King Jinheung of Silla

Timeline

1. 540–551Seorabeol (Geumseong, present-day Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province) · SillaHe acceded in 540 as a child, with his mother Queen Jijeong serving as regent. In the early period he worked diligently to govern, reorganized the military system, and built up national strength; that same year he accepted investiture from the Liang dynasty, consolidating diplomatic ties with China and preparing for later expansion.
2. 551–568Han River basin (present-day Seoul and Gyeonggi-do area) · Han River basinIn 551 he allied with Baekje's King Seong to attack Goguryeo northward, seizing ten commanderies in the upper Han River. In 553 he broke the alliance and surprise-attacked Baekje, annexing the six lower-Han commanderies Baekje had just recovered into Silla's territory; in 554 at the Battle of Gwansanseong he killed Baekje's King Seong, after which he advanced north on a large scale. He established Bukhansan Province, Bireulhu Province and others, and erected four royal tour stelae recording the achievements of this expansion.
3. 568–576Seorabeol (Geumseong, present-day Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province) · SillaIn his later years he established the Hwarang system, training young nobles as warriors and an elite class, which became an important tradition of Silla's military culture. He vigorously promoted Buddhism, built temples widely, invited eminent monks, and advanced the deep integration of Buddhism with state politics. Before his death in 576 he shaved his head and became a monk with the dharma name Beopun, carrying Buddhist ideals through his entire life.