This is a list of monarchs of Korea, arranged by dynasty. Names are romanized according to the South Korean

Revised Romanization of Korean Revised Romanization of Korean () is the official Korean language romanization system in South Korea. It was developed by the National Academy of the Korean Language from 1995 and was released to the public on 7 July 2000 by South Korea's Min ...

McCune–Reischauer McCune–Reischauer romanization () is one of the two most widely used Korean language romanization systems. A modified version of McCune–Reischauer was the official romanization system in South Korea until 2002, when it was replaced by the Re ...

romanizations may be found at the articles about the individual monarchs.

Gojoseon

Gojoseon (2333 BC – 108 BC) was the first Korean kingdom. According to legend, it was founded by Dangun in 2333 BC. Bronze Age archaeological evidence of Gojoseon culture is found in northern Korea and

Liaoning Liaoning () is a coastal province in Northeast China that is the smallest, southernmost, and most populous province in the region. With its capital at Shenyang, it is located on the northern shore of the Yellow Sea, and is the northernmost ...

. By the 9th to 4th century BC, various historical and archaeological evidence shows Gojoseon was a flourishing state and a self-declared kingdom. Both Dangun and Gija are believed to be mythological figures, but recent findings suggest and theorize that since Gojoseon was a kingdom with artifacts dating back to the 4th millennium BC, Dangun and Gija may have been royal or imperial titles used for the monarchs of Gojoseon, hence the use of Dangun for 1900 years. * :"An extreme manifestation of nationalism and the family cult was the revival of interest in Tangun, the mythical founder of the first Korean state... Most textbooks and professional historians, however, treat him as a myth." * :"Although Kija may have truly existed as a historical figure, Tangun is more problematical." * :"Most orean historianstreat the

angun Angoon (sometimes formerly spelled Angun, tli, Aangóon) is a city on Admiralty Island in Hoonah-Angoon Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 572; by the 2010 census the population had declined to 459. The ...

myth as a later creation." * :"The Tangun myth became more popular with groups that wanted Korea to be independent; the Kija myth was more useful to those who wanted to show that Korea had a strong affinity to China." * :"If a choice is to be made between them, one is faced with the fact that the Tangun, with his supernatural origin, is more clearly a mythological figure than Kija."

Earliest mythological rulers

Historical rulers

Buyeo

Buyeo (c. 2nd century BC – 494 AD) ruled in modern-day Northeast China. Although records are sparse and contradictory, it is speculated that in the 1st century BC, Eastern Buyeo branched out, after which the original Buyeo is sometimes referred to as Northern Buyeo. Its remnants were absorbed by the neighboring and brotherhood kingdom of Goguryeo in 494.

Early Eastern Buyeo

Galsa Buyeo

Later Northern Buyeo

Goguryeo

Goguryeo (37 BC – 668 AD) was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Goguryeo rulers may have used the title of ''

Taewang Imperial titles were used in various historical Korean states before the 14th century and at the turn of the 20th century: Early Korean states used "great king", "greatest king", and "holy king"; later Korean states used "emperor". Korean monarc ...

'' (太王, "Greatest King").

Baekje

Baekje (18 BC – 660 AD) was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Temple names were the same as personal names, unless noted otherwise.

Silla

Silla (57 BC – 935 AD) was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. In the early years, Silla was ruled by the

Pak Pak or PAK may refer to: Places * Pakistan (country code PAK) * Pak, Afghanistan * Pak Island, in the Admiralty Islands group of Papua New Guinea * Pak Tea House, a café in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan Arts and entertainment * PAK (band), an Amer ...

, Seok, and Kim families. Rulers of Silla had various titles, including ''Isageum, Maripgan, and Daewang''. Like some Baekje kings, some declared themselves emperor. # Hyeokgeose Geoseogan 혁거세 거서간 赫居世居西干 (57 BC – 4 AD) # Namhae Chachaung 남해 차차웅 南解次次雄 (4–24) # Yuri Isageum 유리이사금 儒理尼師今 (24–57) (Kings Yuri to Heurhae bore the Korean title ''Isageum'', an old word for "ruler") # Talhae Isageum 탈해이사금 脫解尼師今 (57–80) # Pasa Isageum 파사이사금 婆娑尼師今 (80–112) # Jima Isageum 지마이사금 祇摩尼師今 (112–134) # Ilseong Isageum 일성이사금 逸聖尼師今 (134–154) # Adalla Isageum 아달라이사금 阿達羅尼師今 (154–184) # Beolhyu Isageum 벌휴이사금 伐休尼師今 (184–196) # Naehae Isageum 내해이사금 奈解尼師今 (196–230) # Jobun Isageum 조분이사금 助賁尼師今 (230–247) # Cheomhae Isageum 첨해이사금 沾解尼師今 (247–261) # Michu Isageum 미추이사금 味鄒尼師今 (262–284) # Yurye Isageum 유례이사금 儒禮尼師今 (284–298) # Girim Isageum 기림이사금 基臨尼師今 (298–310) # Heulhae Isageum 흘해이사금 訖解尼師今 (310–356) # Naemul Maripgan 내물마립간 奈勿麻立干 (356–402) (Kings Naemul to Soji bore the Korean title ''Maripgan'', an old word for "ruler") # Silseong Maripgan 실성마립간 實聖麻立干 (402–417) # Nulji Maripgan 눌지마립간 訥祇麻立干 (417–458) # Jabi Maripgan 자비마립간 慈悲麻立干 (458–479) # Soji Maripgan 소지마립간 炤知麻立干 (479–500) # King Jijeung 지증왕 智證王 (500–514) (Kings Jijeung to Gyeongsun bore the title ''Wang'' (the modern Korean word for "king"), with the exceptions noted below) # King Beopheung 법흥왕 法興王 (514–540) # King Jinheung 진흥왕 眞興王 (540–576) # King Jinji 진지왕 眞智王 (576–579) # King Jinpyeong 진평왕 眞平王 (579–632) # Queen Seondeok 선덕여왕 善德王 (632–647) # Queen Jindeok 진덕여왕 眞德王 (647–654) # King Taejong Muyeol 태종무열왕 太宗武烈王 (654–661) #

