Gojong of Goryeo

Gojong of Goryeo (3 February 1192 – 21 July 1259), sometimes spelled Ko-tjong, was the twenty-third ruler of Goryeo in present-day Korea from 1213–1259. Gojong's reign was marked by prolonged conflict with the Mongol Empire, which sought to conquer Goryeo, ending only to settle peace in 1259. During his reign actual power rested with the Choe family of military dictators.

Biography

Although ascending to the throne in 1213, Gojong did not wield much power until powerful advisors were killed off. In 1216, the Khitan invaded but was defeated. In August 1232, Gojong moved the capital of Goryeo from Songdo to the island of Ganghwa and started the construction of significant defenses there, in order to better defend from the Mongol threat. Gojong resisted the Mongol invasion for nearly thirty years before the kingdom was forced to make peace with the Mongols in 1259; Gojong died soon after.

In 1251, the carving of the Tripitaka Koreana, a collection of Buddhist scriptures recorded on some 81,000 wooden blocks, was completed. The work was perhaps motivated by Gojong's hopes to change fortunes through the act of religious devotion; however the originals were later destroyed by the Mongols — the existing Tripitaka is a replica of Gojong's original, and was commissioned around one hundred years after the originals were lost.

Gojong was married to Queen Anhye, daughter of Huijong, the twenty-first king of Goryeo. His tomb is located near the city of Incheon.

Family

• Father: King Gangjong of Goryeo (10 May 1152 – 26 August 1213) (고려 강종)
  • Grandfather: King Myeongjong of Goryeo (8 November 1131 – 3 December 1202) (고려 명종)
  • Grandmother: Queen Uijeong of the Kaesong Wang clan (의정왕후 왕씨)
• Mother: Queen Wondeok of the Kaesong Wang clan (1167 – 1239) (원덕왕후 왕씨)
  • Grandfather: Wang Seong, Prince Sinyang (? – 1178) (왕성 신안후)
  • Grandmother: Princess Changrak (? – 27 January 1216) (창락궁주)

Consorts:

1. Queen Anhye of the Kaesong Wang clan (? – 1 June 1232) (안혜왕후 왕씨)
   1. King Wonjong of Goryeo (5 April 1219 – 23 July 1274) (고려 원종)
   2. King Yeongjong of Goryeo (August 1223 – ?) (고려 영종)
   3. Princess Suheung (수흥궁주)
2. Unnamed consort
   1. Unnamed daughter

In popular culture

• Portrayed by Oh Hyeon-cheol in the 2003-2004 KBS TV series Age of Warriors.
• Portrayed by Lee Seung-hyo in the 2012 MBC TV series God of War.

See also

• History of Korea
• Rulers of Korea
• List of Korea-related topics
• Mongol invasions of Korea

References

• 고종 (in Korean). Doosan Encyclopedia.