Munju of Baekje

Munju of Baekje (?–477, r. 475–477[1]) was the 22nd king of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. His reign saw considerable disunity within Baekje following the fall of its capital in present-day Seoul.

Munju of Baekje
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationMunju-wang
McCune–ReischauerMunju-wang
Monarchs of Korea
Baekje
  1. Onjo 18 BCE–28 CE
  2. Daru 28–77
  3. Giru 77–128
  4. Gaeru 128–166
  5. Chogo 166–214
  6. Gusu 214–234
  7. Saban 234
  8. Goi 234–286
  9. Chaekgye 286–298
  10. Bunseo 298–304
  11. Biryu 304–344
  12. Gye 344–346
  13. Geunchogo 346–375
  14. Geungusu 375–384
  15. Chimnyu 384–385
  16. Jinsa 385–392
  17. Asin 392–405
  18. Jeonji 405–420
  19. Guisin 420–427
  20. Biyu 427–455
  21. Gaero 455–475
  22. Munju 475–477
  23. Samgeun 477–479
  24. Dongseong 479–501
  25. Muryeong 501–523
  26. Seong 523–554
  27. Wideok 554–598
  28. Hye 598–599
  29. Beop 599–600
  30. Mu 600–641
  31. Uija 641–660

Background

He was the first king to rule Baekje from its new capital in Ungjin, present-day Gongju, after the Han River valley was lost to Goguryeo. He ascended to the throne after his father’s death in the sack of the former Baekje capital at Hanseong.

Prior to 475, Munju served as chief minister (Sang-jwa'pyeong, 上佐平) under his father, Gaero. In the Goguryeo assault of 475, he went to Silla to request help. According to the Samguk Sagi, he returned with 10,000 Silla warriors but was too late to prevent the fall of the capital.

Reign

After the move of the capital, the Baekje power structure fell into chaos when the traditional Buyeo-descended aristocracy clashed with the local Mahan-based clans; rivalry within the old aristocracy, suppressed by previous powerful kings, resurfaced.

He sought to refortify Baekje’s remaining defenses and strengthen the country's position against Goguryeo. He was successful in 476 in gaining suzerainty over the kingdom of Tamna on Jeju island.

In the midst of this instability, the chief general and Minister of Defense, Hae Gu, took control of the military and killed Munju's brother Buyeo Gonji in 477. After this Hae Gu exercised effective rule over the country.

That year, Munju was murdered by an agent of Hae Gu.

Family
  • Father: Gaero of Baekje
  • Mother: unknown
    • Brother: Buyeo Gonji (餘餘昆支, ?–477) – military commander and father of 24th King of Baekje, Dongseong of Baekje. He was sent to Japan in 461 where he had a son with a Japanese woman.
    • Queen: unknown
      • Buyeo Samgeol/Buyeo Imgeol (扶餘三乞/扶餘壬乞, ?–479) – 23nd King of Baekje, Samgeun of Baekje.

King Daughter 2013

See also

References
  1. Il-yeon: Samguk Yusa: Legends and History of the Three Kingdoms of Ancient Korea, translated by Tae-Hung Ha and Grafton K. Mintz. Book Two, page 120. Silk Pagoda (2006). ISBN 1-59654-348-5
Munju of Baekje
Cadet branch of the House of Go
 Died: 477
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Gaero		 King of Baekje
475–477		 Succeeded by
Samgeun
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