Samgeun of Baekje (465–479) (r. 477–479) was the
23rd king of
Baekje
Baekje or Paekche (, ) was a Korean kingdom located in southwestern Korea from 18 BC to 660 AD. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla.
Baekje was founded by Onjo, the third son of Goguryeo's founder Jum ...
, one of the
Three Kingdoms of Korea
Samhan or the Three Kingdoms of Korea () refers to the three kingdoms of Goguryeo (고구려, 高句麗), Baekje (백제, 百濟), and Silla (신라, 新羅). Goguryeo was later known as Goryeo (고려, 高麗), from which the modern name ''Kor ...
. According to the ''
Samguk Sagi
''Samguk Sagi'' (, ''History of the Three Kingdoms'') is a historical record of the Three Kingdoms of Korea: Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla. The ''Samguk Sagi'' is written in Classical Chinese, the written language of the literati of ancient Korea, ...
'', he was the eldest son of the 22nd king
Munju.
Background
In 475, the northern Korean kingdom of
Goguryeo
Goguryeo (37 BC–668 AD) ( ) also called Goryeo (), was a Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula and the southern and central parts of Northeast China. At its peak of power, Goguryeo controlled most ...
had forced Baekje's capital south from the present-day
Seoul
Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 ...
region to
Ungjin
Ungjin, also known as Gomanaru (Hangul: 고마나루, literally "bear port") is a former city on the Korean Peninsula. It was located in modern-day Gongju, South Chungcheong province, South Korea. It was the capital of Baekje from AD 475 to 538 ...
(near present-day
Gongju
Gongju ([]; Gongju-si) is a city in South Chungcheong province, South Korea.
History
Gongju was formerly named Ungjin and was the capital of Baekje from AD 475 to 538. In this period, Baekje was under threat from Goguryeo. Goguryeo had overrun ...
), and the Baekje court had lost much of its power to the aristocracy. Within the aristocracy, clans from the local
Mahan confederacy
Mahan () was a loose confederacy of statelets that existed from around the 1st century BC to 5th century AD in the southern Korean peninsula in the Chungcheong and Jeolla provinces. Gina Lee Barnes, 《State Formation in Korea: Historical and A ...
, which Baekje conquered and absorbed earlier, gained strength against the traditional clans descended from the northern kingdom of
Buyeo
Buyeo or Puyŏ ( Korean: 부여; Korean pronunciation: u.jʌ or 扶餘 ''Fúyú''), also rendered as Fuyu, was an ancient kingdom that was centered in northern Manchuria in modern-day northeast China. It is sometimes considered a Korea ...
.
In the midst of this instability, the chief general and Minister of Defense,
Hae Gu
Hae Gu (? – 478) was a noble of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was a member of the Hae clan (解氏), one of the "Great Eight Families" (''Daeseongpaljok'', 大姓八族). He held the position of Minister of Defense (''Byeong'gw ...
, took control of the military and killed Munju's brother
Buyeo Gonji
Buyeo Gonji (? – July, 477) was a member of the royal family of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was a son of the 21st king, Gaero of Baekje and younger brother of the 22nd king, Munju of Baekje.
Life
According to the ''Samguk Sa ...
in 477. After this
Hae Gu
Hae Gu (? – 478) was a noble of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was a member of the Hae clan (解氏), one of the "Great Eight Families" (''Daeseongpaljok'', 大姓八族). He held the position of Minister of Defense (''Byeong'gw ...
exercised effective rule over the country. That year, he ordered the death of Munju.
Reign
Samgeun was only thirteen years old when he took power after his father’s death.
Since he was not fit to oversee the military, the armies continued to be overseen by General Hae Gu, who maintained actual political control.
In 478,
Hae Gu
Hae Gu (? – 478) was a noble of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was a member of the Hae clan (解氏), one of the "Great Eight Families" (''Daeseongpaljok'', 大姓八族). He held the position of Minister of Defense (''Byeong'gw ...
found common cause with rebels led by
Yeon Sin
Yeon Sin (? – 478) was a noble of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was a member of the Yeon clan (燕氏), one of the " Great Eight Families" (''Daeseongpaljok'', 大姓八族). He held the position of Eunsol (恩率: 3rd official ...
, based in Daedu Castle. Samgeun first sent the noble Jin Nam to capture the castle with 2,000 men, but he failed. He then sent Jin Ro, who defeated the rebels with 500 men, whereupon
Yeon Sin
Yeon Sin (? – 478) was a noble of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was a member of the Yeon clan (燕氏), one of the " Great Eight Families" (''Daeseongpaljok'', 大姓八族). He held the position of Eunsol (恩率: 3rd official ...
fled to
Goguryeo
Goguryeo (37 BC–668 AD) ( ) also called Goryeo (), was a Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula and the southern and central parts of Northeast China. At its peak of power, Goguryeo controlled most ...
. With this event, the
Jin clan gained great strength in Baekje.
The next year, Samgeun died, succeeded by his uncle
Buyeo Gonji
Buyeo Gonji (? – July, 477) was a member of the royal family of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was a son of the 21st king, Gaero of Baekje and younger brother of the 22nd king, Munju of Baekje.
Life
According to the ''Samguk Sa ...
's son,
Dongseong of Baekje.
Family
* Father:
Munju of Baekje
Munju of Baekje (?–477, r. 475–477Il-yeon: ''Samguk Yusa: Legends and History of the Three Kingdoms of Ancient Korea'', translated by Tae-Hung Ha and Grafton K. Mintz. Book Two, page 120. Silk Pagoda (2006). ) was the 22nd king of Baekje, on ...
* Mother: unknown
** Queen: unknown
*** Children: unknown
See also
*
History of Korea
The Lower Paleolithic era in the Korean Peninsula and Manchuria began roughly half a million years ago.
Christopher J. Norton, "The Current State of Korean Paleoanthropology", (2000), ''Journal of Human Evolution'', 38: 803–825.
The earlies ...
*
List of Monarchs of Korea
This is a list of monarchs of Korea, arranged by dynasty. Names are romanized according to the South Korean Revised Romanization of Korean. McCune–Reischauer romanizations may be found at the articles about the individual monarchs.
Gojoseon
...
References
*
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{{s-end
465 births
479 deaths
Baekje rulers
Year of birth uncertain
5th-century monarchs in Asia
5th-century Korean people