Politics935

King Gyeongsun of Silla Submits to Goryeo

Silla’s last king, Gyeongsun, after consulting his court, surrendered his kingdom to Goryeo, ending 992 years of Silla.

Portrait of King Gyeongsun of Silla (later copy)
Unknown author · Public domain · Source

Judging that he could no longer defend the realm, Gyeongsun resolved to submit. Crown Prince Maui protested that a thousand-year dynasty could not be given away in a day and is said to have withdrawn to the Diamond Mountains. Gyeongsun led his court to Gaegyeong.

Wang Geon made him a chief minister, married him to his eldest daughter Princess Nangnang, renamed Silla’s capital region Gyeongju and appointed him its sasimgwan — the origin of that office. By absorbing Silla without war, Goryeo inherited its ruling class and culture.

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States and rulers at the time: Silla · surrendered — King Gyeongsun
Goryeo · annexing power — Taejo (Wang Geon)
Places: Seorabeol (Gyeongju), Songak (Kaesong)

People

King GyeongsunAD 978
monarch · Last king of Silla, who surrendered the kingdom to Goryeo in 935 and was made sasimgwan of Gyeongju
Taejo Wang GeonAD 877 – AD 943
monarch · Songak magnate who served Gung Ye, took Naju, overthrew Gung Ye to found Goryeo in 918 and reunified the Later Three Kingdoms in 935–936

Before and after

Earlier: AD 935 Gyeon Hwon Defects to Goryeo
Later: AD 936 Battle of Illicheon

Themes that include this event

Gyeongju57 BC – 1860
Silla’s capital for a thousand years — tombs, pagodas, temples and bells from every age of Silla, and the birthplace of Donghak