ConflictReigned 391–413

Conquests of King Gwanggaeto

Using his own era name Yeongnak, King Gwanggaeto took Baekje’s land north of the Han, saved Silla from Wa and won Liaodong and Manchuria.

Taewangneung, the stone-mound tomb thought to be King Gwanggaeto’s — Ji’an
Taewangneung, the stone-mound tomb thought to be King Gwanggaeto’s — Ji’an

Yumeto · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source

Gwanggaeto was the first Goguryeo king to use an era name of his own, Yeongnak. In 396 he took 58 fortresses and 700 villages from Baekje and received King Asin’s submission; in 400 he sent 50,000 troops to drive Wa out of Silla. He seized Liaodong from Later Yan and campaigned against the Khitan, Sushen and Eastern Buyeo.

His conquests are recorded on the stele his son Jangsu raised in 414.

The map in AD 391

OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap contributors

States and rulers at the time
Goguryeo · conqueror — King Gwanggaeto the Great
Places
Gungnae-seong

People

  • King Gwanggaeto the GreatAD 374 – AD 413

    monarch · Nineteenth king of Goguryeo, who used the era name Yeongnak, defeated Baekje, saved Silla from Wa and took Liaodong

4 parts of this event

  1. 1

    Leading a fleet himself, Gwanggaeto took 58 fortresses and 700 villages and forced King Asin of Baekje to submit.

  2. 2

    Gwanggaeto sent 50,000 troops to drive the Wa invaders out of Silla, pursuing them to the lower Nakdong; Geumgwan Gaya was badly hit.

  3. 3

    King Gwanggaeto fought Later Yan repeatedly and took the Liaodong region, making Goguryeo the dominant power in Manchuria.

  4. 4

    King Gwanggaeto led an army against Eastern Buyeo and received its submission; his stele records 64 fortresses and 1,400 villages taken.

Before and after

Later
AD 400 Ssireum

Related works

  • TV episode: History Journal: The Day Episode 90: Goguryeo in Crisis, He Became King — Gwanggaeto the GreatTV episode · 2015 · KBS1