U of Goryeo

U of Goryeo
Hangul	우왕
Hanja	禑王
Revised Romanization	U-wang
McCune–Reischauer	U-wang
Childhood name
Hangul	모니노
Hanja	牟尼奴
Revised Romanization	Monino
McCune–Reischauer	Monino

U of Goryeo (우, often written Woo, 1363(?) – 1389) ruled Goryeo (Korea) from 1374 until 1388.

1 Cultural background
2 Birth
3 Accession to the throne
4 Diplomatic tensions with China
5 Fall
6 See also

Cultural background

In the thirteenth century, Mongol forces had advanced into China, and established the Yuan Dynasty in 1271. After a series of Mongol invasions, Goryeo eventually capitulated and became a vassal of the Yuan Dynasty, and would remain so for approximately 80 years. The Ming Dynasty in China had grown extremely powerful during the 14th century, however, and began to beat back the Yuan forces, so that by the 1350s Goryeo had regained its independence, although China garrisoned a large number of troops in the north-east of Goryeo, effectively occupying part of the country.

Birth

According to the records, U is Son of Banya, from Shin Don's maid. he's younger name Monino (Buddha's servant). Due to the intense debate about the birth, he lived outside the palace. 1371, after the death of Shin Don. He's come to the palace, 'U' was named. In the royal, U to the already dead maid of honor, miss Han and King Gongmin's son was proclaimed.

Accession to the throne

Monarchs of Korea Goryeo
Taejo 918–943 Hyejong 943–945 Jeongjong 945–949 Gwangjong 949–975 Gyeongjong 975–981 Seongjong 981–997 Mokjong 997–1009 Hyeonjong 1009–1031 Deokjong 1031–1034 Jeongjong 1034–1046 Munjong 1046–1083 Sunjong 1083 Seonjong 1083–1094 Heonjong 1094–1095 Sukjong 1095–1105 Yejong 1105–1122 Injong 1122–1146 Uijong 1146–1170 Myeongjong 1170–1197 Sinjong 1197–1204 Huijong 1204–1211 Gangjong 1211–1213 Gojong 1213–1259 Wonjong 1259–1274 Chungnyeol 1274–1308 Chungseon 1308–1313 Chungsuk 1313–1330 1332–1339 Chunghye 1330–1332 1339–1344 Chungmok 1344–1348 Chungjeong 1348–1351 Gongmin 1351–1374 U 1374–1388 Chang 1388–1389 Gongyang 1389–1392

In 1374 a military hero and high official named Yi In-Im led a small yet strong anti-Ming faction that assassinated King Gongmin.

The anti-Ming group enthroned an eleven-year-old boy reportedly born to a palace slave girl as Gongmin's successor. The Chinese were suspicious about King Gongmin's sudden and unexplained death, and had real doubts about the legitimacy of the adolescent King U.

Diplomatic tensions with China

The Chinese turned away Goryeo envoys en route to the Ming court on the pretext that Goryeo was sending them old, weak horses in tribute. Tensions over this crucial foreign policy protocol had not been resolved when, in 1388, the Ming dynasty proclaimed its intention to establish a command post headquartered in the Ch'ollyeong pass at the southern end of the Hamgyŏng plain. The occupation of the area by the Ming army was tantamount to annexing the entire northeastern territory once under the command of the Mongols.

Goryeo's senior military commander, General Choe Yeong, consulted with General Yi Seonggye and determined that in order to reduce the perceived threat from Ming China, they would have to remove the anti-Ming faction from power in Kaesŏng. Choe, supported by Yi, accordingly removed Yi In-Im and his group in a coup d'état, and Choe took personal control of the government.

Fall

There was a growing feeling in Kaesŏng that Goryeo needed to take some kind of pre-emptive action against China, and advisors to King U eventually goaded him into attacking the powerful Ming armies. Against universal opposition, and in violation of the long-standing Goryeo practice of not invading its neighbors, King U went one step further and insisted on attacking China proper. In 1388, General Yi Seonggye was ordered to use his armies to push the Ming armies out of the Korean peninsula. The general realised the strength of the Ming forces when he came into contact with them at the Amrok River, and made a momentous decision that would alter the course of Korean history. Knowing of the support he enjoyed both from high-ranking government officials and the populace, he decided to return to the capital and take control of the government instead of possibly destroying his army attacking the Chinese.

He returned to Kaesŏng and, after overpowering the royal court's defenders and removing (then killing) General Choe Yeong, Yi Seonggye usurped the throne from Goryeo's Dynasty and took control of the government. King U was deposed and replaced with his son King Chang, but only one year later both of them were poisoned, and replaced with prince Gongyang.

U became the only king in Korea's long history never to have had a posthumous title for his reign.