supported Kim Chunchu. As a result, Kim Chunchu succeeded the throne.
of the Tang Dynasty
, for he and the Emperor were friends before Gaozong became an Emperor. King Muyeol was a great support to the Emperor, and the Emperor returned the support to King Muyeol. He constantly pleaded with the Tang for reinforcements to destroy Baekje
, to which the Tang finally acquiesced in 660, sending 130,000 troops under General Su Dingfang
. Meanwhile, Kim Yusin set out from Silla with 50,000 soldiers and fought the bloody Battle of Hwangsanbeol
leaving Baekje devastated and unprotected. King Uija of Baekje finally surrendered, leaving only Goguryeo
to face Silla as an adversary on the Korean peninsula.
In June of the following year King Muyeol died, leaving his son Kim Beopmin
to assume the throne as King Munmu
.
Silla
Silla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
(Sinra) and ruled from 654 to 661. He is credited for leading the unification of the Three Kingdoms of Korea
Three Kingdoms of Korea
The Three Kingdoms of Korea refer to the ancient Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, which dominated the Korean peninsula and parts of Manchuria for much of the 1st millennium...
. He was a childhood friend of Kim Yusin, who eventually became his brother-in-law after he married the latter's sister.
Background
King Taejong Muyeol was born with the "sacred blood" rank of seonggol. His father, Kim Yongsu (金龍樹), was a son of Silla's 25th ruler, King JinjiJinji of Silla
Geomryun Kim , whose name as king was Jinji, was the twenty-fifth monarch of the ancient Korean kingdom of Silla. His wife was Lady Jido of the Park clan....
. When King Jinji was overthrown, all royalty from his line, including Kim Yongsu, were deemed unfit to rule over the kingdom. However, as he Yongsu was one of the few remaining seonggols, and married a seonggol princess (King Jinpyeong's
Jinpyeong of Silla
Jinpyeong of Silla is the 26th king of the Silla Dynasty, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. King Jinpyeong followed in the footsteps of King Jinheung by reorganizing the central ruling system, and as many conflicts with Baekje and Goguryeo arose, sent emissaries to improve relations and...
daughter Princess Cheonmyeong), their child, Kim Chunchu, became seonggol and thus had a claim to the throne. Kim Yongsu was a powerful figure in the government. However, he lost all of his power to Kim Baekban, the brother of the king. In order to survive, he had accepted to become a jingol, the rank that was right below seonggol. Therefore, he lost his chance of becoming the king, and so did his child, Kim Choonchu. However, when all the seonggols were dead, somebody with the royal blood in the jinggol rank had to succeed the throne. The people in the government wanted Kim Alcheon (a.k.a. So Alcheon), who was then Sangdaedeung
Sangdaedeung
Sangdaedeung was an office of the Silla state equivalent to the European King's/Queen's Counsel. The Sangdaedeung was chosen from among those men of “true bone” lineage in Silla‘s strict aristocratic social order...
(highest post of government) of Silla to succeed the throne. His father was a seonggol, who married a jingol wife so that his son would not be a seonggol and suffer from the fight for the throne. However, Kim Yushin
Kim Yushin
Kim Yushin was a general in 7th-century Silla. He led the unification of the Korean peninsula by Silla under the reign of King Muyeol of Silla and King Munmu of Silla. He is said to have been the great-grandchild of King Guhae of Geumgwan Gaya, the last ruler of the Geumgwan Gaya state...
supported Kim Chunchu, and Kim Alcheon
Kim Alcheon
Kim Alcheon was a member of the Silla royal family. He became Hwarang at a young age and was a famous general.-Biography:Alcheon supported Princess Deokman in politics and in her succession to the throne after the death of her father, Jinpyeong of Silla...
refused the throne and supported Kim Chunchu. As a result, Kim Chunchu succeeded the throne.
Reign
He was well acquainted with the Emperor GaozongEmperor Gaozong of Tang
Emperor Gaozong of Tang , personal name Li Zhi , was the third emperor of the Tang Dynasty in China, ruling from 649 to 683...
of the Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
, for he and the Emperor were friends before Gaozong became an Emperor. King Muyeol was a great support to the Emperor, and the Emperor returned the support to King Muyeol. He constantly pleaded with the Tang for reinforcements to destroy Baekje
Baekje
Baekje or Paekche was a kingdom located in southwest Korea. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla....
, to which the Tang finally acquiesced in 660, sending 130,000 troops under General Su Dingfang
Su Dingfang
Su Dingfang , formal name Su Lie but went by the courtesy name of Dingfang, formally Duke Zhuang of Xing , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who succeeded in destroying the Western Tujue in 657. He was born in Wuyi...
. Meanwhile, Kim Yusin set out from Silla with 50,000 soldiers and fought the bloody Battle of Hwangsanbeol
Battle of Hwangsanbeol
Battle of Hwangsanbeol was a battle that took place between forces of Silla and Baekje in 660.By the time King Muyeol was able to gain the support of Emperor Gaozong of Tang China, King Uija had led Baekje into demise as his parties and dissipation caused neglect for state affairs...
leaving Baekje devastated and unprotected. King Uija of Baekje finally surrendered, leaving only Goguryeo
Goguryeo
Goguryeo or Koguryŏ was an ancient Korean kingdom located in present day northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula, southern Manchuria, and southern Russian Maritime province....
to face Silla as an adversary on the Korean peninsula.
