Heondeok of Silla

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Heondeok of Silla
Hangul:	헌덕왕
Hanja:	憲德王
Revised Romanization:	Heondeok wang
McCune-Reischauer:	Hŏndŏk wang
Birth name
Hangul:	김언승
Hanja:	金彦昇
Revised Romanization:	Gim Eon-seung
McCune-Reischauer:	Kim Ŏnsŭng

Monarchs of Korea
Silla (Post-Unification) 30. Munmu 661-681 31. Sinmun 681-691 32. Hyoso 692-702 33. Seongdeok 702-737 34. Hyoseong 737-742 35. Gyeongdeok 742-765 36. Hyegong 765-780 37. Seondeok 780-785 38. Wonseong 785-798 39. Soseong 798-800 40. Aejang 800-809 41. Heondeok 809-826 42. Heungdeok 826-836 43. Huigang 836-838 44. Minae 838-839 45. Sinmu 839 46. Munseong 839-857 47. Heonan 857-861 48. Gyeongmun 861-875 49. Heongang 875-886 50. Jeonggang 886-887 51. Jinseong 887-897 52. Hyogong 897-912 53. Sindeok 913-917 54. Gyeongmyeong 917-924 55. Gyeongae 924-927 56. Gyeongsun 927-935

Heondeok of Silla (r. 809-826, d. 826) was the 41st to rule the Korean kingdom of Silla. He was the younger brother of King Soseong, and served as regent during the reign of Aejang.

In 790, Heondeok traveled to Tang China where he distinguished himself and received a high position. He returned to Silla, becoming regent after the death of his brother. In 809, he slew the now-adult Aejang and took the throne for himself.

In 810, Heondeok repaired the country's irrigation facilities. He also sent his son Kim Heon-jang to Tang with gold and silver Buddhist images to pray for the emperor's eternal peace.

Heondeok's later reign saw the rebellion of Kim Heon-chang in 822, and that of Kim's son in the following year. Both were suppressed. In 824, troubled by threats from the north, the king ordered a 300-ri-long wall built near the Taedong River, which was then the country's northern border.