Micheon of Goguryeo

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Micheon of Goguryeo
Anak Tomb No.3, presumed to be a depiction of king Micheon in North Korean academia.
Korean name
Hangul
미천왕 or 호양왕
Hanja
美川王, 好壤王
Revised RomanizationMicheon-wang or Hoyang-wang
McCune–ReischauerMich'ŏn-wang
Birth name
Hangul
고을불, 을불리, or 우불
Hanja
高乙弗, 乙弗利, or 憂弗
Revised RomanizationGo Eul-bul, Eulbulli, or U-bul
McCune–ReischauerKo Ŭlbul, Ŭlbulli, or Ubul

King Micheon of Goguryeo (died 331, r. 300–331)[1] was the 15th ruler of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea.

Background and rise to the throne

He was the grandson of the 13th king Seocheon, and the son of the gochuga Go Dol-go, who was killed by his brother, the 14th king Bongsang.[2]

Korean historical records say that Micheon fled and hid as a servant in a miserable life, doing menial tasks such as throwing stones into a pond throughout the night to keep his master from being awakened. It is said a year later he left that house to become salt peddler but failed to gain huge asset.

Chang Jo-Ri, carried out a coup that overthrew King Bongsang, and placed King Micheon on the throne.[2]

Reign

Micheon continuously developed the Goguryeo army into a very powerful force. During the disintegration of

Liaodong.[9] The series of subjugation around northern Korean peninsula and Manchuria held its significance given that 400-year presence of Chinese forces was completely cleared out of Korean peninsula.[6][10]

In his reign, Goguryeo was faced with growing Xianbei influence in the west, particularly the Murong tribe in Liaodong. Micheon allied with other Xianbei Duan and Yuwen tribes against the Murong, but their attack was unsuccessful. In 319, the Goguryeo general Yeo Noja (여노자; 如奴子) was taken captive by the Murong. Throughout this period, Goguryeo and the Murong attacked each other's positions in Liaodong, but neither was able to secure regional hegemony.[5] [6] Since both sides were at stake, Micheon sent an ambassador to the Later Zhao dynasty in 330 with a view to making a diversion against the Murong.[11]

Death and aftermath

Micheon died and was buried in 331 at Micheon-won, literally the "garden with beautiful stream".[6] Twelve years later, in the reign of King Gogugwon, his remains were dug up by the Former Yan invaders, and held for ransom.

Family

  • Father: Prince Dolgo (돌고; 咄固)
    • Grandfather: King Seocheon (서천왕; 西川王)
    • Grandmother: Queen, of the U clan (왕후 우씨; 王后 于氏)
  • Wife: Queen, of the Ju clan (왕후 주씨; 王后 周氏); taken as a hostage alongside the king's corpse in 342 when Mo Yong-hwang (모용황) invaded Goguryeo until able to return in 355.
    • Son:
      Prince Sayu
      (사유, 斯由; d. 371)
    • Son: Prince Mu (; )

See also

References

  1. ^ . Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  2. ^ a b "King Bongsang". KBS Radio. Korean Broadcasting System. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  3. ^ "King Micheon (1)". KBS Radio. Korean Broadcasting System. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  4. . Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  5. ^ a b Northeast History Foundation (2007). "Journal of Northeast Asian History". Journal of Northeast Asian History. 4 (1–2): 95–96.
  6. ^ a b c d "King Micheon(2)". KBS Radio. Korean Broadcasting System. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  7. .
  8. . Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  9. ^ Kim, Bushik. Samguk Sagi(三國史記 卷第十七 髙句麗本紀 第五). Retrieved 1 February 2016. 十二年, 秋八月, 遣将襲取遼東西安平.
  10. ^ "Three Kingdoms and other States". Korea.net. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  11. ^ Kim, Bushik (1145). Samguk Sagi (三國史記 卷第十七 髙句麗本紀 第五). Retrieved 1 February 2016.三十一年, 遣使後趙石勒, 致其楛矢.
Micheon of Goguryeo
 Died: 331
Regnal titles
Preceded by King of Goguryeo
300–331
Succeeded by