| Taejo | |
| King of Goryeo | |
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| Reign | June 15, 918 - July 4, 943 |
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| Coronation | June 15, 918 |
| Born | January 31, 877 |
| Died | July 4, 943 (aged 66) |
| Predecessor | Gung Ye |
| Successor | Hyejong of Goryeo |
| Consort | Queen Sin-ui, Queen Sindeok |
| Issue | Hyejong of Goryeo, Jeonjong of Goryeo, Gwangjong of Goryeo |
| Royal House | House of Wang |
| Father | Wang Ryung |
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Taejo of Goryeo (January 31, 877-July 4, 943, r. Events 763 BC - Assyrians record a Solar eclipse that will be used to fix the Chronology of Mesopotamian history Events By Place Asia Taebong has been overthrown and Goryeo established in the Korean peninsula, when Wang Kon Events 836 - Pactum Sicardi, peace between the Principality of Benevento and the Duchy of Naples Events By Place Europe King Constantin II of Scotland retires and becomes a monk succeeded by his cousin Malcolm I of Scotland Events 763 BC - Assyrians record a Solar eclipse that will be used to fix the Chronology of Mesopotamian history Events By Place Asia Taebong has been overthrown and Goryeo established in the Korean peninsula, when Wang Kon Events 1504 - France cedes Naples to Aragon. 1606 - Gunpowder Plot: Guy Fawkes Events By Place Asia Indravarman II succeeds Jayavarman III as ruler of the Khmer Empire. Events 836 - Pactum Sicardi, peace between the Principality of Benevento and the Duchy of Naples Events By Place Europe King Constantin II of Scotland retires and becomes a monk succeeded by his cousin Malcolm I of Scotland Gung Ye (ruled 901 – 918) was the king of a short-lived state (901-918 (see Later Three Kingdoms) on the Korean peninsula. Hyejong of Goryeo (912-945 r943-945 was the second Monarch of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea. Hyejong of Goryeo (912-945 r943-945 was the second Monarch of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea. Jeonjong of Goryeo (923-949 r 946-949 was the 3rd emperor of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea. Gwangjong (949-975 was the fourth emperor of the Goryeo which ruled Korea from the fall of Silla in 935 until the founding of Joseon in 1392 The Goryeo Dynasty ( 918 - 1392) (also spelled Koryŏ was a Sovereign state established in 918 by Taejo Wang Kon. Hanja is the Korean name for Chinese characters. More specifically it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated The Revised Romanization of Korean is the official Korean language Romanization system in South Korea. McCune-Reischauer romanization is one of the two most widely used Korean language Romanization systems along with the Revised Romanization of Korean, which The name at birth is the name a child is given by his or her Parents according to a generally universal custom, and legal requirement to file a form of Birth Hanja is the Korean name for Chinese characters. More specifically it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated The Revised Romanization of Korean is the official Korean language Romanization system in South Korea. McCune-Reischauer romanization is one of the two most widely used Korean language Romanization systems along with the Revised Romanization of Korean, which A posthumous name is an honorary name given to royalty nobles and sometimes others in some cultures after the person's death Hanja is the Korean name for Chinese characters. More specifically it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated The Revised Romanization of Korean is the official Korean language Romanization system in South Korea. McCune-Reischauer romanization is one of the two most widely used Korean language Romanization systems along with the Revised Romanization of Korean, which Events 1504 - France cedes Naples to Aragon. 1606 - Gunpowder Plot: Guy Fawkes Events By Place Asia Indravarman II succeeds Jayavarman III as ruler of the Khmer Empire. Events 836 - Pactum Sicardi, peace between the Principality of Benevento and the Duchy of Naples Events By Place Europe King Constantin II of Scotland retires and becomes a monk succeeded by his cousin Malcolm I of Scotland 918-943[1]), was the founder of the Goryeo Dynasty, which ruled Korea from the 10th to the 14th century. The Goryeo Dynasty ( 918 - 1392) (also spelled Koryŏ was a Sovereign state established in 918 by Taejo Wang Kon. Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries a civilization and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia.
