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PersonAD 374 – AD 413

King Gwanggaeto the Great

Also called: Gwanggaeto

Nineteenth king of Goguryeo, who used the era name Yeongnak, defeated Baekje, saved Silla from Wa and took Liaodong

In 396 he led a fleet against Baekje himself, took 58 fortresses and 700 villages, and made King Asin swear to be his "servant (nogaek) forever." In 400 he sent 50,000 troops to drive the Wa out of Silla; the Houu bronze bowl from the Houchong tomb in Gyeongju reflects the relationship this created. The campaign weakened Geumgwan Gaya, shifting the centre of the Gaya league to Daegaya. To the west he fought Later Yan and took Liaodong; to the north he struck the Khitan and to the east Eastern Buyeo. His deeds are carved on the Gwanggaeto Stele that his son Jangsu erected at Ji’an in 414.

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6 related events

  1. AD 391 – AD 413Conquests of King Gwanggaetomonarch

    Using his own era name Yeongnak, King Gwanggaeto took Baekje’s land north of the Han, saved Silla from Wa and won Liaodong and Manchuria.

  2. 1
    AD 396Gwanggaeto Attacks Baekjemonarch

    Leading a fleet himself, Gwanggaeto took 58 fortresses and 700 villages and forced King Asin of Baekje to submit.

  3. 2
    AD 400Goguryeo Rescues Sillamonarch

    Gwanggaeto sent 50,000 troops to drive the Wa invaders out of Silla, pursuing them to the lower Nakdong; Geumgwan Gaya was badly hit.

  4. 3
    AD 402 – AD 406Gwanggaeto Secures Liaodongmonarch

    King Gwanggaeto fought Later Yan repeatedly and took the Liaodong region, making Goguryeo the dominant power in Manchuria.

  5. 4
    AD 410Gwanggaeto Subdues Eastern Buyeomonarch

    King Gwanggaeto led an army against Eastern Buyeo and received its submission; his stele records 64 fortresses and 1,400 villages taken.

  6. 5
    AD 414Gwanggaeto Stele Erectedrelated figure

    King Jangsu raised a 6.39 m stele east of Gungnae-seong recording the deeds of his father, King Gwanggaeto.

Related works

  • TV episode: History Journal: The Day Episode 90: Goguryeo in Crisis, He Became King — Gwanggaeto the GreatTV episode · 2015 · KBS1

People who appear alongside

  • Naemul MaripganAD 402

    Seventeenth ruler of Silla, who made the throne hereditary in the Kim clan and, according to the Samguk yusa, was the first to use the title maripgan

  • King JangsuAD 394 – AD 491

    Twentieth king of Goguryeo, who moved the capital to Pyongyang and took the Han River basin

Themes this person appears in

  • Gimhae150 BC – AD 685

    From Guya of Byeonhan to Geumgwan Gaya — centre of the early Gaya league, built on iron and sea routes