Volta
ConflictJuly 553(Lunar)

Silla Seizes the Lower Han River

King Jinheung took the lower Han River that Baekje had just recovered and set up Sinju province, ending the 120-year alliance.

Bukhansan Stele of King Jinheung, set up after Silla seized the lower Han River
Bukhansan Stele of King Jinheung, set up after Silla seized the lower Han River

Hoangkid · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source

Having taken the upper Han from Goguryeo in 551, Silla seized the lower river that Baekje had just recovered in the seventh month of 553. It set up Sinju province there under Kim Mu-ryeok, a prince of the former Geumgwan Gaya royal house.

The Han basin was populous and fertile, and through the port of Danghangseong (Hwaseong) on the west coast it gave Silla direct access to China, which until then it could reach only through Goguryeo or Baekje. It is seen as the step that set the latecomer Silla on the road to unification.

King Seong gave his daughter in marriage to Jinheung that tenth month, but the next year he attacked Gwansan Fortress with Gaya and Wa allies and was killed.

Show on the map

The map in AD 553

Open the full map

OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap contributors

States and rulers at the time
Silla · victor — King Jinheung
Baekje · defeated — King Seong

People

  • King JinheungAD 534 – AD 576

    monarch · Twenty-fourth king of Silla, who took the Han River basin and Daegaya, raised border steles and organized the hwarang

  • King Seong of BaekjeAD 554

    monarch · Twenty-sixth king of Baekje, who moved the capital to Sabi and died at Gwansan Fortress

  • Kim Mu-ryeok

    related figure · Silla general of Geumgwan Gaya royal descent and grandfather of Kim Yu-sin, who as governor of Sinju defeated Baekje at Gwansanseong

Before and after

Earlier
AD 551 Baekje and Silla Retake the Han River
Later
AD 554 Battle of Gwansan Fortress