Kim Sammaekjong (526–576; reign 540–576) was the 24th monarch of

Silla Silla or Shilla (57 BCE – 935 CE) ( , Old Korean: Syera, Old Japanese: Siraki2) was a Korean kingdom located on the southern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula. Silla, along with Baekje and Goguryeo, formed the Three Kingdoms ...

, 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 ...

. He followed King Beopheung (r. 514–540) and was followed by King Jinji (r. 576–579). Jinheung was the nephew / grandson of King Beopheung. King Jinheung was one of the greatest kings of Silla, and was responsible for expanding Silla territory immensely. He and King

Seong Seong, also spelled Song or Sung, is an uncommon Korean family name, a single-syllable Korean given name, as well as a common element in two-syllable Korean given names. The meaning differs based on the hanja used to write it. Family name The fa ...

26th king of Baekje, struggled with each other over the Han River valley. Jinheung won this struggle and expanded Silla's territory immensely.

Rise to the throne

King Jinheung of Silla rose to the throne at a young age when his predecessor and paternal uncle / maternal grandfather, Beopheung, died. Since he was too young to rule a kingdom at the time, his mother

Queen Jiso Queen Jiso (지소태후 ) (? - 574) was a Korean honorary queen and regent. She was the spouse of prince Galmunwang Ipjong (입종 갈문왕) and the queen mother of king Jinheung of Silla. She acted as Regent during the minority of her son bet ...

acted as regent. When he became of age, he began to rule independently. One of his first acts as true king of Silla was to appoint a man named

Kim Isabu Isabu was a military general and politician of Silla during the 6th century. According to ''Samguk Sagi'', he is the fourth generation descendant of Naemul of Silla. He was also known as Taejong. He is best remembered today for his role in subju ...

as Head of Military Affairs, which occurred in 541. Jinheung adopted a policy of peace with the neighbouring kingdom of

Baekje Kingdom 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 ...

. In 551, he allied with Baekje so that he could attack 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 mos ...

. The result of this allied attack on Goguryeo was the conquest of the Han river estuary. The 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 Jum ...

and

agreed on splitting the conquered territory equally between themselves.

Expansion

During the reign of King

Seong of Baekje Seong of Baekje (also ''Holy King'', died 554) (r. 523–554) was the 26th king of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was a son of Muryeong of Baekje and is best known for making Buddhism the state religion, moving the national ca ...

, King Jinheung allied with

and launched an attack on the Han River valley during the year 553. In a secret agreement between Silla and Goguryeo, Silla troops attacked the exhausted Baekje army in late 553. Feeling the betrayal from Silla, King Seong attacked during the year 554, but was caught in an ambush led by a Silla general and was assassinated along with those who were accompanying him. King Jinheung guarded the new territory with a firm hand for seven years before sending General Kim Isabu to conquer Daegaya in 561. King Jinheung constructed a monument in his newly conquered territory and established provinces in the area. He subdued all rebellions and continued to develop culture in his kingdom. In 576, the

Hwarang Hwarang, also known as Hwarang Corps, and Flowering Knights, were an elite warrior group of male youth in Silla, an ancient kingdom of the Korean Peninsula that lasted until the 10th century. There were educational institutions as well as social ...

was established, and they would later play a huge role in the unification of the

Death and succession

King Jinheung died in 576 at the age of 51. His 37-year rule of Silla was characterised by conquest and advancement. King Jinheung was succeeded by his second son, Prince Geumryun, who became King

Jinji of Silla King Jinji of Silla (r. 576–579) was the 25th ruler of the Korean Kingdom of Silla. He was dethroned three years after his accession. Biography King Jinji's birth name was either Saryun (사륜, 舍輪) or Geumryun (금륜, 金輪), and ...

Family

*Father: ''

Galmunwang {{Short description, Noble title Galmunwang (갈문왕, 葛文王; wang=king) was a title used in the early period of the Korean kingdom of Silla. Its precise meaning and function are not known. From Korean sources, namely the Samguk Sagi ''Samg ...

