Baekje (B.C 18 - A.D 660) - 31 kings

The Baekje kingdom occupied the southern corner of the Korean peninsula. The people were from northern tribes that kept moving south to avoid Goguryeo and Chinese domination. Baekje established its first capital in the south of the Han River near present day of Seoul but later moved to Gongju and finally to Buyeo. During the period of Daru-wang to Gusu-wang, the kings increased both political and military power nurturing the strength of the Baekje tribe located in the fertile region. Baekje also maintained peaceful ties with Chinese states, and quickly adopted Chinese patterns. In the late fourth century, Baekje improved its relationship with Japan and by sending books, artisans, musicians and Buddhist Monks, making Buddhism a state religion in 384. Buddhism flourished, many beautiful statues of Bodhisattva Maitreya were produced, and many famous temples and pagodas were constructed, but the nation did not become stronger while Silla grew increasingly aggressive. In 554, breaking its alliance with Baekje, Silla drove Baekje out of the lower Han River region and the king of Baekje fought back, only to be killed in the battle. From this point Baekje started to decline rapidly.

1) Onjo-wang (B.C 18-A.D 28)
Third son of Dongmyeongseong-wang, who founded Goguryeo. In 5 BC, Onjo moved the capital 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. He defeated Mahan in AD 8. The citizens of the last two Mahan fortresses surrendered to Onjo and were given mercy.

2) Daru-wang (28-77)
He was the eldest son of the founding monarch Onjo and became the heir of throne. He won a battle against the Malgal in 30-31. Famine swept the country in 38 and the king banned alcohol. The Malgal attacked the northern border in 55, Ugok fortress was built in 56. In 63, he is said to have sent an emissary to the rival Korean state Silla. In 64, he attacked Silla at Castle Jusan, but was defeated at Castle Guyang. Silla's Castle Wasan and Jusan were captured in 66 and 75, but Silla won them back. Northern tribe invasion continued, but successfully warded off.

3) Giru-wang (77-128)
He was the eldest son of King Daru and became the heir to the throne. He began to invade outskirts of the rival Korean kingdom Silla in 85, but signed a peace treaty in 105. Baekje and Silla were at peace thereafter. In 125, Giru sent help to Silla at Jima's request, to repel a Malgal invasion.

4) Gaeru-wang (128-166)
He was the son of Giru. He built Bukhansanseong fortress in 132. Baekje fought off many Goguryeo invasions. Baekje's relationship with the southeastern rival Silla was peaceful for most of his period of reign. However, in 155, a Silla minister named Gilseon failed his coup d'etat attempt and fled to Baekje. Gaeru gave him refuge despite the Silla king Adalla's written request for his return, thus conflict with Silla continued.

5) Chogo-wang (166-214)
He was the eldest son of Gaeru. He was the son of King Gaeru. Relations between Baekje and the rival kingdom Silla became hostile after Gaeru had given refuge to a Sillan traitor Gilseon in 155, shortly before Chogo inherited the throne. He attacked in 188 and in 190, and northern tribes in 214 based on his northward campaign.

6) Gusu-wang (214-234)
He was the the eldest son of the 5th king Chogo. He constructed banks along the rivers and encouraged farming. In 216, he prevailed against the Mohe forces at Sado Castle, and in 222, he destroyed a 5,000 force of Silla.

7) Saban-wang (234)
Upon Gusu's death, his eldest son Saban became the 7th king, but was dethroned by Chogo's younger brother Goi for he was young and incapable.

8) Goi-wang (234-286)
He was the second son of the 4th king Gaeru. Goi is generally credited with centralizing the Baekje kingdom, concentrating royal power and laying the foundation of the state structure. Immediately upon taking the throne, he established a central military office to restrain the independence of regional clans. The Samguk Sagi also records that in 260, he established a central bureaucracy of six ministers, sixteen rank levels, and a code of dress, although the full system may have been completed after his reign. In 262, he is said to have established regulations against bribery, requiring corrupt officials to repay three times the amount of the bribe. He also ordered the cultivation of farmlands south of the capital.

9) Chaekgye-wang (286-298)
He was the eldest son of King Goi. His wife, whose name is recorded as Bogwa was a daughter of the governor of Daifang commandery. This marital alliance contributed to friction between Goguryeo and Baekje, after Goguryeo attacked Daifang in 286 and Chaekgye sent troops to Daifang's aid. Chaekgye fortified the Wiryeseong, Acha Mountain Fortress and Sa-seong to defend the Han River valley against expected retaliation. In 298, Baekje was invaded by Dongye and Lelang Commandery, and Chaekgye was killed in the battle.

