Bongsang of Goguryeo

Bongsang of Goguryeo
Hangul 봉상왕, 치갈왕
Hanja 烽上王, 雉葛王
Revised Romanization Bongsang-wang, Chigal-wang
McCune–Reischauer Pongsang-wang, Ch'igal-wang
Birth name
Hangul 고상부 or 삽시루
Hanja 高相夫 or 歃矢婁
Revised Romanization Go Sang-bu or Sapsiru
McCune–Reischauer Ko Sangbu or Sapsiru
Monarchs of Korea
Goguryeo
  1. King Chumo 37-19 BCE
  2. King Yuri 19 BCE-18 CE
  3. King Daemusin 18-44
  4. King Minjung 44-48
  5. King Mobon 48-53
  6. King Taejodae 53-146
  7. King Chadae 146-165
  8. King Sindae 165-179
  9. King Gogukcheon 179-197
  10. King Sansang 197-227
  11. King Dongcheon 227-248
  12. King Jungcheon 248-270
  13. King Seocheon 270-292
  14. King Bongsang 292-300
  15. King Micheon 300-331
  16. King Gogug-won 331-371
  17. King Sosurim 371-384
  18. King Gogug-yang 384-391
  19. King Gwanggaeto 391-413
  20. King Jangsu 413-490
  21. King Munja 491-519
  22. King Anjang 519-531
  23. King An-won 531-545
  24. King Yang-won 545-559
  25. King Pyeong-won 559-590
  26. King Yeong-yang 590-618
  27. King Yeong-nyu 618-642
  28. King Bojang 642-668

King Bongsang of Goguryeo (died 300, r. 292–300) was the 14th ruler of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was the eldest son of King Seocheon.

From his youth, he is said to have been arrogant and dissolute, full of mistrust and envy. As soon as he was crowned, Bongsang charged his popular uncle Go Dal-ga (Prince An-guk) with treason and had him slain. According to the Samguk Sagi, his violence upset the people.

In the eighth lunar month of 293 the Xianbei chieftain Murong Hui invaded. Bongsang fled to the mountain of Sinseong. The sohyeong of the north, Go No-ja, led five hundred cavalry out to meet the king, and went on to defeat the Xianbei forces. King Bongsang promoted Go No-ja to daehyeong, a position of the 5th rank, giving him Gongnim as stipend land.

The following month, the king feared that his younger brother Go Dol-go was plotting against him, and forced him to commit suicide. Dol-go's son, the subsequent king Micheon fled and preserved his own life. In the eighth month of 296, Murong Hui invaded once more, but was repelled.

The following month, a heavy frost and hail fell and destroyed the crops, but the king carried on with reconstructing the palace, and the people complained greatly. King Bongsang did not listen to the counsel of his ministers, and did not look after the people.

In the end, his ministers carried out a coup in the eighth lunar month of 300. Bongsang and his two sons committed suicide. He was buried in Bongsan-won. The ministers found the escaped prince, and set him on the throne as King Micheon.

See also