U of Goryeo
Encyclopedia
U of Goryeo ruled Goryeo
(Korea
) from 1374 until 1388.
, and established the Yuan Dynasty
in 1271. After a series of Mongol invasions
, Goryeo eventually capitulated and became a vassal of the Yuan Dynasty, and would remain so for approximately 80 years. The Ming Dynasty
in China had grown extremely powerful during the 14th century, however, and began to beat back the Yuan forces, so that by the 1350s Goryeo had regained its independence, although China garrisoned a large number of troops in the north-east of Goryeo, effectively occupying part of the country.
's maid. he's younger name Monino (Buddha's servant). Due to the intense debate about the birth, he lived outside the palace. 1371, after the death of Shin Don. He's come to the palace, 'U' was named. In the royal, U to the already dead maid of honor, miss Han and King Gongmin's son was proclaimed.
.
The anti-Ming group enthroned an eleven-year-old boy reportedly born to a palace slave girl as Gongmin's successor. The Chinese were suspicious about King Gongmin's sudden and unexplained death, and had real doubts about the legitimacy of the adolescent King U.
plain. The occupation of the area by the Ming army was tantamount to annexing the entire northeastern territory once under the command of the Mongols.
Goryeo's senior military commander, General Choe Yeong
, consulted with General Yi Seonggye and determined that in order to reduce the perceived threat from Ming China, they would have to remove the anti-Ming faction from power in Kaesŏng
. Choe, supported by Yi, accordingly removed Yi In-Im and his group in a coup d'état, and Choe took personal control of the government.
He returned to Kaesŏng and, after overpowering the royal court's defenders and removing (then killing) General Choe Yeong, Yi Seonggye usurped the throne from Goryeo's Dynasty and took control of the government. King U was deposed and replaced with his son King Chang
, but only one year later both of them were poisoned, and replaced with prince Gongyang
.
U became the only king in Korea's long history never to have had a posthumous title for his reign.
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...
(Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
) from 1374 until 1388.
Cultural background
In the thirteenth century, Mongol forces had advanced into ChinaChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, and established the Yuan Dynasty
Yuan Dynasty
The Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was a ruling dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who ruled most of present-day China, all of modern Mongolia and its surrounding areas, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368. It is considered both as a division of the Mongol Empire and as an...
in 1271. After a series of Mongol invasions
Mongol invasions of Korea
The Mongol invasions of Korea consisted of a series of campaigns by the Mongol Empire against Korea, then known as Goryeo, from 1231 to 1270...
, Goryeo eventually capitulated and became a vassal of the Yuan Dynasty, and would remain so for approximately 80 years. The Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
in China had grown extremely powerful during the 14th century, however, and began to beat back the Yuan forces, so that by the 1350s Goryeo had regained its independence, although China garrisoned a large number of troops in the north-east of Goryeo, effectively occupying part of the country.
Birth
According to the records, U is Son of Banya, from Shin DonShin Don
Shin Don was a Korean Buddhist monk during the Goryeo Dynasty. His Dharma name was Pyeonjo.-Summary:He was a Buddhist monk. He had the full confidence of King Gongmin, and he tried to reform the society of Goryeo. King Gongmin judged Shin Don clever...
's maid. he's younger name Monino (Buddha's servant). Due to the intense debate about the birth, he lived outside the palace. 1371, after the death of Shin Don. He's come to the palace, 'U' was named. In the royal, U to the already dead maid of honor, miss Han and King Gongmin's son was proclaimed.
Accession to the throne
In 1374 a military hero and high official named Yi In-Im led a small yet strong anti-Ming faction that assassinated King GongminGongmin of Goryeo
King Gongmin ruled Goryeo Dynasty Korea from 1351 until 1374.he was the second son of King Chungsuk. In addition to his various Korean names , he bore the Mongolian name Bayàn Temür .-Early life:...
.
The anti-Ming group enthroned an eleven-year-old boy reportedly born to a palace slave girl as Gongmin's successor. The Chinese were suspicious about King Gongmin's sudden and unexplained death, and had real doubts about the legitimacy of the adolescent King U.
Diplomatic tensions with China
The Chinese turned away Goryeo envoys en route to the Ming court on the pretext that Goryeo was sending them old, weak horses in tribute. Tensions over this crucial foreign policy protocol had not been resolved when, in 1388, the Ming dynasty proclaimed its intention to establish a command post headquartered in the Ch'ollyeong pass at the southern end of the HamgyŏngHamgyong
Hamgyŏng was one of the Eight Provinces of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. Hamgyŏng was located in the northeast of Korea. The provincial capital was Hamhŭng.-History:...
plain. The occupation of the area by the Ming army was tantamount to annexing the entire northeastern territory once under the command of the Mongols.
Goryeo's senior military commander, General Choe Yeong
Choe Yeong
Choe Yeong , also romanized as Choi Young, was a Korean general born in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, in Goryeo .-Early years:...
, consulted with General Yi Seonggye and determined that in order to reduce the perceived threat from Ming China, they would have to remove the anti-Ming faction from power in Kaesŏng
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...
. Choe, supported by Yi, accordingly removed Yi In-Im and his group in a coup d'état, and Choe took personal control of the government.
Fall
There was a growing feeling in Kaesŏng that Goryeo needed to take some kind of pre-emptive action against China, and advisors to King U eventually goaded him into attacking the powerful Ming armies. Against universal opposition, and in violation of the long-standing Goryeo practice of not invading its neighbors, King U went one step further and insisted on attacking China proper. In 1388, General Yi Seonggye was ordered to use his armies to push the Ming armies out of the Korean peninsula. The general realised the strength of the Ming forces when he came into contact with them at the Amrok River, and made a momentous decision that would alter the course of Korean history. Knowing of the support he enjoyed both from high-ranking government officials and the populace, he decided to return to the capital and take control of the government instead of possibly destroying his army attacking the Chinese.He returned to Kaesŏng and, after overpowering the royal court's defenders and removing (then killing) General Choe Yeong, Yi Seonggye usurped the throne from Goryeo's Dynasty and took control of the government. King U was deposed and replaced with his son King Chang
Chang of Goryeo
Chang of Goryeo was the 33rd and youngest ruler of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea. He was the son of his predecessor, King U. U was forced from power after Yi Seonggye mutinied in 1388, and Chang was put on the throne in his stead...
, but only one year later both of them were poisoned, and replaced with prince Gongyang
Gongyang of Goryeo
Gongyang of Goryeo was the 34th and final ruler of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea. He was deposed by Yi Seonggye, who then established the Joseon Dynasty....
.
U became the only king in Korea's long history never to have had a posthumous title for his reign.
See also
- 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...
- Choe YeongChoe YeongChoe Yeong , also romanized as Choi Young, was a Korean general born in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, in Goryeo .-Early years:...
- Taejo of JoseonTaejo of JoseonTaejo of Joseon , born Yi Seong-gye, whose changed name is Yi Dan, was the founder and the first king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea, and the main figure in overthrowing the Goryeo Dynasty...
- Jeong Mong-juJeong Mong-juJeong Mongju , often known by his pen name Poeun, was a Korean civil minister and scholar during the late period of the Goryeo dynasty.-Biography:He was born in Yeongcheon, Gyeongsang province to a family from the Yeongil Jeong clan...
- List of Korean monarchs
- Tears of Dragon (용의 눈물), South-Korean film.