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)
Munmu 661-681 Sinmun 681-691 Hyoso 692-702 Seongdeok 702-737 Hyoseong 737-742 Gyeongdeok 742-765 Hyegong 765-780 Seondeok 780-785 Wonseong 785-798 Soseong 798-800 Aejang 800-809 Heondeok 809-826 Heungdeok 826-836 Huigang 836-838 Minae 838-839 Sinmu 839 Munseong 839-857 Heonan 857-861 Gyeongmun 861-875 Heongang 875-886 Jeonggang 886-887 Jinseong 887-897 Hyogong 897-912 Sindeok 913-917 Gyeongmyeong 917-924 Gyeongae 924-927 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.