Onjo of Baekje
| Onjo of Baekje | |
| Hangul | 온조왕 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | 溫祚王 |
| Revised Romanization | Onjo-wang |
| McCune–Reischauer | Onjo-wang |
| Monarchs of Korea Baekje |
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Onjo (?-28, r. 18 BC–AD 28[1]) was the founding monarch of Baekje(백제,百濟), one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea.[2] According to the Samguk Sagi(삼국사기,三國史記), he was the ancestor of all Baekje kings.
Contents
Background
He was the third son of King Dongmyeong (Jumong), the founder of the northern Korean kingdom Goguryeo.[3] He was the younger half-brother of Yuri, who became Goguryeo's second king, and younger brother of Biryu who built small state in Michuhol.[4]
Founding and Expansion of Baekje
Dongmyeong had three sons: Yuri, Biryu, and Onjo. When Yuri, born from Dongmyeong's previous wife in Dongbuyeo, came to Goguryeo and became the heir to the throne, Biryu and Onjo moved south to found their own kingdoms.[5] According to the Samguk Yusa, Biryu founded his kingdom in Michuhol (미추홀/彌鄒忽), but his didn't last long.[5] Biryu's people joined Sipje after Biryu's death and Onjo renamed it to Baekje. After that, the capital city of Baekje was moved southward from Habuk Wiryeseong because the Malgal were located at the North and Nangnang was located to the East.[5] Both capital cities correspond to land within current Seoul. In 3 BC and 8 BC, the Malgal tribes attacked from the north, and both times, Onjo directly led his armies and won victories over the invaders. In 5 BC, Onjo moved the capital city to a more defensible location south of the Han River, renaming it Hanam Wiryeseong, and sent a messenger to the king of the Mahan confederacy telling him of the recent action.[5]
At this time, Onjo already had plans of conquering Mahan and Jinhan. By 7 AD, he was already preparing his armies for war and finally attacked during 8 AD. In 8 AD, he secretly took his armies across the border, laying the deceit that he was going to hunt in the forests. Soon, all of Mahan except for two fortresses were conquered.[5][6] The citizens of the last two Mahan fortresses surrendered to Onjo and were given mercy. The Mahan King, however, committed suicide and left a letter for Onjo, asking him to take in Mahan's people with kindness and mercy. Onjo respected the Mahan King's last request and took his people in.
Baekje had expanded greatly, and several fortresses were being built every year. Peace lasted for 8 years until 16 AD, when a former Mahan general caused a rebellion. Onjo directly led an army of 5,000 and successfully destroyed the rebellion. Soon after this, the Malgal tribes invaded again during 22 AD, but were once again defeated by Onjo and his army.[5][6]
Death and succession
Onjo died of natural causes in 28 AD, during the 46th year of his reign. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Daru. Onjo laid the foundations for a powerful dynasty that would last for 678 years and 31 rulers.
See also
References
- ↑ info by the translators of Il-yeon: Samguk Yusa: Legends and History of the Three Kingdoms of Ancient Korea, translated by Tae-Hung Ha and Grafton K. Mintz. Book One, page 25. Silk Pagoda (2006). ISBN 1-59654-348-5
- ↑ Gina Barnes, «State Formation in Korea: Emerging Elites», p.13, Routledge, 2013, ISBN 1136840974
- ↑ Martin Zatko. «The Rough Guide to Seoul», p.170, Penguin, 2011, ISBN 1405381027
- ↑ Yŏng-jun Chʻoe, «Land and Life: A Historical Geographical Exploration of Korea», p.258, Jain Publishing Company, 2005, ISBN 0895818353
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Jinwung Kim, «A History of Korea: From "Land of the Morning Calm" to States in Conflict», p.38, Indiana University Press, 2012, ISBN 0253000785
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Duk-kyu Jin, «Historical Origins of Korean Politics», p.87, 2005, ISBN 8942330630
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Onjo of Baekje
Cadet branch of the House of Go
Died: 28 |
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| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| New creation | King of Baekje 18 BC – 28 |
Succeeded by Daru |
| Titles in pretence | ||
| Preceded by | — TITULAR — King of Korea 18 BC – 28 Reason for succession failure: Three Kingdoms of Korea |
Succeeded by Daru |
