Sinmu of Silla
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| Sinmu of Silla | |
|---|---|
| Hangul: | 신무왕 |
| Hanja: | 神武王 |
| Revised Romanization: | Sinmu wang |
| McCune-Reischauer: | Sinmu wang |
| Birth name | |
| Hangul: | 김우징 |
| Hanja: | 金祐徵 |
| Revised Romanization: | Gim U-jing |
| McCune-Reischauer: | Kim Ujing |
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Sinmu of Silla (r. 839, d. 839) was the 45th monarch of the Korean kingdom of Silla. His reign was the briefest in the state's history, lasting only from the fourth to the seventh lunar month of 839.
Sinmu was the son of the Sangdaedeung Kim Gyunjeong (?–836), a descendant of King Wonseong (r. 785-798) and cousin to King Heungdok (r. 826–838). Upon the death of King Heungdok in 838 a succession struggle erupted between Kim Gyunjeong and his nephew, Kim Jeryung (?–838). Ujing and his follower, Kim Yang supported Gyunjeong, while Kim Myeong and Kim Rihong stood by Jeryung. Jeryung's party ultimately triumphed and Gyunjeong was killed. Kim Jeryung was then crowned as King Huigang in 836.
Anyhow Yang escaped, but Ujing couldn't. Though being pardoned promptly by the new king, he soon became threatened by Myeong who became Sangdaedeung. So in 837, Ujing fled and entrusted himself with Jang Bogo in Cheonghaejin. However, a year later, Myeong fomented revolt against King Huigang and killed several of the King's aides. Faced with defeat, King Huigang committed suicide. Kim Myeong then ascended the throne as King Minae. Kim Yang, who was then consealing himself in a mountain near the capital, heard the news and raised up an army to visited Cheonghaejin. He told Ujing what happend lately and persuaded him to have his revenge. Ujing asked Jang Bogo to help him to take advantage of the confusion of the country and to make himself a king. Jang Bogo said yes and have his friend Jeong Nyeon follow Ujing. In 839, Ujing and his followers defeated King Minae's army in Daegu battle and in no while advanced on the capital. All of the aides then ran away without caring the king, so the king hide himself in a villa near the royal palace. Soldeirs came into the palace and searched for the king. Finally, they found the king in the villa and killed him in spite of his plea. Kim Rihong was also killed. Ujing then placed himself on the throne as King Sinmu.
He died three months later from a disease and was buried on Mt. Jehyeong in the Silla capital of Gyeongju. It is also said that Sinmu, oneday, have seen dead Rihong in his dream shooting an arrow to him. Sinmu awoke with a start when the arrow hit him, but the wound remained real, becoming worse and worse, finally leading him to death.
