Uprising of Wonjong and Aeno

When Queen Jinseong’s court pressed for overdue taxes, Wonjong and Aeno rose at Sabeol-ju (Sangju), the first of peasant revolts that spread across the country.

Struggles for the throne, aristocratic luxury and land-grabbing, and repeated famines had ruined the peasantry, and the provinces stopped paying taxes. When envoys came in 889 to demand them, Wonjong and Aeno rose at Sabeol-ju; the officer sent against them dared not advance.

Banditry broke out everywhere, and in 896 the “Red Trousers” raided as far as western Gyeongju. As warlords such as Yanggil and Gihwon and the regional magnates took over the provinces, the Silla court came to rule little beyond Gyeongju.