In June of the following year King Muyeol died, leaving his son Kim Beopmin
Munmu of Silla
Munmu of Silla was the thirtieth king of the Korean kingdom of Silla. He is usually considered to have been the first ruler of the Unified Silla period. Munmu was the son of King Muyeol and Munmyeong, who was the younger sister of Kim Yu-shin...
to assume the throne as King Munmu
Munmu of Silla
Munmu of Silla was the thirtieth king of the Korean kingdom of Silla. He is usually considered to have been the first ruler of the Unified Silla period. Munmu was the son of King Muyeol and Munmyeong, who was the younger sister of Kim Yu-shin...
.
Family
- Father: Kim Yongsu (金龍樹), son of King Jinji of SillaJinji of SillaGeomryun Kim , whose name as king was Jinji, was the twenty-fifth monarch of the ancient Korean kingdom of Silla. His wife was Lady Jido of the Park clan....
, 25th ruler of SillaSillaSilla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
, and Lady Jido of the Park clan - Mother Princess Cheonmyeong (Hangul: 천명공주, Hanja: 天明公主), daughter of King Jinpyeong of SillaJinpyeong of SillaJinpyeong of Silla is the 26th king of the Silla Dynasty, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. King Jinpyeong followed in the footsteps of King Jinheung by reorganizing the central ruling system, and as many conflicts with Baekje and Goguryeo arose, sent emissaries to improve relations and...
and Queen MayaQueen Maya of SillaQueen Maya was a member of the Silla royal house and the wife and Queen Consort to King Jinpyeong of Silla, 26th King of Silla. She was of the royal Kim clan... - Uncle: Kim Yongchun (Hangul: 김용춘, Hanja: 金龍春), brother of Kim Yongsu; 13th Pungwolju of SillaSillaSilla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
- Aunt: Queen Seondeok of SillaQueen Seondeok of SillaQueen Seondeok of Silla reigned as Queen of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, from 632 to 647. She was Silla's twenty-seventh ruler, and its first reigning queen...
, sister of Princess Cheonmyeong; 27th ruler of SillaSillaSilla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
- Wife:
- Queen Munmyeong (Hangul: 문명왕후, Hanja: 文明王后), birth name "Kim Munhui" (Hangul: 김문희, Hanja: 金文姬), younger sister of General Kim YushinKim YushinKim Yushin was a general in 7th-century Silla. He led the unification of the Korean peninsula by Silla under the reign of King Muyeol of Silla and King Munmu of Silla. He is said to have been the great-grandchild of King Guhae of Geumgwan Gaya, the last ruler of the Geumgwan Gaya state...
, younger daughter of General Kim Seohyun and Lady Manmyeong.
- Queen Munmyeong (Hangul: 문명왕후, Hanja: 文明王后), birth name "Kim Munhui" (Hangul: 김문희, Hanja: 金文姬), younger sister of General Kim Yushin
- Issue:
- King Munmu of SillaMunmu of SillaMunmu of Silla was the thirtieth king of the Korean kingdom of Silla. He is usually considered to have been the first ruler of the Unified Silla period. Munmu was the son of King Muyeol and Munmyeong, who was the younger sister of Kim Yu-shin...
(626 - 681) - Kim InmunKim InmunKim Inmun was a noted aristocrat, scholar, and official of the ancient Korean kingdom of Silla. He was the son of Muyeol and the younger brother of Munmu, the twenty-ninth and thirtieth kings respectively of Silla....
(Hangul: 김인문, Hanja: 金仁問) (629 - 694) - Kim Munwang (Hangul: 김문왕, Hanja: 金文王) (629 - 665)
- Kim Nocha (Hangul: 김노차, Hanja: 金老且)
- Kim Jigyeong (Hangul: 김지경, Hanja: 金智鏡)
- Kim Gaewon (Hangul: 김개원, Hanja: 金愷元)
- Kim Intae (Hangul: 김인태, Hanja: 金仁泰)
- Kim Gaejimun (Hangul: 김개지문, Hanja: 金皆知文)
- Kim Geodeok (Hangul: 김차득, Hanja: 金車得)
- Kim Madeok (Hangul: 김마득, Hanja: 金馬得)
- King Munmu of Silla
Ancestry
See also
- List of Korea-related topics
- History of KoreaHistory of KoreaThe Korean Peninsula was inhabited from the Lower Paleolithic about 400,000-500,000 years ago. Archeological evidence indicates that the presence of modern humans in northeast Asia dates to 39,000 years ago. The earliest known Korean pottery dates to around 8000 BC, and the Neolithic period began...
- Rulers of Korea
- Bone rank systemBone rank systemThe bone rank system was the system of aristocratic rank used in the ancient Korean kingdom of Silla. It was used to segregate society, and particularly the layers of the aristocracy, on the basis of their hereditary proximity to the throne and the level of authority they were permitted to wield...