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Politics532

Silla Annexes Geumgwan Gaya

King Guhae of Geumgwan Gaya surrendered his kingdom to Silla, which extended its reach over the lower Nakdong.

Daeseong-dong tombs, Gimhae — burials of Geumgwan Gaya’s ruling class
Daeseong-dong tombs, Gimhae — burials of Geumgwan Gaya’s ruling class

HappyMidnight · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source

Geumgwan Gaya at Gimhae had led the early Gaya confederacy through iron and sea trade, but it never recovered from Gwanggaeto’s campaign to the lower Nakdong in 400, and leadership passed to Daegaya at Goryeong. In the 6th century Silla, strengthened by King Beopheung’s law code and adoption of Buddhism, pressed toward the Nakdong.

In 532 King Guhae (Kim Gu-hae) surrendered with his queen and three sons. Beopheung gave him high rank and his former kingdom as a fief, and the royal family entered Silla’s jingol aristocracy. Guhae’s son Kim Mu-ryeok was the general whose men killed King Seong of Baekje at Gwansan Fortress, and his great-grandson was Kim Yu-sin, who led the unification wars.

The lower Nakdong and its sea lanes gave Silla a foothold for advancing into Gaya. The remaining Gaya states fell to Silla with Daegaya in 562.

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The map in AD 532

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States and rulers at the time
Gaya · surrendered
Silla · annexing power — King Beopheung
Places
Daeseong-dong Tombs, Gimhae

People

  • King BeopheungAD 540

    monarch · Twenty-third king of Silla, who issued a law code, recognized Buddhism and annexed Geumgwan Gaya

Before and after

Earlier
AD 527 Ichadon’s Martyrdom and Silla’s Adoption of Buddhism
Later
AD 538 King Seong Moves the Capital to Sabi

Themes that include this event

  • Gimhae150 BC – AD 685

    From Guya of Byeonhan to Geumgwan Gaya — centre of the early Gaya league, built on iron and sea routes