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Background
Taejo Wang Geon (태조 왕건) was born in 877 and was a descendant of a merchant family at Songdo (present-day Kaesŏng), who controlled trade on the Yeseong River. Kaesŏng ( Gaeseong) is a city in North Hwanghae Province southern North Korea (DPRK a former Directly Governed City, and the capital of The Ryesŏng River is a river of North Korea. It flows from north to south emptying into the Yellow Sea by Ganghwa Island, just west of the mouth of the His father, Wang Yung, gained much wealth from trade with China. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National His ancestors were known to have lived within ancient Goguryeo boundaries, thus making Wang Geon a Goguryeoan by descent.
Rise to power
Taejo began his career in the turbulent Later Three Kingdoms period (후삼국 시대; 後三國時代; Husamguk Sidae). The Later Three Kingdoms of Korea (892 - 936 consisted of Silla, Hubaekje ("Later Baekje " and Taebong (also known as Hugoguryeo In the later years of Silla, many local leaders and bandits rebelled against the rule of Queen Jinsung, who did not have strong leadership or policy to improve the condition of the people. Silla (57 BC – 935 AD was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Among those rebels, Gung Ye (궁예; 弓裔; Kung Ye) of northwestern region and Gyeon Hwon (견훤; 甄萱; Kyŏn Hwŏn) of southwest gained more power. Gung Ye (ruled 901 – 918) was the king of a short-lived state (901-918 (see Later Three Kingdoms) on the Korean peninsula. Gyeon Hwon (867?-936 reigned 900-935 was the king and founder of Hubaekje, one of the Later Three Kingdoms of Korea. They defeated and absorbed much of the other rebellion group as their troops marched against local Silla officials and bandits. In 895, Gung Ye led his forces into the far northwestern part of Silla, where Songdo was located. Wang Yung, along with many other local clans, quickly surrendered to Gung Ye. Wang Geon followed his father into service under Gung Ye, the future leader of Taebong, and he began his service under Gungye's command. Gung Ye (ruled 901 – 918) was the king of a short-lived state (901-918 (see Later Three Kingdoms) on the Korean peninsula. Taebong or Later Goguryeo was a state established by Gung Ye (궁예 弓裔 on the Korean peninsula in 901, during the Later Three Kingdoms
Wang Geon's ability as a military commander was soon recognized by Gung Ye, who promoted him to general and even regarded him as his brother. In 900, he led a successful campaign against local clans and army of Later Baekje in Chungju area, gaining more fame and recognition from the king. Hubaekje, or Later Baekje, was one of the Later Three Kingdoms of Korea, along with Hugoguryeo and Silla. Chungju is a city in North Chungcheong province South Korea. Namsan is a mountain located in the city In 903, he led famous naval campaign against the southwestern coastline of Hubaekje, while Gyeon Hwon was at war against Silla. He led several more military campaigns, and also helping conquered people who lived in poverty under Silla rule. Public favored him due to his leadership and generosity.
In 913, he was appointed as prime minister of newly renamed Taebong. Its king, Gung Ye, whose leadership helped foundation of the kingdom but began to refer himself as the Buddha, began to persecute people who expressed their opposition against his religious arguments. He executed many monks, then later even his own wife and two sons, and the public began to turn away from him. His costly rituals and harsh rule caused even more opposition.