King Munmu 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 ...

문무왕 文武王 (661–681) #

King Sinmun Sinmun of Silla (r. 681–692) was the thirty-first king of Silla, a Korean state that originated in the southwestern Korean peninsula and went on to unify most of the peninsula under its rule in the mid 7th century. He was the eldest son of Sil ...

신문왕 神文王 (681–692) # King Hyoso 효소왕 孝昭王 (692–702) # King Seongdeok 성덕왕 聖德王 (702–737) # King Hyoseong 효성왕 孝成王 (737–742) #

King Gyeongdeok Gyeongdeok of Silla (景德王; 742–765) was the 35th ruler of Silla and son of Seongdeok of Silla, King Seongdeok (reigned 702–737). He succeeded his elder brother, King Hyoseong, the 34th ruler of Silla. His reign is considered a golden age ...

경덕왕 景德王 (742–765) #

King Hyegong Hyegong of Silla (758–780) (r. 765–780) was the 36th ruler of the Korean kingdom of Silla. Being the only child between King Gyeongdeok and Lady Manwol ( Queen Gyeongsu), Hyegong was the last descendant of King Muyeol to sit on the throne. Bec ...

혜공왕 惠恭王 (765–780) # King Seondeok 선덕왕 宣德王 (780–785) # King Wonseong 원성왕 元聖王 (785–798) # King Soseong 소성왕 昭聖王 (798–800) # King Aejang 애장왕 哀莊王 (800–809) # King Heondeok 헌덕왕 憲德王 (809–826) # King Heungdeok 흥덕왕 興德王 (826–836) # King Huigang 희강왕 僖康王 (836–838) # King Minae 민애왕 閔哀王 (838–839) #

King Sinmu Sinmu of Silla (r. 839, died 839) (born Ujing) was the 45th monarch of the Korean kingdom of Silla. His reign was the briefest in the state's history, lasting only from the fourth to the seventh lunar month of 839. Sinmu was the son of the ''Sa ...

신무왕 神武王 (839) #

King Munseong Munseong of Silla (died 857) (reigned 839–857) was the 46th ruler of the Korean kingdom of Silla. He was the eldest son of King Sinmu and Lady Jeonggye. Munseong's reign was typical of late Unified Silla, with rampant strife and uprisings. ...

문성왕 文聖王 (839–857) # King Heonan 헌안왕 憲安王 (857–861) # King Gyeongmun 경문왕 景文王 (861–875) #

King Heongang Heongang of Silla (c.861–886) (r. 875–886) was the 49th to rule the Korean kingdom of Silla. According to the ''Samguk Sagi'', he excelled at civil affairs. Heongang was the eldest son of King Gyeongmun; his mother was Queen Munui. He had ...

헌강왕 憲康王 (875–886) #

King Jeonggang Jeonggang of Silla (c.863–887) (r. 886–887) was the 50th ruler of the Korean kingdom of Silla. He was the son of King Gyeongmun; his siblings included his predecessor King Heongang and his successor Queen Jinseong. Jeonggang rose to the ...

정강왕 定康王 (886–887) # Queen Jinseong 진성여왕 眞聖王 (887–897) #

King Hyogong Hyogong of Silla (883–912) (r. 897–912) was the List of monarchs of Korea, 52nd ruler of the Korean kingdom of Silla. He was the illegitimate son of Heongang of Silla, King Heongang by Lady Uimyeong. He married the daughter of ''Ichan'' Ugy ...

효공왕 孝恭王 (897–912) # King Sindeok 신덕왕 神德王 (912–917) #

King Gyeongmyeong Gyeongmyeong of Silla (died 924) (r. 917–924) was the 54th ruler of the Korean kingdom of Silla. He was the eldest son of King Sindeok and Princess Uiseong. He ruled during the Later Three Kingdoms period, when much of his country's former ...

