The Silla–Tang War (670–676) occurred between
Silla (joined by Goguryeo and Baekje loyalists) and the
Tang dynasty.
It began in the geopolitical context immediately following the
conquest of Goguryeo and
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 Jumon ...
by the joint forces of Silla and Tang. The conflict ended with a truce between Tang and Silla due to the internal political situation in both states,
[ with the dividing territorial line at the ]Taedong River
The Taedong River (Chosŏn'gŭl: ) is a large river in North Korea. The river rises in the Rangrim Mountains of the country's north where it then flows southwest into Korea Bay at Namp'o.Suh, Dae-Sook (1987) "North Korea in 1986: Strengthenin ...
basin.
Context
In 668, Silla failed to unite the entire Korean Kingdoms after fall of Goguryeo. People of Goguryeo regrouped to form new kingdom. Silla would declare war on Tang and push Tang back to their border. Prior to Silla-Tang alliance, Tang was weakened by defeats suffered under Goguryeo military. These defeats push Tang to form alliance with Silla which was under Goguryeo domain.
The Silla–Tang alliance, which had defeated both the Korean kingdoms 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 Jumon ...
and Goguryeo, resulted in the occupation of the former territories of both of these kingdoms by coalition (i.e. Silla and Tang
Tang or TANG most often refers to:
* Tang dynasty
* Tang (drink mix)
Tang or TANG may also refer to:
Chinese states and dynasties
* Jin (Chinese state) (11th century – 376 BC), a state during the Spring and Autumn period, called Tang (唐) ...
) armies.
After the fall of Goguryeo in 668, the Tang Emperor created the office of Protectorate General to Pacify the East and attempted to place the entire Korean Peninsula, including its erstwhile independent ally Silla, under its rule. The Silla-Tang alliance subsequently fell apart as the Tang tried to establish dominion over the Korean Peninsula through this new office and its former ally Silla resisted these efforts.
King Munmu of Silla
Munmu of Silla (626–681; reigned 661–681) was the 30th 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 youn ...
assembled the Silla army with the armies of the defeated kingdoms Goguryeo and Baekje in a coalition against the Tang army.[ He had the unenviable challenge of freeing his country and hard-won conquests (particularly the entirety of what was formerly Baekje and some of the southern portions of what was formerly Goguryeo) from Tang domination. To achieve this, Munmu forged alliances with Goguryeo resistance leaders such as Geom Mojam and ]Anseung
Anseung (안승, 安勝) (fl. 668–683), alternately Ansun (안순, 安舜), was thought to be either the nephew or illegitimate son of King Bojang of Goguryeo, the last King of Goguryeo. He was named the new King of Goguryeo by general Geom ...
, and launched attacks on the Tang forces occupying territories formerly belonging to the conquered kingdoms of Baekje and Goguryeo. Starting almost immediately after the fall of Goguryeo in 668 AD and the establishment of the office of Protectorate General to Pacify the East, the struggle between the former allies lasted through much of the 670s.
Course
By 674, Tang and Silla were in frequent battle, as King Munmu had taken over much of the former territories 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 Jumon ...
and Goguryeo from the Tang forces that had occupied these lands following the Goguryeo–Tang War and Baekje–Tang War
The Baekje–Tang War was fought between Baekje and the allied forces of Tang China and Silla between 660 and 663. It was in some respect a spillover of the, at the time, ongoing Goguryeo–Tang War. After numerous attacks and raids by the combine ...
, and fostered native resistance against the Tang in those territories of the other Korean kingdoms still occupied by the Tang. In this year, Emperor Gaozong, in anger, arbitrarily declared King Munmu's brother Kim Inmun
Kim Inmun (629–694) 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.
Biography
In 651 ...
(김인문, 金仁問) to be the king of Silla and commissioned Liu Rengui
Liu Rengui (劉仁軌) (602 – March 2, 685), courtesy name Zhengze (正則), formally Duke Wenxian of Lecheng (樂城文獻公), was a Chinese military general and politician during the Tang Dynasty, serving as chancellor during the reign of ...
with an army to attack Silla. However, before any major battles could be fought, King Munmu, for unknown reasons (perhaps unwilling to deal with the potential divisions that could be caused by having a royal pretender loose in his kingdom and unprepared to fight the Tang), formally apologized and offered tribute; this satisfied Emperor Gaozong (he and King Munmu's father, King Muyeol
King Taejong Muyeol (604–661), born Gim Chunchu, was the 29th ruler of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He is credited for leading the unification of Korea's Three Kingdoms.
Background
King Taejong Muyeol was born with the "sacred ...
, were actually friends before Gaozong became emperor, and it has been suggested that this relationship not only enabled Gaozong to help King Muyeol start the wars of Korean unification in 660 AD in spite of having active enemies elsewhere, but also caused Gaozong to view Silla in a non-antagonistic manner), and, not wanting to prolong the campaign, he ordered a withdrawal and recalled Kim Inmun.
In 675, Li Jinxing
Li, li, or LI may refer to:
Businesses and organizations
* Landscape Institute, a British professional body for landscape architects
* Leadership Institute, a non-profit organization located in Arlington, Virginia, US, that teaches "political te ...
(李謹行) reached Sillan territory via land, using Mohe forces in Manchuria that had submitted to Tang, with the intent of occupying territory in Silla. However, the Tang forces were defeated by a Sillan army at the Maeso fortress, in or near present-day Yeoncheon
Yeoncheon County (''Yeoncheon-gun'') is a county in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. The county seat is Yeoncheon-eup (연천읍) and sits on the Korail railroad line connecting Seoul, South Korea, with North Korea (DPRK).
History
A variety of pale ...
.
In 676, Xue Rengui
Xue Rengui (; 614 – 24 March 683), formal name Xue Li (薛礼) but went by the courtesy name of Rengui, was a Chinese military general during the early Tang Dynasty. He is one of the most well-known military generals of his time due to his hum ...
crossed the Yellow Sea to fight against Silla.
Aftermath
Afterwards in 676, the Tang government moved the Protectorate General to Pacify the East to Liaodong
The Liaodong Peninsula (also Liaotung Peninsula, ) is a peninsula in southern Liaoning province in Northeast China, and makes up the southwestern coastal half of the Liaodong region. It is located between the mouths of the Daliao River (the ...
. Although the Tang forces lost the conquered territories south of Taedong River, Silla could not regain the former Goguryeo territories to the north of Taedong River, which had fallen into Tang dominion. The Tang empire had taken control of Liaodong Peninsula, while Silla controlled the Korean Peninsula.[ Relations between Tang and Silla ceased until the early 8th century,][ when King Seongdeok of Silla (702–737) and Emperor Xuanzong of Tang (712–755) reestablished diplomatic ties and initiated a reconciliation between the states.]
See also
*Baekje–Tang War
The Baekje–Tang War was fought between Baekje and the allied forces of Tang China and Silla between 660 and 663. It was in some respect a spillover of the, at the time, ongoing Goguryeo–Tang War. After numerous attacks and raids by the combine ...
* Goguryeo–Tang War
*Battle of Maeso
The Battle of Maeso () was a battle between Silla and Tang forces in the Korean peninsula
Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (D ...
* Protectorate General to Pacify the East
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Silla-Tang War
Wars involving Silla
Wars involving the Tang dynasty