The Battle of Gwiju

The king of Goryeo, Wang Sun, saw the Khitan army approaching Gaegyeong. The last time the Khitan invaded, the king had abandoned the capital and fled to Jeollado. During that escape, he endured countless humiliations. Eight years had passed since then. The king of Goryeo had made thorough preparations for this day. He could not flee a second time. Together with his people and soldiers, the king vowed to fight to the death.

 

 

1. The Rise of the Khitan

While the Later Three Kingdoms period unfolded in Korea, the Khitan tribe rose to power in the north and established the Liao Dynasty. They destroyed Balhae, ruling over Manchuria and the Mongolian steppes. Subsequently, they expanded southward, capturing the 16 prefectures of Yanmen. Meanwhile, China was divided into several states during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. During this time, General Zhao Guangyin of the Later Zhou received the imperial mandate from the young emperor and founded the Song Dynasty. Under his rule, the Song Dynasty became powerful, and using its enhanced national strength, it launched wars to unify China. Eventually, the Song Dynasty unified China, but tensions escalated between the Song and the Khitan. War broke out between the two, and despite the Song's strong economy, its military was weak. In contrast, the Khitan were the most powerful military force in Northeast Asia at the time. The war ended in victory for the Khitan, and in 1004, both sides signed the Treaty of Chanyuan, where the Song agreed to pay an annual tribute of 200,000 bolts of silk and 100,000 taels of silver to the Khitan. After defeating the Song, the Khitan turned their attention to Korea.

 

2. The Illegitimate King

In 1009, a coup d'état was led by General Kang Jo in Korea, resulting in the deposition of the reigning king and the installation of a new ruler, King Hyeonjong. King Hyeonjong, however, was a puppet king, controlled by Kang Jo. His position was unstable due to his illegitimacy—he was born of an affair between his uncle and aunt, making his royal lineage questionable. King Hyeonjong's life was tumultuous from birth: his mother died after giving birth, and his father passed away when he was only five, leaving him an orphan. After the death of King Seongjong, the powerful Queen Dowager Cheonchutaehu continually undermined him. She sent him to the Buddhist monastery to become a monk and attempted to assassinate him several times, sending agents and even poisoned food. Fortunately, the abbot of the monastery, Monk Jin-gwan, protected him, as did Queen Dowager Cheonchutaehu's son, King Mokjong. Eventually, when Hyeonjong was 17, General Kang Jo led a coup and placed him on the throne.

 

3. The Defeat of Goryeo

The Khitan, having invaded Korea previously, used the coup as a pretext to launch a second invasion in 1010. The Khitan emperor, Emperor Shengzong, personally led an army of 400,000 soldiers to invade. The Goryeo army, led by General Kang Jo, assembled a force of 300,000 troops to confront them. However, due to Kang Jo's negligence, the Goryeo army suffered a crushing defeat. During the battle, Kang Jo was captured but refused the Khitan emperor’s offer of clemency and was eventually executed. The Goryeo forces were decimated, with over 30,000 casualties. In the aftermath, King Hyeonjong fled in haste, and the capital, Gaegyeong, was captured. Hyeonjong's escape was fraught with difficulties as many of his followers deserted him, and local aristocrats even threatened him. The Khitan army, however, had overstretched itself and had logistical concerns. At this point, Goryeo offered to send the king to the Khitan court, prompting the Khitan forces to retreat. Goryeo narrowly escaped total collapse.

 

4. The Khitan's Third Invasion

Eight years passed since the Khitan's second invasion. During this period, the Khitan continued to demand that Goryeo send tribute and recognize their suzerainty, but Goryeo refused. Enraged, Emperor Shengzong sent his general, Sobaekap, with an army of 100,000 troops to invade Goryeo. Goryeo responded by gathering 200,000 soldiers, led by General Gang Gam-chan. In the early stages of the war, the Goryeo forces suffered significant losses at Heungwajin. Sobaekap then advanced toward the capital, Gaegyeong, with the goal of swiftly ending the war. However, King Hyeonjong did not retreat and implemented a scorched earth policy. The Khitan army, having advanced too far south, suffered increasing losses from Goryeo's resistance. When Sobaekap reached the outskirts of Gaegyeong, he sent 300 cavalry to scout the area. In response, King Hyeonjong sent 100 cavalry to ambush them at night, wiping out the Khitan scouts.

 

5. The Battle of Gwiju

Sobaekap, realizing that continuing the war was unfeasible, began to retreat. Goryeo forces, led by General Gang Gam-chan, pursued the retreating Khitan army to Gwiju, a strategic location that the Khitan had to pass in order to return home. Both sides set up defensive positions, preparing for a decisive battle. Initially, the Khitan army had the advantage due to the strong north wind, which allowed their archers to strike with great force. The battle raged on for several days with no clear winner. Then, Goryeo forces, with cavalry reinforcements from Gaegyeong, flanked the Khitan army. At the same time, the wind shifted to the south, and Goryeo archers launched a devastating counterattack. The Khitan forces were routed and began to retreat in panic. Only a few thousand Khitan soldiers managed to return home. This was a decisive victory for Goryeo. The war between Goryeo and the Khitan, which had lasted for 26 years, ended with Goryeo's triumph.

 

6. The Aftermath of the Battle

Korea's kingdoms were generally better at defense than at open-field warfare. However, Goryeo proved capable of defeating the Khitan army, which was renowned for its prowess in field battles. Following the victory at Gwiju, the Khitan gave up any further ambitions of conquering Goryeo and began to fear it. Neighboring powers also began to recognize Goryeo as a major force in Northeast Asia. The balance of power between Goryeo, the Khitan, and the Song Dynasty was established. This victory marked the beginning of a century of prosperity for Goryeo. The combined efforts of King Hyeonjong's determination, General Gang Gam-chan's brilliant leadership, and the unity of the Goryeo people led to this resounding success.

 

7. The Great Monarch

Although not widely recognized, King Hyeonjong's life was incredibly tumultuous. He endured numerous hardships, including being born illegitimate, orphaned, surviving multiple assassination attempts, and facing wars and uprisings. Despite these challenges, he remained steadfast and adhered to a strict code of self-discipline while showing kindness to others. During times of national crisis, he shared the hardships of his people and ensured no one suffered unjustly. He reformed Goryeo's administrative system and united the local aristocrats under his leadership. While other great rulers might have had relatively stable reigns, King Hyeonjong's life was marked by continuous trials. Yet, after overcoming them, he became one of the greatest monarchs in Korean history. Without him, the hundred years of prosperity in Goryeo would not have been possible. The scholar Yi Jehyeon of the late Goryeo Dynasty once said of King Hyeonjong: "I could find no fault in King Hyeonjong."