Volta
PoliticsJanuary 647(Lunar)

Bidam’s Rebellion

The chief minister Bidam rebelled, claiming a queen could not rule, and was crushed by Kim Yu-sin and Kim Chun-chu.

Tomb of Queen Seondeok, Gyeongju — she died while Bidam’s rebellion was under way
Tomb of Queen Seondeok, Gyeongju — she died while Bidam’s rebellion was under way

Seefooddiet · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source

Bidam was the sangdaedeung, head of the noble council. With Yeomjong and others he raised troops at Myeonghwal Fortress. When a great star fell on Wolseong and frightened the royal troops, Kim Yu-sin is said to have sent a burning effigy aloft on a kite and spread word that the star had risen again.

Queen Seondeok died during the revolt and Queen Jindeok succeeded her; Bidam and some thirty others were executed. The victors, Kim Chun-chu and Kim Yu-sin, took control, opening the way to Kim Chun-chu’s accession.

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States and rulers at the time
Silla — Queen Seondeok
Places
Seorabeol (Gyeongju)

People

  • BidamAD 647

    leader · Silla chief minister whose revolt against the queen was crushed by Kim Yu-sin

  • Kim Yu-sinAD 595 – AD 673

    commander · Silla general of Geumgwan Gaya royal descent who defeated Gyebaek and led the unification wars

  • King Muyeol (Kim Chun-chu)AD 603 – AD 661

    participant · Twenty-ninth king of Silla, who forged the Tang alliance, became the first jingol king and conquered Baekje

  • Queen SeondeokAD 647

    monarch · Twenty-seventh ruler and Silla's first queen, under whom Cheomseongdae and the nine-storey pagoda of Hwangnyongsa were built

  • Queen JindeokAD 654

    monarch · Twenty-eighth ruler and last "hallowed-bone" monarch of Silla, enthroned during Bidam’s revolt, under whom the Silla–Tang alliance was made and the Jipsabu set up

Before and after

Earlier
AD 645 Siege of Ansi Fortress
Later
AD 648 Silla–Tang Alliance

Related works

Dramatized works (films, dramas, novels) may differ from the historical record.