Hyegong of Silla

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Hyegong of Silla
Hangul:	혜공왕
Hanja:	惠恭王
Revised Romanization:	Hyegong Wang
McCune-Reischauer:	Hyegong Wang
Birth name
Hangul:	김건운
Hanja:	金乾運
Revised Romanization:	Gim Geon-un
McCune-Reischauer:	Kim Kŏnun

Hyegong of Silla (756-780, r. 765-780) was the 36th ruler of the Korean kingdom of Silla. He was the son of King Gyeongdeok by Lady Manwol. Hyegong was the last descendant of King Muyeol to sit on the throne. Because of this, his reign is often regarded as the end of the middle period of the Silla state.

Hyegong became king at the age of 8, and did not adapt well to the role. According to the Samguk Sagi, as a young man Hyegong's dissolute life kept the palace in disarray. He faced rebellions led by high officials in 768, 770 and 775. Faced in 780 with another rebellion, by his ichan Kim Ji-jeong, the king dispatched sangdaedeung Kim Yang-sang to put down the uprising. However, the rebel forces stormed the palace and slew the king and queen. Kim Yang-sang, who was an eleventh-generation descendant of King Naemul, then took the throne as King Seondeok.