| Silla-Tang War | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Silla, Korea | Tang Dynasty, China | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| King Munmu Kim Yushin Geom Mojam Kim Wonsul Go Yeonmu |
Xue Rengui Gao Kan Buyeo Yung Li Jinxing |
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| Strength | |||||||
| ~30,000 (675) [1] | ~200,000 (675) [1] | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | heavy | ||||||
The Silla-Tang War occurred in the 7th century between Silla and Chinese Tang Dynasty.
After the Goguryeo–Tang Wars, the Silla-Tang alliance began to fall apart as Tang tried to establish the Protectorate General to Pacify the East to control the whole Korean Peninsula.
King Munmu challenge of freeing his country from Tang domination. After the fall of Goguryeo, Tang created the Protectorate General to Pacify the East and attempted to place the entire Korean Peninsula, including Silla, under its rule. To prevent this, Munmu forged alliances with Goguryeo resistance leaders such as Geom Mojam and Anseung, and launched a frontal attack on the Tang forces occupying former Baekje territories. The struggle lasted through the early 670s.
In 674, Tang and its former ally, Silla, were in constant battle, as King Munmu had taken over much of former Baekje and Goguryeo territory from the T'ang and fostered resistance against them. Emperor Gaozong, in anger, arbitrarily declared King Munmu's brother Kim Inmun (김인문, 金仁問) the king Munmu and commissioned Liu Rengui with an army to attack Silla. However, King Munmu formally apologized and offered tribute, Emperor Gaozong ordered a withdrawal and recalled Kim Immun.
In 675, Li Jinxing (李謹行) reached Silla territory with Mohe forces that submitted to Tang. However, Tang forces was defeated by Silla army in Maeso fortress, present-day Yeoncheon. In 676, Xue Rengui crossed the Yellow Sea to against Silla. However, Silla navy expelled Tang forces on the coast of western Silla.
Emperor Gaozong order withdrawal of Tang forces from the Korean Peninsula entirely and moved the Protectorate General to Pacify the East to Liaodong, allowing Silla eventually expelled Tang out of the Korean Peninsula and unified the parts of the peninsula south of the Taedong River. This victory, and the maintenance of Silla's independence, is generally regarded as a critical turning-point in Korean history.
After years of fight, Silla eventually expelled Tang out of the northern most of Korean Peninsula and unified the parts of the peninsula south of the Taedong River.