| Red Turban invasions of Korea | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Goryeo, Korea | Red Turban army | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| An U Yi Bang-sil Kim Deuk-sil Kim Deuk-bae Choe Yeong Jeong Seun Yi Seong-gye |
Mao Ju-jing Pan Cheng Sha Liu†Guan Xiansheng†Zhou Yuan-shuai |
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| Strength | |||||||
| ~20,000 (1359) ~200,000 (1360) |
~40,000 (1359) ~200,000 (1360) |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| ~20,000 (1359) ~150,000 (1360) |
~20'000 (1359) ~30,000 (1360) |
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The Red Turban invasions of Korea occurred in the 14th century between Goryeo Dynasty and Chinese Red Turban army.
Contents |
Goryeo had been a dependency of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty since Mongol invasion of Korea. However, mid-14th century, King Gongmin began efforts to reform Goryeo government and repulse the Mongolian influences. In those days, Yuan Dynasty was beginning to crumble, because of rebellion of the Red Turbans.
In December 1359, part of the Red Turban army moved their base to the Liaodong Peninsula. But, they were experienced a shortage of war materials and lost their withdrawal route to Chinese mainland. The Red Turban army led by Mao Ju-jing invaded Goryeo Dynasty Korea, and took the city of Pyeongyang. In January 1360, Goryeo army led by An U and Yi Bang-sil retook the Pyeongyang and northern region which had been captured by the enemy. Red Turban army was crossed the Amnok River, only 300 troops returned to Liaoning.
In November 1360, the Red Turban troops invaded again Goryeo's northwest border with 200,000 troops and they occupied Gaegyeong, the capital of Goryeo, for a short period, King Gongmin escaped to Andong. However, General Choe Yeong, Yi Seonggye, Jeong Seun and Yi Bang-sil repulsed the Red Turban army. Sha Liu and Guan Xiansheng, who was general of Red Turbans, was killed in the battles. Goryeo army continually chased the their enemy and evacuated in the Korean Peninsula.
Although Goryeo had repulsed the Red Turbans, population and economy were severely damaged. Also Wokou had been troubling the southern peninsula for same time. General Choe Yeong and Yi Seong-gye were called upon by Gongmin to combat them. Thus, the two generals increased their influence and power base in the country. General Yi Seong-gye, especially, identified himself with the Sinjin aristocracy.
In 1388, unwilling to lead the invasion of Liaodong and fight with the Ming Dynasty, General Yi Seong-gye decided to revolt against King U and Choe Yeong and swept back to the capital, Gaegyeong, to secure control of the government. In 1392, General Yi became the king of Korea, and founded Joseon Dynasty.