10) Bunseo-wang (298-304)
He was the eldest son of the 9th king Chaekgye. He continued to wage war against the Chinese Lelang commandery whose forces had killed his father. In 304, he captured a western district of the Lelang commandery. With the death of Bunseo, a descendent of the 8th king Goi, the rival royal line descended from the 5th king Chogo retook the throne, except for the brief rule of Bunseo's son Gye as the 12th king.

11) Biryu-wang (304-344)
He was the second son of 6th monarch, Gusu-wang. After the assassination of King Bunseo by the Lelang Commanderies, Baekje remained relatively stable for the next forty years under King Biryu. Biryu was a relative of King Saban, the monarch whom Goi forced to step down. From then on the two descendants, the Goi and Saban lines, competed for kingship. Biryu took power under circumstances similar to how Saban lost his-by claiming that Bunseo's successor was too young to rule. Construct a reservoir in Gimje in 330. Reached a peace treaty with Silla in 337.

12) Seol-wang (Gye) (344-346)
He was the eldest son of Bunseo. He was supposed to be the king, but was too young. He ruled only for three years. Biryu died in 344, and the successor took his position as King Gye. He was the last king to be descended from Goi. The short and uneventful reign gave way to Baekje's most important ruler.

13) Geunchogo-wang (346-375)
He was the second son of Biryu-wang. Defeated Goguryeo in 371. He killed Gogukwon-wang in the Wanggeomseong battle. Moved his capital to Seoul. Baekje culture spread to Japan by Wangin. Establish a system of father-to-son succession of kingship on a permanent basis. He had a scholar named Go Hung who compiled history of Baekje known as Seogi. King Geunchogo performed the sacrifices to heaven and his ancestors, and then set out on his work. He continues King Biryu's diplomatic efforts to ally with Silla, and by 366 Silla and Baekje were regularly sending envoys to one other. Gaya and Baekje were also on good terms.

14) Geungusu-wang (375-384)
Geungusu was the eldest son of the 13th king Geunchogo, and father to the 15th king Chimnyu and the 16th king Jinsa. Baekje was in hostile relations with its northern neighbor, Goguryeo, because of Baekje's attacks on Pyongyang, and the murder of a Goguryeo king, Gogukwon. Extended cultural exchanges including trade between Japan and China. Wang In to Japan with copies of the Analects of Confucius and one copy of the Thousand Character Classic.

15) Chimnyu-wang (384-385)
He was the eldest son of Geungusu-wang. In 384, the Indian Buddhist monk Marananta came to Baekje from Eastern Jin. King Chimnyu welcomed him into the palace, and shortly thereafter adopted Buddhism. In 385, he ordered a Buddhist temple to be built at the Baekje capital of Hansan. Established a close ties with Japan and sent books, artisans and musicians and Buddhist monks to Japan.

16) Jinsa-wang (385-392)
He was the second son of Geungusu-wang. Chimnyu's son Asin was supposed to be a king, but he was too young to rule. King Jinsa ventured a numerous warfare with Goguryeo, however, in 392 King Gwanggaeto counterattacked and seized most of the Baekje territory north of the Han River.

17) Asin-wang (392-405)
He was the eldest son of Chimnyu-wang. During his reign, Goguryeo forces under Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo steadily pushed into Baekje from the north. Asin appointed his maternal uncle Jin Mu as chief general and ordered him to attack Goguryeo repeatedly in the early 390s, but each attack was defeated. In 395, after a failed attack by Baekje, Goguryeo took Baekje's territory around today's northern Seoul. Asin sought to strengthen Baekje's position against Goguryeo, sending his son Jeonji to the Wa kingdom of Japan as a ward to cement Baekje's alliance with that country in 397. In 398, according to the Samguk Sagi, he constructed Ssanghyeon Castle to protect Baekje's remaining territory north of the Han River. In 399, during another round of conscription for the battles against Goguryeo, many peasants are said to have fled to Silla. In 403 he attacked Silla. Historical records do not show any contacts with China during Asin's rule.

18) Jeonji-wang (405-420)
He was the eldest son of Asin-wang. Became the crown prince in 394, but was sent to Japan in 397. His second brother, Hoonhae, became a regent and waited for Jeonji's return. But, his third brother, Solrye, took the throne by killing his elder brother. Jeonji, on hearing that, could not come to the palace and stayed on the island until return Baekje people welcomed him after eliminating his brother. In 418, he sent an envoy to Japan.