'' Ipjong (입종 갈문왕) **Grandfather: King Jijeung of Silla (신라 지증왕) (437 – 514) **Grandmother: Queen Yeonje of the Miryang Park clan (연제태후 박씨) *Mother:

(지소태후) (? – 574) **Grandfather: King Beopheung of Silla (신라 법흥왕) (? - July 540) **Grandmother: Princess Bodo of Silla (보도부인) Consorts and their Respective Issue(s) #

Queen Sado Queen Sado of the Park clan (; ? - February 614) was a Queen Consort of Silla as the spouse of king King Jinheung of Silla, and the mother of his successor, King Jinji of Silla. According to the disputed text '' Hwarang Segi'', she was regent ...

of the Park clan (사도왕후 박씨) (? – February 614) ## Crown Prince Dongryun (동륜태자) (? – 572) ##

King Jinji of Silla King Jinji of Silla (r. 576–579) was the List of monarchs of Korea#Silla, 25th ruler of the Korean Silla, Kingdom of Silla. He was dethroned three years after his accession. Biography King Jinji's birth name was either Saryun (사륜, 舍 ...

(신라 진지왕) (? – 24 August 579) ##Kim Gu-ryun (김구륜) ##Princess Taeyang (태양공주) ##Princess Ayang (아양공주) ##Princess Eunryun (은륜공주) ##Princess Wolryun (월륜공주) #Princess Sukmyeong (숙명궁주) (? – 603) ##Crown Prince Jeongsuk (정숙태자) #Princess Bomyeong (보명궁주) #

Lady Mishil Mishil (c. 546/548 – c. 612) was a Silla aristocrat whose historicity is debated. According to the ''Hwarang Segi'', she was concubine to several kings and, along with his mother Queen Sado, played an instrumental role in dethroning King Jinj ...

(미실궁주) ##Prince Sujong (수종전군) ##Princess Banya (반야공주) ##Princess Nanya (난야공주) #Lady Sobi of Baekje (소비) #Princess Wolhwa (월화궁주)Daughter of King Inoe of Daegaya and Princess Yanghwa of Silla. ##Prince Cheonju (천주공) ##Princess Deokmyeong (덕명공주) #Lady Geumjin (금진낭주 ) ##Princess Nanseong (난성공주)

Legacy

King Jinheung's achievements for his kingdom established the basis for unification of Korea. He is remembered today by the Korean people as one of the greatest rulers of Silla.

Popular culture

* Portrayed by Lee Sun-jae in the 2009 MBC TV series ''

Queen Seondeok Queen Seondeok of Silla ( ko, 선덕여왕 ; 595~610 – 17 February 647/January 8, Lunar Calendar) reigned as Queen Regnant of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, from 632 to 647. She was Silla's twenty-seventh ruler, and its first re ...

''. * Portrayed by

Park Hyung-sik Park Hyung-sik (born November 16, 1991), known mononymously as Hyungsik, is a South Korean singer, actor, and dancer. He is a member of the South Korean boy group ZE:A, and its sub-group ZE:A Five. As an actor, he is known for his roles in '' ...

in the 2016–2017

KBS2 The Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) () is the national broadcaster of South Korea. Founded in February 1927, it is one of the leading South Korean television and radio broadcasters. KBS operates seven radio networks, ten television channels, a ...

TV series '' Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth''. * Portrayed by Kim Yoon Hong in the 2017 KBS TV series '' Chronicles of Korea'' * Portrayed by

Kim Seung-soo Kim Seung-Soo (born July 25, 1971) is a South Korean actor. Filmography Television series * '' Hur Jun'' (1999) * ''Bad Boys'' (2000) * ''Rookie'' (2000) * ''Cool'' (2001) * '' Mina'' (2001) * ''Fox and Cotton Candy'' (2001) * ''Remember' ...

in the 2021

TV series ''

River Where the Moon Rises ''River Where the Moon Rises'' () is a 2021 South Korean television series starring Kim So-hyun, Na In-woo, Lee Ji-hoon and Choi Yu-hwa. Based on the 2010 novel ''Princess Pyeonggang'' by film director and screenwriter Choi Sagyu, it aired on K ...

References

{{s-end Silla rulers Silla Buddhist monks Korean Buddhist monarchs 526 births 576 deaths 6th-century monarchs in Asia 6th-century Korean people