Volta
Conflict927

Battle of Gongsan

After Gyeon Hwon sacked Gyeongju and drove King Gyeongae to his death, Wang Geon marched to Silla’s aid but was routed by Later Baekje at Dongsu on Mount Gongsan; Sin Sung-gyeom died in his place.

Altar marking where General Sin Sung-gyeom died in Wang Geon’s place at the Battle of Gongsan, Jimyo-dong, Daegu
Altar marking where General Sin Sung-gyeom died in Wang Geon’s place at the Battle of Gongsan, Jimyo-dong, Daegu

Visviva · Public domain · Source

In 927 Gyeon Hwon stormed Gyeongju, seized King Gyeongae at the Poseokjeong pavilion and forced him to kill himself, set up King Gyeongsun and carried off treasure and captives. Wang Geon, riding to Silla’s rescue with picked cavalry, met the returning army at Dongsu on Mount Gongsan (Palgongsan) and was badly defeated.

To save the surrounded king, Sin Sung-gyeom put on Wang Geon’s armour and fell with Kim Rak while Wang Geon barely escaped. Later Baekje gained the upper hand for a time, but the sack of Gyeongju turned Silla’s people against Gyeon Hwon.

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The map in AD 927

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States and rulers at the time
Later Baekje · victor — Gyeon Hwon
Goryeo · defeated — Taejo (Wang Geon)
Silla · invaded — King Gyeongae → King Gyeongsun
Places
Dongsu, Mount Gongsan (Palgongsan), Seorabeol (Gyeongju)

People

  • Gyeon HwonAD 867 – AD 936

    commander · Silla soldier from Gaeun in Sangju who founded Later Baekje at Wansan-ju in 900; deposed by his son Singeom, he defected to Goryeo

  • Taejo Wang GeonAD 877 – AD 943

    commander · Songak magnate who served Gung Ye, took Naju, overthrew Gung Ye to found Goryeo in 918 and reunified the Later Three Kingdoms in 935–936

  • Sin Sung-gyeomAD 927

    participant · Goryeo founding general who wore Wang Geon's armour at the Battle of Gongsan and died so that his king could escape

  • King GyeongaeAD 927

    related figure · 55th king of Silla, forced to kill himself when Gyeon Hwon stormed Gyeongju in 927

  • King GyeongsunAD 978

    related figure · Last king of Silla, who surrendered the kingdom to Goryeo in 935 and was made sasimgwan of Gyeongju

Before and after

Earlier
AD 926 Fall of Balhae
Later
AD 930 Battle of Gochang

Themes that include this event

  • Gyeongju57 BC – 1860

    Silla’s capital for a thousand years — tombs, pagodas, temples and bells from every age of Silla, and the birthplace of Donghak

  • DaeguAD 689 – 1960

    Dalgubeol, where King Sinmun tried to move his capital — where the National Debt Repayment Movement and the 2·28 student protest began