Onjo of Baekje
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| Onjo of Baekje | |
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| Hangul: | 온조왕 |
| Hanja: | 溫祚王 |
| Revised Romanization: | Onjo-wang |
| McCune-Reischauer: | Onjo-wang |
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Onjo (?-28 CE, r. 18 BCE–28 CE) was the founding monarch of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. According to the Samguk Sagi, he was the ancestor of all Baekje kings.
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[edit] Background
He was the son of King Dongmyeong (Jumong), the founder of the northern Korean kingdom Goguryeo, and Soseono, a princess of a small chiefdom called Gaeru. He was the younger half-brother of Yuri, who became Goguryeo's second king, and younger brother of Biryu, described in some records as the founder of Baekje.
[edit] Founding and Expansion of Baekje
Dongmyeong had three sons: Yuri, Biryu, and Onjo. When Yuri, born from Dongmyeong's previous wife in Buyeo, came to Goguryeo and became the heir to the throne, Biryu and Onjo moved south to found their own kingdoms.
According to the Samguk Yusa, Biryu founded his kingdom in Michuhol (미추홀/彌鄒忽), but his didn't last long. The modern-day location of Michuhol is in debate—it has been identified as Incheon for a long time, but recently it is suggested as Asan, South Chungcheong and the west of Liaodong. Onjo found his kingdom in Wiryeseong, and named it Sipje (십제/十濟). The location of Wiryeseong is also disputed because the location of Wiryeseong is located at the east of Michuhol[1]
Biryu's people joined Sipje after Biryu's death and Onjo renamed it to Baekje. After that, the capital city of Baekje is moved southward from Hanam Wiryeseong because Malgal was located at the North and Nangnang was located at the East. The newly moved capital city corresponds to current Seoul. In 3 BC and 8 BC, the Malgal tribes attacked from the north, and both times, Onjo directly led his armies and won victories over the invaders. In 5 BC, Onjo moved the capital city to Ung-Chun(웅천) and sent a messenger to the Mahan confederacy telling him of the recent action.
At this time, Onjo already had plans of conquering Mahan and Jinhan. By 7 AD, he was already preparing his armies for war and finally attacked during 8 AD. In 8 AD, he secretly took his armies across the border, laying the deceit that he was going to hunt in the forests. Soon, all of Mahan except for two fortresses were conquered. The citizens of the last two Mahan fortresses surrendered to Onjo and were given mercy. The Mahan King, however, committed suicide and left a letter for Onjo, asking him to take in Mahan's people with kindness and mercy. Onjo respected the Mahan King's last request and took his people in.
Baekje had expanded greatly, and several fortresses were being built every year. Peace lasted for 8 years until 16 AD, when a former Mahan general caused a rebellion. Onjo directly led an army of 5,000 and successfully destroyed the rebellion. Soon after this, the Malgal tribes invaded again during 22 AD, but were once again defeated by Onjo and his army.
[edit] Death and succession
Onjo died of natural causes in 28 AD, during the 46th year of his reign. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Daru. Onjo laid the foundations for a powerful dynasty that would last for 678 years and 31 rulers.
[edit] References
- ^ 송종성, 가야 백제 그리고 일본, 서림재 (2005) ISBN : 89-85290-12-6
