Volta
Conflict9th month 668(Lunar)

Fall of Goguryeo

Allied Silla and Tang forces took Pyongyang and King Bojang surrendered, ending Goguryeo.

Chilseong Gate, the north gate of Pyongyang’s walls on the site of Goguryeo’s last capital — early 20th century
Chilseong Gate, the north gate of Pyongyang’s walls on the site of Goguryeo’s last capital — early 20th century

Methodist Episcopal Church · Public domain · Source

Weakened by long wars, Goguryeo split after Yeon Gaesomun’s death in 665 as his sons Namsaeng, Namgeon and Namsan fought for power. The ousted Namsaeng defected and guided the Tang general Li Ji, who invaded in 666; King Munmu of Silla sent troops too. Pyongyang fell in the ninth month of 668 after a month-long siege.

Tang set up the Protectorate General to Pacify the East at Pyongyang. Some Goguryeo refugees later took part in founding Balhae.

Show on the map

The map in AD 668

Open the full map

OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap contributors

States and rulers at the time
Goguryeo · fell — King Bojang
Silla · allied force — King Munmu
Tang · allied force — Emperor Gaozong
Places
Pyongyang (Jangan-seong)

People

  • King BojangAD 682

    monarch · Last king of Goguryeo, enthroned by Yeon Gaesomun, who surrendered in 668

  • King MunmuAD 626 – AD 681

    monarch · Thirtieth king of Silla, who destroyed Goguryeo, expelled Tang and completed unification

Before and after

Earlier
AD 661 Wonhyo Brings Buddhism to the People
Later
AD 670 Goguryeo Restoration Movement

Related works

  • Film: Battlefield HeroesDramatizedFilm · 2011 · Lee Joon-ik
  • TV episode: Naked Korean History Episode 21: How Did Yeon Gaesomun Bring Goguryeo to Its Fall?TV episode · 2022 · Lim Ki-hwan · tvN STORY

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

Themes that include this event

  • Wars of Korean UnificationAD 598 – AD 676

    From Goguryeo's wars with Sui and Tang to Silla's unification — eighty years of East Asian war on the peninsula

  • Sui, Tang and the East Asian WorldAD 317 – AD 979

    From the divided Southern and Northern Dynasties and the Gupta age through the Sui and Tang empires to the founding of the Song — the age when an East Asian world sharing law codes, Buddhism, Confucianism and Chinese characters took shape, and Korea and Japan built their states on its model

  • Pyongyang194 BC – 2007

    From Wanggeom-seong of Gojoseon to the inter-Korean summits — capital of Goguryeo, Western Capital of Goryeo, the great city on the Taedong