19) Guishin-wang (420-427)
He was the eldest son of Jeonji-wang. He sought to strengthen Baekje's position against Goguryeo and sent envoys to Sung dynasty in 423 and 425.

20) Biyu-wang (427-455)
He was the eldest son of Guishin-wang. Establish an extensive foreign relationship. Sent envoys to Silla in 433 and Sung dynasty. Biyu sought to strengthen relationship with Silla, exchanging ambassadors in 433 and 434. Although Silla was a protectorate of Goguryeo at this time, Silla and Baekje allied themselves against Goguryeo.

21) Gaero-wang (455-475)
He was the eldest son of Biyu-wang. He sent envoy to the Northern Wei Dynasty, but was refused to get military aid from China. After this incident, Goguryeo planted a spy in Baekje palace and watched for an opportunity to attack. In 475, Jangsu launched an attack with 30,000 men and overran Baekje's defenses in seven days, taking the Han River valley including the capital. Gaero was taken to Acha Mountain Fortress and slain by two men who had defected to Goguryeo from Baekje.

22) Munju-wang (475-477)
He was the eldest son of Gaero-wang. His reign saw considerable disunity within Baekje following the fall of its capital in present-day Seoul. He was forced to move its capital to Ungjin (present day of Gongju). Prior to 475, Munju served as chief minister under his father, Gaero. In the Goguryeo assault of 475, he went to Silla to request help. He returned with 10,000 Silla warriors but was too late to prevent the fall of the capital. After the move of the capital, Baekje power structure fell into chaos as the traditional Buyeo-descended aristocracy clashed with the local Mahan-based clans. Rivalry even within the old aristocracy, suppressed by previous powerful kings, resurfaced. He sought to refortify Baekje's remaining defenses and strengthen the country's position against Goguryeo. He was successful in 476 in gaining suzerainty over the kingdom of Tamna on Jeju island. In the midst of this instability, the chief general Haegu took control of the military and murdered Munju.

23) Samgeun-wang (477-479)
He was the eldest son of Munju-wang. Samgeun was only thirteen years old when he took power after his father's death. Since he was not fit to oversee the military, the armies continued to be overseen by General Haegu, who maintained actual political control. In 478, Haegu made common cause with rebels led by Yeonsin, but Samgeun defeated the rebels and killed Haegu with a help of Jinro, whereupon Yeonsin fled to Goguryeo. With this event, the Jin clan gained great strength in Baekje.

24) Dongseong-wang (479-501)
He was the son of 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 he may have been murdered by Haegu. Dongseong appears to have been promoted to the throne by the Jin clan that prevailed over Haegu's rebellion for Samgeun died without children. Establish diplomatic relationship with China and Silla. Annex Jeju in 498. He spent his days in wine and women, and forgot his royal duty for the nationals. Assassinated by his subject, Baekga.

25) Muryeong-wang (501-523)
He was the second son of Dongseong-wang. He ruled Baekga who rebelled and attacked Goguryeo in 501. In 503, he repelled an attack by the Mohe. In 507, he successfully countered another attack by Goguryeo and Mohe forces. In 512, Goguryeo conquered two castles, but Muryeong personally led 3,000 men to destroy the Goguryeo army. In 523, he ordered the building of a fortified wall to defend the northern border. Developed alliance with Silla and strengthened the relationship with Japan. Constructed more military defense structures like Ssanghyoseong and reorganized the nation's administrative districts into 22. According to both historical and archeological sources, contact and trade between China and Baekje increased during Muryeong's reign. In 512, according to the Liangshu, Muryeong sent Baekje's first mission to the newly established court of the Chinese Liang Dynasty. A second mission was sent in 521, announcing various victories over Goguryeo. In reply, the Liang emperor bestowed various titles on him. His tomb was excavated in 1971 in Gongju.

26) Seong-wang (523-554)
He was a son of Muryeong and is best known for making Buddhism the state religion, moving the national capital to Sabi (present-day Buyeo). Seong was known as a great patron of Buddhism. In 528, Baekje officially adopted Buddhism as its state religion. He maintained his country's diplomatic ties with Liang Dynasty China as well as Wa (Japan).