Rise to the throne and founding of Goryeo
In 918, four top-ranked generals of Taebong—Hong Yu (홍유; 洪儒), Bae Hyeongyeong (배현경; 裵玄慶; Pae Hyŏn-gyŏng), Shin Sung-gyeom (신숭겸; 申崇謙; S(h)in Sung-gyŏm) and Bok Jigyeom (복지겸; 卜智謙; Pok Chi-gyŏm)—met secretly and agreed to overthrow Gungye's rule and crown Wang Kon as their new king. Shin Sung-gyeom (d 927 was a Korean general during the turbulent Later Three Kingdoms period in the early 10th century Wang first opposed the idea but later agreed to their plan. At the same year Gung Ye was overthrown and killed near his capital, Cheorwon. Cheorwon County ( Cheorwon-gun) also spelt Cholwon, is a county in Gangwon Province South Korea. When Gung Ye was assassinated in 918, the generals selected him to be the new king of this short-lived state. Events By Place Asia Taebong has been overthrown and Goryeo established in the Korean peninsula, when Wang Kon Wang was crowned king and renamed the kingdom Goryeo, thus beginning Goryeo Dynasty. The Goryeo Dynasty ( 918 - 1392) (also spelled Koryŏ was a Sovereign state established in 918 by Taejo Wang Kon. The next year he moved the capital back to his hometown, Songak.
He promoted Buddhism as national religion, and called for the reconquest of northern part of Korea and Manchuria, which was controlled by Balhae. Alternate meaning Bohai Sea Balhae (698 - 926 ( Bohai in Chinese, Пархэ in Russian) was an Balhae's rule over vast region of Manchuria and parts of Siberia was overthrowned by Khitan invasion in 926, and the majority of its people came to Goryeo as refugees led by Balhae's last Crown Prince Dae Gwang-hyeon. Dae Gwang-hyeon (대광현 大光顯 ? ~ ? was a member of the Balhae Royal Family and was the leader of the Balhae Refugees who sought refuge in the Korean Taejo accepted them as his citizens, since Balhae and Goryeo came from common ancestry of Goguryeo, and captured the old, then abandoned capital city of Goguryeo, P'yŏngyang. Goguryeo or Koguryo was an ancient Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean peninsula, southern Manchuria, and Pyongyang (pʰjʌŋjaŋ is the Capital and largest City of North Korea, located on the Taedong River, at. He also sought for alliance and cooperation with local clans rather than trying to conquer and bring them under his direct control.
The War of the Later Three Kingdoms
In 927, Gyeon Hwon of Hubaekje led forces into Silla's capital, Gyeongju, capturing and executing its king, King Gyeongae. Gyeongju is an administrative division of South Korea and one of the most popular tourist destinations in South Korea Gyeongae of Silla (d 927 r 924-927 was the 55th ruler of the Korean kingdom of Silla. Then he established King Gyeongsun as his puppet monarch before he turned his army toward Goryeo. Taejo, hearing of the news, planned to strike Gyeon's troops on the way back home at Gongsan near Daegu. Daegu (pronounced) also spelled Taegu (pronounced) officially called Daegu Metropolitan City, is the fourth largest city in South Korea after He met Hubaekju forces and suffered disastrous defeat, losing most of his army including his best warrior Shin Sunggyeom, the very same man who crowned Wang as a king. However, Goryeo quickly recovered from defeat and successfully defended Hubaekje attack on its front.
In 935, the last king of Silla, King Gyeongsun, felt there was no way to revive his kingdom and surrendered his entire land to Taejo. Taejo gladly accepted his surrender and gave him the title of prince, and accepted his daughter as one of his wives (Wang had six queens, and many more wives as he married daughters of every single local leader). It caused much disgust to Gyeon Hwon. Gyeon's father, who held his own claim of Sangju region, also defected and surrendered to Goryeo and was received as the father of an emperor. Sangju is a city in North Gyeongsang Province South Korea. Although Sangju is rather rural it is very old and was once a key city
In the same year, Gyeon Hwon's oldest son, Singeom (신검; 神劍; S(h)in-gŏm), led a coup against his father, who favored his half-brother as his successor to the throne. Singeom (r 935-936 was the second and final king of Hubaekje, one of the Later Three Kingdoms of Korea. Gyeon Hwon was sent into exile and imprisoned in a Buddhist temple, but escaped to Goryeo and was treated like his father, who died just before his surrender.