경명왕 景明王 (917–924) # King Gyeongae 경애왕 景哀王 (924–927) # King Gyeongsun 경순왕 敬順王 (927–935)

Gaya confederacy

The Gaya confederacy (42–562) consisted of several small statelets. All rulers of Gaya bore the title ''Wang'' ("King").

Geumgwan Gaya

Geumgwan Gaya (42–532) was one of the Gaya confederacy.

Daegaya

Daegaya (42–562) was one of the Gaya confederacy.

Tamna

Tamna (2337 BC(?)–938 AD) was an ancient local kingdom on the Jeju Island.

Balhae

Balhae (698–926) was an ancient Korean kingdom established after the fall of Goguryeo. Balhae occupied southern parts of Northeast China, Primorsky Krai, and the northern part of the Korean peninsula.

Later Baekje

Later Baekje (900–936) was founded by Gyeon Hwon, who was a general during Later Silla's period of decline. Thus began the Later Three Kingdoms period. Later Baekje met its downfall at the hands of Gyeon Hwon himself, who later led the Goryeo armies alongside

Taejo of Goryeo Taejo of Goryeo (31 January 877 – 4 July 943), also known as Taejo Wang Geon (; ), was the founder of the Goryeo dynasty, which ruled Korea from the 10th to the 14th century. Taejo ruled from 918 to 943, achieving unification of the Later Three ...

to capture

Singeom Gyeon Singeom (; ? – September 936, r. 15 November 935 – 936) was the second and final king of Hubaekje, one of the Later Three Kingdoms of Korea. He came to the throne after conspiring with his two brothers, Yanggeom and Yonggeom, to overth ...

, the prince of Later Baekje, who had betrayed Gyeon Hwon.

Later Goguryeo

Taebong (901–918), also known as Majin or Later Goguryeo, was established by

Gung-ye Gung Ye ( – 24 July 918, r. July 901 – 24 July 918) was the king of the short-lived state of Taebong (901–918), one of the Later Three Kingdoms of Korea. Although he was a member of the Silla royal family, he became a victim of the power st ...

, an outcast prince of Silla. Gung-Ye joined General Yang-Gil's rebellion, and rose through the ranks. He eventually assassinated Yang-Gil and established a new kingdom, naming it Later Goguryeo. Gung-Ye turned out to be a tyrant, and was overthrown by his generals, opening the way for General Wang Geon, who established Goryeo.

Goryeo dynasty

Goryeo (918–1392) was ruled by the

Wang Dynasty Goryeo (; ) was a Korean kingdom founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korea, Korean Peninsula until 1392. Goryeo achieved what has been called a "true national un ...

. The first ruler had the temple name ''Taejo,'' which means "great progenitor", and was applied to the first kings of both Goryeo and

Joseon Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and re ...

, as they were also the founders of the Wang and Yi Dynasties respectively. Starting with Gwangjong, rulers of Goryeo styled themselves emperors, with the first three rulers elevated to that title posthumously. With the Mongol conquest, however, the title of the ruler was demoted to a king, or "Wang." The next twenty-three kings (until Wonjong) are also referred to by their temple names, ending in ''jong''. Beginning with Chungnyeol (the twenty-fifth king), all the remaining kings of Goryeo had the title ''Wang'' ("King") as part of their temple names. Era names are in bracket where available.

Joseon dynasty

(1392–1910) followed Goryeo. In 1897, when Joseon became the

Korean Empire The Korean Empire () was a Korean monarchical state proclaimed in October 1897 by Emperor Gojong of the Joseon dynasty. The empire stood until Japan's annexation of Korea in August 1910. During the Korean Empire, Emperor Gojong oversaw the Gwa ...

, some of the Joseon kings were posthumously raised to the rank of emperors. Joseon monarchs had temple names ending in ''jo'' or ''jong.'' ''Jo'' was given to the first kings/emperors of new lines within the dynasty, with the first king/emperor having the special name ( Taejo), which means "great progenitor" (see also Goryeo). ''Jong'' was given to all other kings/emperors. Two kings, Yeonsangun and Gwanghaegun, were not given temple names after their reigns ended. Each monarch had a posthumous name that included either the title ''Wang'' ("King"), ''Hwangje'' ("Emperor"), ''Daewang'' ("King ''X'' the Great"), or ''Daeje'' ("Emperor ''X'' the Great"). For the sake of consistency, the title "King/Emperor" has been added to each monarch's temple name in the list below. * see

section

Korean Empire

In 1897, King Gojong proclaimed Joseon to be the

, which lasted until 1910. Technically, the emperors can be referred to by their

era names A regnal year is a year of the reign of a sovereign, from the Latin ''regnum'' meaning kingdom, rule. Regnal years considered the date as an ordinal, not a cardinal number. For example, a monarch could have a first year of rule, a second year o ...

rather than their temple names, but the latter are commonly used.

Notes

References

* * * * *https://web.archive.org/web/20031006023320/http://www.rootsinfo.co.kr/index_sub02.html (in Korean only) *http://www.rulers.org {{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Monarchs Of Korea * * Monarchs