Dongseong of Baekje
Hangul
동성왕
Hanja
東城王
Revised RomanizationDongseongwang
McCune–ReischauerTongsǒngwang

Dongseong of Baekje (?–501, r. 479–501[1]) was the 24th king of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea.

Background

He was the son of Buyeo Gonji, the younger brother of the 22nd king Munju who returned to Baekje from Yamato Japan in 477 after hearing of the fall of the Baekje capital. Gonji died in that year, and like Munju may have been murdered by Hae Gu. Dongseong appears to have been promoted to the throne by the Jin clan that prevailed over Hae Gu's rebellion. After Samgeun died without children, the throne passed to Dongseong.

Reign

He worked to strengthen the court's power after the move of the capital from the present-day Seoul area to Ungjin. He built several fortresses and castles to build out the new capital. He incorporated the local Sa, Yeon, and Baek clans into the court to counter the entrenched aristocracy from the former capital.

Dongseong sent a tribute mission to the Southern Qi in 484, reopening Baekje’s ties with southern China after a long hiatus.

He established an alliance with Silla through his marriage of a Silla noblewoman in 493, and the two countries united in attacking Goguryeo in 495.

In 498, the Baekje army subjugated Tamna, the kingdom on Jeju island which had formally accepted Baekje rule twenty-two years before, because it failed to send tributes.

The Book of Qi states that Dongseong sent armies to Liaodong and Liaoxi (요서 遼西) in China to defeat Goguryeo forces.

Death

Beginning in 499, the country was stricken by famine, but according to the Samguk Sagi the king was unresponsive. He continued to live an indulgent lifestyle while brigandage spread.

By the end of Dongseong's rule, the local clans of the new capital had eclipsed the traditionally powerful Hae and Jin clans, and even pressured the throne. Dongseong sought to contain them by exiling Baek Ga to an outlying castle. This caused great resentment, and Baek Ga's forces assassinated Dongseong while he was hunting.

Family

  • Father: Buyeo Gonji (son of the 21st King, Gaero of Baekje)
  • Mother: unknown
      • Queen: unknown
    • Son: Buyeo Sama/Buyeo Yung (扶餘斯摩/扶餘隆, 462–523) – 25th King of Baekje, Muryeong of Baekje
      • Concubine: unknown – from the Jin clan
      • Concubine: unknown – from Lee clan of Silla (伊飡 比智女를), married 493

See also

References

  1. ↑ by the translators of Il-yeon's: Samguk Yusa: Legends and History of the Three Kingdoms of Ancient Korea, translated by Tae-Hung Ha and Grafton K. Mintz. Book Two, page 124. Silk Pagoda (2006). ISBN 1-59654-348-5
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