Volta
Conflict550–568

King Jinheung’s Expansion

King Jinheung took the Han River basin, conquered Daegaya and pushed north-east into Hamgyeong, marking his conquests with steles.

Bukhansan Stele of King Jinheung, marking Silla’s hold on the Han River basin — National Museum of Korea
Bukhansan Stele of King Jinheung, marking Silla’s hold on the Han River basin — National Museum of Korea

Ethan Doyle White · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source

Jinheung joined Baekje in retaking the Han River from Goguryeo (551), then seized Baekje’s share of the lower river (553). The Han basin was rich in people and farmland and, through Danghangseong, gave Silla its own sea route to China. The alliance with Baekje collapsed and King Seong was killed at Gwansan Fortress (554).

In 562 he conquered Daegaya, taking the whole Nakdong basin, and raised steles at Bukhansan, Changnyeong, Hwangchoryeong and Maunryeong. At home he made the hwarang a state institution, had Geochilbu compile the history Guksa (545) and built Hwangnyongsa.

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States and rulers at the time
Silla · conqueror — King Jinheung

People

  • King JinheungAD 534 – AD 576

    monarch · Twenty-fourth king of Silla, who took the Han River basin and Daegaya, raised border steles and organized the hwarang

  • Geochilbu

    related figure · Silla minister and general under King Jinheung who compiled the history Guksa and took ten districts of the upper Han River from Goguryeo in 551

6 parts of this event

  1. 1
    AD 550Silla Stele of Jeokseong, Danyang

    King Jinheung took Jeokseong (Danyang) from Goguryeo and raised a stele rewarding the locals who had helped.

  2. 2
    AD 551Baekje and Silla Retake the Han River

    King Seong of Baekje and King Jinheung of Silla attacked Goguryeo together; Baekje took six districts on the lower Han and Silla ten on the upper river.

  3. 3
    AD 553Silla Seizes the Lower Han River

    King Jinheung took the lower Han River that Baekje had just recovered and set up Sinju province, ending the 120-year alliance.

  4. 4
    AD 554Battle of Gwansan Fortress

    King Seong attacked Silla’s Gwansan Fortress with Gaya and Wa allies but was killed in an ambush; some 30,000 Baekje soldiers died.

  5. 5
    AD 561 – AD 568King Jinheung’s Border Steles

    King Jinheung toured his new lands and raised steles at Bukhansan, Changnyeong, Hwangchoryeong and Maunryeong.

  6. 6
    AD 562Fall of Daegaya

    King Jinheung sent Isabu and Sadaham to conquer Daegaya, ending the Gaya confederacy.

Before and after

Earlier
AD 545 Geochilbu compiles the Guksa
Later
AD 552 Baekje Brings Buddhism to Wa