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Wang Geon

Type Figure Region Korean Peninsula Time 877–943 Also known as Taejo、Wang Gwang、Taejo of Goryeo

Wang Geon (877–943) was the founding monarch of the Goryeo dynasty, with the temple name Taejo.…

Timeline

  1. 877–891Songak County · Songak CountyWang Geon was born into a powerful local family of Songak County in Silla. In his youth he was renowned for his bravery, accumulating prestige and retainers on the eve of the Later Three Kingdoms, amid a landscape of strong local magnates and declining central authority.
  2. 891–918Cheorwon · CheorwonWang Geon submitted to Gung Ye, leading his followers on campaigns in all directions and winning repeated military merits, gradually becoming the core military leader of the Taebong regime and laying the strength foundation for his later independence.
  3. 918–935Kaesong · KaesongIn 918 Wang Geon was acclaimed by his ministers at Kaesong in Songak, taking Goryeo as the state name and Kaesong as the capital, forming a three-way standoff with Later Baekje and Silla and gradually expanding his sphere of influence.
  4. 935–943Korean Peninsula · Korean PeninsulaIn 935 he destroyed Later Baekje, and in 936 he compelled Silla to surrender, completing the unification of the Later Three Kingdoms and establishing a Goryeo ruling order centered on Kaesong. Later generations honored him as Taejo.

Sources