Goryeo victory and unification
In 936, Wang led his final campaign against Singeom of Later Baekje. Singeom fought against Taejo, but facing much disadvantage and inner conflict, he surrendered to Taejo. Wang finally occupied Hubaekje formally, and unified the nation for the first time since Gojoseon; He ruled until 943, and died from disease. Gojoseon was an ancient Korean kingdom considered the first proper nation of the Korean people.
Taejo sought to bring even his enemies into his ruling coalition. He gave titles and land to rulers and nobles from the various countries he had defeated: Later Baekje, Silla, and also Balhae, which disintegrated around the same time. Alternate meaning Bohai Sea Balhae (698 - 926 ( Bohai in Chinese, Пархэ in Russian) was an Thus he sought to secure stability and unity for his kingdom which had been lacking in the later years of Silla.
Legacy
The unification of the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 was very important in Korean history; the unification of 668 by Silla was completed in only half of the nation, since the northern part was ruled by Balhae, the revival of Goguryeo. However, Wang's unification in 936 was a full-scale unification, with the agreement of all Korean people—and the nation remained as single, unified country until 1948, when Korea was divided into North and South. Many modern Koreans look on his legacy—the only one who unified the divided nation in its whole history—to find hope in his leadership and comparisons with the current situation.
Family
- Father: Wang Ryung (왕 륭)
- mother: Lady Han (한 씨)
- Consorts:
- Empress Sinhye (신혜왕후)
- Empress Janghwa (장화왕후)
- Empress Sinmyeongsunseong (신명순성왕후)
- Empress Sinjeong (신정왕후)
- Empress Sinseong (신성왕후)
- Empress Jeongdeok (정덕왕후)
- Children:
- Emperor Hyejong (혜종), Only Son of Empress Janghwa. Hyejong of Goryeo (912-945 r943-945 was the second Monarch of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea.
- Emperor Jeongjong (정종), 1st Son of Empress Sinmyeongsunseong. Jeonjong of Goryeo (923-949 r 946-949 was the 3rd emperor of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea.
- Emperor Gwangjong (광종), 2nd Son of Empress Sinmyeongsunseong. Gwangjong (949-975 was the fourth emperor of the Goryeo which ruled Korea from the fall of Silla in 935 until the founding of Joseon in 1392
- Empress Daemok (대목황후), Only daughter of Empress Sinjeong.
- Prince Wangwyu (왕위군), 1st Son of Empress Jeongdeok.
- Prince In-ae (인애군), 2nd Son of Empress Jeongdeok.
- Prince Imperial Hyoui (효의대왕), Only Son of Empress Sinseong.
- Crown Prince Wonjang (원장태자), 3rd Son of Empress Jeongdeok.
- Empress Munhye (문혜왕후), 1st daughter of Empress Jeongdeok.
- Empress Seon-ui (선의왕후), 2nd daughter of Empress Jeongdeok.
Popular Culture
In the year 2000, there was a new drama, Emperor Wang Gun that had the huge numbers of 200 episodes based on Taejo (Wang Gun)'s life. It starred Choi Soo Jong in the leading role. Choi Soo-Jong (alternately Choi Su-Jong Korean: 최수종 Hanja: 崔秀宗 born on December 28, 1962) is a Korean actor
"Wang Kon" King Taejo of Goryeo is a playable leader of the Korean Empire in Civilization III: Play the World and Civilization IV: Warlords. Civilization III Play the World, released in 2002, is the first expansion pack for the award winning game Civilization III. Civilization IV Warlords is the first official Expansion pack of the critically-acclaimed Turn-based strategy Video game Civilization
Notes
- ^ Combining his rule of Taebong and Goryeo. Taebong or Later Goguryeo was a state established by Gung Ye (궁예 弓裔 on the Korean peninsula in 901, during the Later Three Kingdoms The Goryeo Dynasty ( 918 - 1392) (also spelled Koryŏ was a Sovereign state established in 918 by Taejo Wang Kon. He only established Goryeo in 936.
See also
| Preceded by Gung Ye |
Rulers of Korea (Goryeo Dynasty) 918–943 |
Succeeded by Hyejong |
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