Yŏn T'aejo (; ? – 616?) was the ''Mangniji'' (Prime Minister) of
Goguryeo
Goguryeo (37 BC – 668 AD) (; ; Old Korean: Guryeo) also later known as Goryeo (; ; Middle Korean: 고ᇢ롕〮, ''kwòwlyéy''), was a Korean kingdom which was located on the northern and central parts of the Korea, Korean Peninsula an ...
during the reigns of
King Pyeongwon and
King Yeongyang. He was the father of
Yŏn Kaesomun
Yŏn KaesomunSome Chinese and Korean sources stated that his surname was Yŏngae () and personal name was Somun (), but the majority of sources suggest a one-syllable surname and a three-syllable personal name. (; 594–666) was a powerful milit ...
, and was known to have taken an aggressive stance against the
Sui dynasty
The Sui dynasty ( ) was a short-lived Dynasties of China, Chinese imperial dynasty that ruled from 581 to 618. The re-unification of China proper under the Sui brought the Northern and Southern dynasties era to a close, ending a prolonged peri ...
alongside Field Marshal
Ŭlchi Mundŏk
Ŭlchi Mundŏk () was a military leader of early 7th century Goguryeo, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, who successfully defended Goguryeo against Sui China. He is famous for his victory at Salsu, and is often numbered among the greatest her ...
.
Background
Yŏn T'aejo was the son of the previous ''Mangniji''
Yŏn Chayu
Yŏn Chayu (, ? – ?) was the ''Mangniji'' (Prime Minister) of Goguryeo during its waning days. He was the grandfather of Yŏn Kaesomun, who was ''Dae Mangniji'' and dictator of Goguryeo before its fall. Yŏn Chayu was the father of Yŏn T'aejo, ...
, and father of
Yŏn Kaesomun
Yŏn KaesomunSome Chinese and Korean sources stated that his surname was Yŏngae () and personal name was Somun (), but the majority of sources suggest a one-syllable surname and a three-syllable personal name. (; 594–666) was a powerful milit ...
,
Yŏn Chŏngt'o, and their only known sister. During his lifetime, he was the taedaero of the Western province of
Goguryeo
and was also the ''Mangniji'' of Goguryeo after the death of his father.
Goguryeo-Sui wars
After the victories of
Goguryeo
Goguryeo (37 BC – 668 AD) (; ; Old Korean: Guryeo) also later known as Goryeo (; ; Middle Korean: 고ᇢ롕〮, ''kwòwlyéy''), was a Korean kingdom which was located on the northern and central parts of the Korea, Korean Peninsula an ...
over the
Sui dynasty
The Sui dynasty ( ) was a short-lived Dynasties of China, Chinese imperial dynasty that ruled from 581 to 618. The re-unification of China proper under the Sui brought the Northern and Southern dynasties era to a close, ending a prolonged peri ...
, infighting occurred within the Goguryeo Court. The North faction, which was highly against the Sui, and the South faction, which favored peace with the Sui, fell into dispute over whether or not Goguryeo should take advantage of the Sui's preoccupation with the rebellion of
Yang Xuangan
Yang Xuangan (楊玄感 ''Yáng Xuángǎn''; died 21 August 613''ren'yin'' day of the 8th month of the 9th year of the ''Da'ye'' era, per Emperor Yang's biography (vol.4) of ''Book of Sui'') was a Chinese military general and politician who lived d ...
. The North faction consisted of Yŏn T'aejo, Ŭlchi Mundŏk and the military officials, while the South faction consisted of Grand Prince
Ko Kŏnmu, and the scholar-officials. The South faction rose victorious, and Yŏn T'aejo attempted to pass his positions on to his eldest son
Yŏn Kaesomun
Yŏn KaesomunSome Chinese and Korean sources stated that his surname was Yŏngae () and personal name was Somun (), but the majority of sources suggest a one-syllable surname and a three-syllable personal name. (; 594–666) was a powerful milit ...
, but was stopped by the other taedaeros' protests. This resulted in Yŏn T'aejo's death without seeing a proper successor to his positions.
Legacy
Yŏn T'aejo's position of ''Mangniji'' was given to
Ŭlchi Mundŏk
Ŭlchi Mundŏk () was a military leader of early 7th century Goguryeo, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, who successfully defended Goguryeo against Sui China. He is famous for his victory at Salsu, and is often numbered among the greatest her ...
, and eventually to Yŏn Kaesomun. The position of taedaero of the Eastern province was also given to his eldest son. Yŏn Kaesomun later led a coup that overthrew
Ko Kŏnmu, who had become the 27th Taewang of
Goguryeo
Goguryeo (37 BC – 668 AD) (; ; Old Korean: Guryeo) also later known as Goryeo (; ; Middle Korean: 고ᇢ롕〮, ''kwòwlyéy''), was a Korean kingdom which was located on the northern and central parts of the Korea, Korean Peninsula an ...
. Yŏn Kaesomun led Goguryeo through one last period of glory before its fall in 668 at the hands of the Tang-Silla Alliance.
See also
*
Three Kingdoms of Korea
The Three Kingdoms of Korea or Samhan (Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla) competed for hegemony over the Korea, Korean Peninsula during the ancient period of History of Korea, Korean history. During the Three Kingdoms period (), many states and statele ...
*
Goguryeo
Goguryeo (37 BC – 668 AD) (; ; Old Korean: Guryeo) also later known as Goryeo (; ; Middle Korean: 고ᇢ롕〮, ''kwòwlyéy''), was a Korean kingdom which was located on the northern and central parts of the Korea, Korean Peninsula an ...
*
Goguryeo-Sui Wars
*
Yŏn Kaesomun
Yŏn KaesomunSome Chinese and Korean sources stated that his surname was Yŏngae () and personal name was Somun (), but the majority of sources suggest a one-syllable surname and a three-syllable personal name. (; 594–666) was a powerful milit ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yŏn, T'aejo
7th-century government officials
7th-century Korean people