King Bongsang of Goguryeo (died 300, r. 292–300)[1] was the 14th ruler of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was the eldest son of King Seocheon.[2]
| 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 | 고상부or삽시루 |
| Hanja | 高相夫or歃矢婁 |
| Revised Romanization | Go Sang-bu or Sapsiru |
| McCune–Reischauer | Ko Sangbu or Sapsiru |
From his youth, he is said to have been arrogant and dissolute, full of mistrust and envy.[1] As soon as he was crowned, Bongsang charged his popular uncle Go Dal-ga (Prince An-guk) with treason and had him slain, upsetting his people.[2]
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.[2][3][4]
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.[2]
The following month, a heavy frost and hail fell and destroyed the crops, but the king carried on with reconstructing the palace with gaining massive complaints from his people.[5] In spite of continuous resentment, King didn't listen to the counsels of his ministers, while some of Goguryeo people chose to flee away from forced labor.[2]
In the end, his ministers carried out a coup in the eighth lunar month of 300.[6] 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.[2]
Bongsang of Goguryeo Died: 300 | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | King of Goguryeo 292–300 |
Succeeded by |