Taejo of Goryeo

Wang Geon (* 877, † 943 ) aka " Taejo of Goryeo " ( not to be confused with the first Joseon rulers Yi Seong- gye or Taejo of Joseon ) was the founder of the Korean Goryeo Empire.

He came from a wealthy merchant family from the area of ​​Kaesong. In the late 9th century the United Silla kingdom was in disarray, were formed everywhere rebel kingdoms, for example, Gung Ye in the north and Gyeon whon the southwest.

Despite his youth, Wang Geon of Gung Ye, the leader of the Northern rebels highly valued by capital " Choryeon " and served as his general.

But Gung Ye was eccentric, wanted to be worshiped as a Buddha and alienated by affairs more and more of its surroundings.

918 four generals conspired against Gung Ye, overthrew him and raised Wang Geon as his successor. Thus, Wang was de facto the most powerful man in Korea, but had not yet the kingdom united, so that you can find in the literature different data for the kingdom beginning of the new Wang Dynasty with the realm name Goryeo ( also sometimes referred to as " Goryeo Dynasty "). Its capital was today's Kaesong in central Korea.

Goryeo is an allusion to the old northern kingdom of Goguryeo and attracted many Koreans from Manchuria who had not been in the Silla kingdom want to live and had to experience the destruction of the Manchurian Balhae Kingdom, which was conquered by the Khitan 926. As a result, he consolidated his rule throughout the Northern Territory with the conquest of the West Coast.

As 927 Gyeon Hwon, the ruler of a West Empire conquered the Silla capital, Wang attacked him, but was defeated.

935 he was recognized by the last (now entirely powerless ) Silla king as his successor and married his daughter, but kept the new realm name and its capital at.

936 He then suggested Gyeon Hwons rebellious son (who had deposed him ) in the southwest kingdom and united Korea.

He died in 943 of natural causes.