In 538, he moved the capital from Ungjin (present-day Gongju) further south to Sabi (present-day Buyeo), on the Geum River. Unlike the earlier move of the capital from the present-day Seoul region to Ungjin, forced by the military pressure of Goguryeo, the move to Sabi was directed by the king to strengthen royal power, aided by the political support of the Sa clan based in Sabi. With the aid of Silla and the Gaya confederacy, Seong led a long campaign to regain the Han River valley, the former heartland of Baekje which had been lost to Goguryeo in 475. In 551, Baekje successfully reclaimed from Goguryeo the present-day Seoul region, which was Baekje's capital.

However, Silla betrayed the alliance and, under a secret agreement with Goguryeo, claimed the territory for itself. Silla troops, arriving on the pretense of offering assistance, attacked the exhausted Baekje army and took possession of the entire Han River valley. Incensed by this betrayal, the following year Seong launched a retaliatory strike against Silla's western border. This attack was led by the crown prince (subsequent king Wideok) and joined by the Gaya confederacy. But Seong and 30,000 Baekje troops were killed in the disastrous battle. And lost most of the territory to Silla in 553. He was killed by Silla army. This defeat led to significant erosion of royal power, and Silla grew ever stronger.

27) Wideok-wang (554-598)
He was the eldest son of Seong-wang. As crown prince, Wideok organized the reprisal attack on Silla, despite opposition by the aristocracy. He participated in the Battle of Gwansan fortress, in which his father and nearly 30,000 men died fighting the Silla army. That disastrous campaign led to the aristocracy of Baekje taking some power away from the kings. He defeated invading Goguryeo in Gongju in 554. From 561, he attacked Silla continuously in revenge of his father's death. His son Azwa went to Japan in 597 and became a teacher of Shotoku Taisi who was a prince of king Yomei. He built Hokouji temple in 596 and Horyuji temple in 607.

28) Hye-wang (598-599)
He was the brother of Wideok. Ascended the throne but, died next year.

29) Beob-wang (599-600)
He was the eldest son of King Hye. He reigned as Baekje power declined, having lost the Seoul region to the rival Silla kingdom.

30) Mu-wang (600-641)
During his reign, the Three Kingdoms (Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla) were at war with each other, as alliances shifted and the neighboring China also experienced a change of dynasties. Because reliable historical sources are hard to find for the Three Kingdoms period, the specifics of Mu's policies are not known. In 627, he attempted to recover land lost to Silla, but stopped when Tang intervened diplomatically. The same year, he sent the Buddhist monk Gwalleuk to Japan with texts on Buddhism, astronomy, history, and geography.

He formally established the Mireuksa temple in 602. He is also said to have ordered the repair of Baekje's Sabi Palace in 630, and the construction near his palace of the earliest known artificial lake in Korea. His policies in the latter half of his reign, which emphasized construction projects at the expense of national defense, are often thought to have contributed to the fall of Baekje which took place twenty years after his death.
There is reason to believe that he moved the capital of Baekje from Sabi in Buyeo to Iksan, at least briefly. Archaeological evidence in Iksan, including tombs attributed to Mu and his wife Queen Seonhwa, appears to confirm this. Mu retained close ties with Tang China, but Tang later allied with Silla in the wars that ultimately unified the Korean Peninsula under Silla's rule by 668.

The Samguk Yusa relates a legend regarding Mu's marriage to a princess of Silla, although historians consider it unlikely to be true, given the hostilities between the rival kingdoms. In this story, the young Seodong (Mu's childhood name) falls in love with Silla princess Seonhwa, and intentionally spreads a song about the princess and himself among the people. Thanks to this song ("Seodong-yo," or "Seodong's Song"), King Jinpyeong of Silla banishes the princess, and Mu marries her and becomes the king of Baekje. Wanghungsa temple was built in 634.

31) Uija-wang (641-660)
He was the eldest son of Mu. He spent debauched days in his later reign. In 660, Baekje's navy was defeated by Tang's navy, and Silla's army led by Kim Yusin defeated Baekje's army. Baekje capital Sabi was surrounded by the Silla-Tang allied forces. Uija and the crown prince escaped to Ungjin, but surrendered when Sabi fell. He was taken to Tang along with his sons Buyeo Hyo and Buyeo Yung, 88 retainers, and 12,807 Baekje peasants. Another of his sons, Buyeo Pung, later attempted to restore his father's kingdom. Baekje's general Gyebaek fought with his 5,000 troops, but only lost the war. Thus, Baekje ended its dynasty. In 2000, his remains were retrieved from China and buried in a new tomb in Neungsan-ri, near what was Baekje's final capital, Sabi.