Goguryeo (B.C 37 - A.D 668) - 28 kings

Political unity began to appear in Korea first Century BC. Three monarch states were in existence on the peninsula by the first Century AD. Goguryeo was the first to be influenced by the Chinese culture as was closely located. Goguryeo was the largest, most powerful and advanced of the three states. Its territory extended from south of Han River to far beyond the present northern boundaries on the east bank of Liao River in China. People of Goguryeo were the horsemen and brave worriers, and therefore it has been always the great threat to the other two states. They established the capital in a city which is now Pyeongyang in North Korea. Goguryeo accepted the Buddhism in the 4th Century, which was later spread to Baekje and Silla in the 6th Century. The first school was opened, and many books on law and history were compiled. Geomungo zither was first created. They lived in a home with Ondol floor, the heating system, and tiles were used for their roofing. People enjoyed chess, dancing and singing. But, later in the 7th Century, uneasy relationship with Tang dynasty of China and internal trouble of the generals called a Silla invasion.

1) Dongmyeong-wang (B.C 37- B.C 19)
Founder of the Kingdom. Became the king at the age of 22, and establish his capital in Gungnaeseong. Expanded a territory by defeating neighboring states. Died at age of 40.

2 ) Yuri-wang (B.C 19 - A.D 18)
He had two queen-consorts. He versed a famous poem Whangjoga, on the way from his hunting, expressing his lonesome emotions.

3) Daemushin-wang (18-44)
Third son of Yuri-wang. Expanded the territory and his son Hodong conquered Han in 32.

4) Minjung-wang (44-48)
Daemushin-wang's brother. Became king as his nephew, Mobon who was a Daemushin's son was young.

5) Mobon-wang (48-53)
He kept a good relationship with China . He was a tyrant monarch. Assassinated by his subject.

6) Taejo-wang (53-146)
Grandson of Yuri-wang. Became king at seven. He established an ancient statehood, and strengthened   the monarchical   power. Elevate  Kyeru family in the royal house. Adopt hereditary kingship. Expand its territory into the   Manchuria and coastal areas in the north. He abdicated the throne on his brother's request He lived 119 years and died in 165.

7) Chadae-wang (146-165)
He was a tyrant monarch. He killed his nephew including court officers for his throne. But, he was killed   by his subject.

8) Shindae-wang (165-179)
Chadae-wang's younger brother. Became king at seventy seven by recommendation of the subjects. Surrendered to the Han in 169.

9) Gogukcheon-wang (179-197)
Second son of Shindae-wang. Establish a dynastic rule of succession of the throne from brother-to-brother system. Strengthened the central bureaucracy, and improved the administration by dividing the country into 5 provinces. He won the war against the Han in 184.

10) Sansang-wang (197-227)
Gogukcheo n -wang's brother. Took over power as his brother had no successor. He had a son in 208, who became the 11th ruler.   Move his capital to Tungkou, Jhilin province in China. Serious threats from the Chinese states of Wei and Chin.

11) Dongcheon-wang (227-248)
Appointed as the crown prince in 213. China was in a power struggle among the Three States. He maintained political ties with Wei, and helped it with military assistance in 238. He was defeated by Kwnakugom and moved capital to Dongwhangseong in 247. In the following year , he sent envoy to Silla for a peace relationship.

12) Jungcheon-wang (248-270)
Tongchon-wang's first son. In the beginning, his two brothers Yemul and Saku rebelled, but restored   his sovereign. Wei invaded in 259.

13) Socheon-wang (270-292)
Second son of Jungcheon-wang. Another name is Soyang-wang, Appointed as the crown prince in 255. A rebel plot was revealed and his brothers, Ilwoo and Sobal were killed.

14) Bongsang-wang (292-300)
Often named as Chigal-wang. He was jealous and grumpy. After taking over the throne, his jealousy killed his uncle, Dalgo who won the respect from the people, and killed his brother Dolgo. His attempt of building a luxurious palace when deadly famine swept in 298 did not stop. Finally, dethroned in 300, and committed suicide in fear of revenge.

