Difference between revisions of "Mongol invasions of Korea" - New World Encyclopedia

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The '''Mongol invasions of Korea''' (1231 - 1273) consisted of a series of campaigns by the [[Mongol Empire]] against [[Korea]], then known as [[Goryeo]], from 1231 to 1259.  There were six major campaigns at tremendous cost to civilian lives throughout the [[Korean peninsula]], ultimately resulting in Korea becoming a tributary ally of the Mongol [[Yuan Dynasty]] for approximately 80 years.
 
The '''Mongol invasions of Korea''' (1231 - 1273) consisted of a series of campaigns by the [[Mongol Empire]] against [[Korea]], then known as [[Goryeo]], from 1231 to 1259.  There were six major campaigns at tremendous cost to civilian lives throughout the [[Korean peninsula]], ultimately resulting in Korea becoming a tributary ally of the Mongol [[Yuan Dynasty]] for approximately 80 years.
 
{{History of Korea}}
 
{{History of Korea}}
 
==The initial campaigns==
 
==The initial campaigns==
[[Gojong of Goryeo]] (reigned 1213-1259) was the twenty-third king of the [[Goryeo]] dynasty. In 1225, the [[Mongol Empire]] demanded tribute from [[Goryeo]], but Goryeo refused, and the Mongol envoy Chu-ku-yu was killed.
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[[Gojong of Goryeo]] (reigned 1213-1259) was the twenty-third king of the [[Goryeo]] dynasty. In 1225, the [[Mongol Empire]] demanded tribute from Goryeo, but Goryeo refused, and the Mongol envoy Chu-ku-yu was killed.
  
 
In 1231, [[Ögedei Khan]] ordered the invasion of [[Korea]] as part of a general [[Yuan Dynasty#Northern Conquest|campaign to conquer China]].  The Mongols reached [[Chungju]] in central [[Korean peninsula]], but after costly concessions, Korea convinced the Mongols to withdraw.
 
In 1231, [[Ögedei Khan]] ordered the invasion of [[Korea]] as part of a general [[Yuan Dynasty#Northern Conquest|campaign to conquer China]].  The Mongols reached [[Chungju]] in central [[Korean peninsula]], but after costly concessions, Korea convinced the Mongols to withdraw.
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The Mongols later learned that top Goryeo officials remained on Ganghwa Island, and had punished those who negotiated with the Mongols.  Between 1253 and 1258, the Mongols under [[Jalairtai]] launched four devastating invasions in the final successful campaign against Korea.
 
The Mongols later learned that top Goryeo officials remained on Ganghwa Island, and had punished those who negotiated with the Mongols.  Between 1253 and 1258, the Mongols under [[Jalairtai]] launched four devastating invasions in the final successful campaign against Korea.
  
There were two parties within Goryeo: the literati party opposed the war with Mongol, but the military junta led by the Choe clan pressed for continuing the war. When the dictator Choi was murdered by the the literati party, the peace treaty was concluded<ref>국방부 군사편찬연구소, 고려시대 군사 전략 (2006) (The Ministry of National Defense, Military Strategies in Goryeo)</ref>. The treaty permitted the sovereign power and tranditional culture of Goryeo, implying that the Mongols gave up conquering Goryeo under Mongol's direct control<ref>국사편찬위원회, 고등학교국사교과서 p63(National Institute of Korean History, History for High School Students, p64)[http://www.e-history.go.kr/book/index.htm]</ref>
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There were two parties within Goryeo: the literati party opposed the war with Mongol, but the military junta led by the Choe clan pressed for continuing the war. When the dictator Choi was murdered by the the literati party, the peace treaty was concluded<ref>국방부 군사편찬연구소, 고려시대 군사 전략 (2006) (The Ministry of National Defense, Military Strategies in Goryeo)</ref>. The treaty permitted the sovereign power and traditional culture of Goryeo, implying that the Mongols gave up conquering Goryeo under Mongol's direct control<ref>국사편찬위원회, 고등학교국사교과서 p63(National Institute of Korean History, History for High School Students, p64)[http://www.e-history.go.kr/book/index.htm]</ref>
  
 
==Aftermath==
 
==Aftermath==
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*[[List of Korean monarchs]]
 
*[[List of Korean monarchs]]
 
*[[List of Korea-related topics]]
 
*[[List of Korea-related topics]]
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==Notes==
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<references/>
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
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==External links==
 
==External links==
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[[Category:Goryeo]]
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[[Category:History]]
[[Category:Wars involving Korea]]
 
[[Category:Wars involving the Mongols]]
 
[[Category:Wars involving China]]
 
  
 
{{credits|118485860}}
 
{{credits|118485860}}

Revision as of 23:36, 1 October 2007

The Mongol invasions of Korea (1231 - 1273) consisted of a series of campaigns by the Mongol Empire against Korea, then known as Goryeo, from 1231 to 1259. There were six major campaigns at tremendous cost to civilian lives throughout the Korean peninsula, ultimately resulting in Korea becoming a tributary ally of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty for approximately 80 years.