15) Micheon-wang (300-331)
Grandson of Socheon-wang and son of Dolgo. Another name is Hoyang-wang. Conquered Chinese commandery of Lolang in 313, and shortly thereafter Taifang. He removed threats from Chinese states. He died in the battle with Yen, a state established by Hsinpei in northern China.

16) Gogukwon-wang (331-371)
He built fortresses in Pyeongyang and Gungnae. Move his capital to Whando-song in 342. Yen attacked Goguryeo and Yen troops sacked the capital, and then the capital fell into the hands of Baekje when its troops invaded the Goguryeo territory. His mother was taken by Yen. She returned in 355 with a ransom. Died in the battle against Baekje king Geunchogo-wang in 371.

17) Sosurim-wang (371-384)
Son of Gogukwon-wang. He kept cooperative relationship with China and adopted Buddhism in 372. Opened a school, and enacted an administrative law, and built Buddhist temples. Baekje attacked Goguryeo with its 30,000 troops in 377. Goguryeo successfully defended, but lost its northern territory by Khitan's invasion in 378. The king stablized political condition.

18) Gogukgyang-wang (384-391)
Brother of Sosurim- wang and father of Gwanggaetodae-wang. He expanded territory by attacking Baekje and Liatong. Buddhism and its culture spread. Establish strong statehood by building ancestral shrines.

19) Gwanggaetodae-wang (391-413)
During his reign, the territory was largest in the Korean history. Strengthened national defense and expanded the territory in the battle against Baekje , Buyeo, Dongye and Yen . Helped Silla to defeat Japanese marauders. His stele was erected in Tungkou, Jhilin province in China.

20) Jangsu-wang (413-491)
Establish cooperative relationship with Chinese states. Relocated the capital of the kingdom in 472 from Tungkou to Wanggomsong (modern Pyeongyang). Conquered the capital of Baekje and killed Gaero-wang in 475.   Improved political structure by adopting the 12-grade official rank system, and establish 5 ministries.

21) Munja-wang (491-519)
Grandson of Jangsu-wang. Became king as his father died early. Military expedition continued and fought against Silla in 497 and Baekje in 512. His territory expanded.

22) Anjang-wang (519-531)

23) Anwon-wang (531-545)
The brother of Anjang-wang. He succeeded the throne as his brother had no successor. Successfully defended Baekje troops in 540 but much of natural disasters like flood, earthquake, diseases, drought, famine, Typhoon continued. Struggle for the throne among the royal families began. Killed in the military clash and the kingdom showed the sign of rapid decline.

24) Yangwon-wang (545-559)
First son of Anwon-wang. The kingdom declines by losing the territory to Baekje and Silla. Mongolian attacked in 551.   Attempted to keep the political ties with Wei.

25) Pyeongwon-wang (559-590)

26) Yeongyang-wang (590-618)
Son of Pyeongwon -wang. He compiled history books. His military expedition to China called in Sui's attack of Goguryeo with 300,000 forces. In the second war General Uljimundeok defeated 1,130,000 Sui troops at Chongchon river, known as the Salsu Battle . This war put an end to Sui, which was replaced with Tang. However, Goguryeo had to face the ambitious Tang Dynasty, founded in 618.

27) Yeongryu-wang (618-642)
Step brother of Yeongyang-wang. He establish diplomatic relationship with Tang Dynasty and exchanged the prisoners of war in the battle of Salsu. Despite the bloodshed that the king brought against his opponents in the 620s, the king was dethroned after a military coup by commander Yeongaesomun in 642 who exercised the military dictatorship. The king was assassinated by Yeongaesomun .

28) Bojang-wang (642-668)
The last ruler of the dynasty. Yeongryu-wang's brother. A plot of killing Yeongaesomun was revealed and he then threw a party and killed 180 opponents including Youngryu -wang and court officials. He enthroned Boj ang-wang the new king. He sent envoys to Tang in 643, but Tang continued to attack Goguryeo, which successfully defended. But, soon after Silla - Tang allied forces pressed Goguryeo. The kingdom was in a political chaos after Yeongaesomun's death. Silla finally put Goguryeo under its rule in 668.