Korea unified vertical.svgHistory of Korea

Jeulmun Period
Mumun Period
Gojoseon, Jin
Proto-Three Kingdoms:
 Buyeo, Okjeo, Dongye
 Samhan
  Ma, Byeon, Jin
Three Kingdoms:
 Goguryeo
  Sui wars
 Baekje
 Silla, Gaya
North-South States:
 Unified Silla
 Balhae
 Later Three Kingdoms
Goryeo
 Khitan wars
 Mongol invasions
Joseon
 Japanese invasions
 Manchu invasions
Korean Empire
Japanese occupation
 Provisional Gov't
Division of Korea
 Korean War
 North Korea
 South Korea

List of monarchs

The initial campaigns

Gojong of Goryeo (reigned 1213-1259) was the twenty-third king of the Goryeo dynasty. In 1225, the Mongol Empire demanded tribute from Goryeo, but Goryeo refused, and the Mongol envoy Chu-ku-yu was killed.

In 1231, Ögedei Khan ordered the invasion of Korea as part of a general campaign to conquer China. The Mongols reached Chungju in central Korean peninsula, but after costly concessions, Korea convinced the Mongols to withdraw.

In 1232, the Imperial Court of Goryeo moved from Songdo to Ganghwa Island in the Bay of Gyeonggi, and started the construction of significant defenses to prepare for the Mongol threat.

The Mongols protested the move, and immediately launched a second attack. Although they reached parts of the southern peninsula, the Mongols failed to capture Ganghwa Island, and were repelled in Gwangju. The Mongol leader Sartai (撒禮塔) was killed by a monk Kim Yun-Hu (김윤후) in strong civilian resistance at Yongin, forcing the Mongols to withdraw again. This is the only known incident of the commander of a Mongol Army being killed in battle.

Third campaign and treaty

In 1235, the Mongols began a campaign that ravaged parts of Gyeongsang and Jeolla Provinces. Civilian resistance was strong, and the Imperial Court at Ganghwa attempted to strengthen its fortress. Korea won several victories but the Korean military could not withstand the waves of invasions. In 1236, Gojong ordered the re-creation of the Tripitaka Koreana, destroyed during the 1232 invasion. This collection of Buddhist scriptures took 15 years to carve on some 81,000 wooden blocks, and is preserved to this day.

In 1238, Goryeo relented, and sued for peace. The Mongols withdrew, in exchange for Goryeo's agreement to send the Imperial Family as hostages. However, Goryeo sent an unrelated member of the imperial line. Incensed, the Mongols demanded clearing the seas of Korean ships, relocation of the court to the mainland, the hand-over of anti-Mongol bureaucrats, and, again, the Imperial family as hostages. In response, Korea sent a distant princess and ten children of nobles, rejecting the other demands.

Fourth and fifth campaigns

In 1247, the Mongols began the fourth campaign against Goryeo, again demanding the return of the capital to Songdo and the Imperial Family as hostages. With the death of Guyuk Khan in 1248, however, the Mongols withdrew again.

Upon the 1251 ascension of Mongke Khan, the Mongols again repeated their demands. When Goryeo refused, the Mongols began a large campaign in 1253. Gojong finally agreed to move the capital back to the mainland, and sent one of his sons, Prince Angyeonggong (안경공, 安慶公) as a hostage. The Mongols withdrew thereafter.

Sixth campaign and peace

The Mongols later learned that top Goryeo officials remained on Ganghwa Island, and had punished those who negotiated with the Mongols. Between 1253 and 1258, the Mongols under Jalairtai launched four devastating invasions in the final successful campaign against Korea.

There were two parties within Goryeo: the literati party opposed the war with Mongol, but the military junta led by the Choe clan pressed for continuing the war. When the dictator Choi was murdered by the the literati party, the peace treaty was concluded[1]. The treaty permitted the sovereign power and traditional culture of Goryeo, implying that the Mongols gave up conquering Goryeo under Mongol's direct control[2]

Aftermath

Internal struggles within the royal court continued regarding the peace with the Mongols until 1270.

Since Choe Chung-heon, Goryeo had been a military dictatorship, actually ruled by the private army of the powerful Choe family. Some of these military officials formed the Sambyeolcho Rebellion (1270-1273) and resisted in the islands off the southern shore of the Korean peninsula.

Beginning with King Wonjong, for approximately 80 years, Korea was a tributary ally of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty. The Goryeo dynasty survived under Mongolian influence until King Gongmin began to push Mongolian forces back around 1350.

See also

The Mongol Invasions
Central Asia – Georgia and Armenia – Kalka River – Volga Bulgaria – Ryazan – Rus' – Sit River – Köse Dag – Legnica – Mohi – Baghdad – Ain Jalut – Korea – Japan (Bun'ei – Kōan) – Vietnam – Xiangyang – Ngasaunggyan – Yamen – Pagan – Bach Dang – Syria – Kulikovo – Vorskla – Ugra River

Notes

  1. 국방부 군사편찬연구소, 고려시대 군사 전략 (2006) (The Ministry of National Defense, Military Strategies in Goryeo)
  2. 국사편찬위원회, 고등학교국사교과서 p63(National Institute of Korean History, History for High School Students, p64)[1]

References
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External links

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