Goguryeo–Tang War
| Goguryeo–Tang War | |||||||
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Tang Dynasty Silla |
Goguryeo Baekje Mohe |
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Decisive Silla/Tang Dynasty victory
The Goguryeo–Tang War occurred from 645 to 668 and was initially fought between the Goguryeo kingdom and Tang Dynasty. During the course of the war the two sides allied with various other states. For the first decade and a half of the war, both sides were evenly matched, with Goguryeo successfully defending against the invading Tang army in what has become to be known as the first campaign in the Goguryeo–Tang War. After conquering Baekje in 660, Tang and Silla armies invaded Goguryeo from the north and south in 661, but were forced to withdraw in 662. In 666, Yeon Gaesomun died and Goguryeo became plagued by violent dissension, numerous defections, and widespread demoralization. The Tang–Silla alliance mounted a fresh invasion in the following year, aided by the defector Yeon Namsaeng. In late 668, exhausted from numerous attacks and suffering from internal political chaos, the kingdom of Goguryeo and the remnants of Baekje army succumbed to the numerically superior armies of the Tang Dynasty and Silla.
The war marked the end of the Three Kingdoms of Korea period which had lasted since 57 BCE. It also triggered the Silla–Tang War during which Silla and the Tang Dynasty fought over the spoils they had gained.
In 627, Li Shimin (Emperor Taizong) succeeded the Tang throne after the Xuanwu Gate Incident, killing his two brothers—Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji—and forcing his father, Li Yuan (Emperor Gaozu), to abdicate. Soon thereafter, he set his mind to conquering Goguryeo. The Silla kingdom had made numerous requests to the Tang court for military assistance against Goguryeo, which the Tang court began to consider not long after they had decisively defeated the Göktürks in 628. At the same time, however, Silla was also engaged in open hostilities with Baekje in 642. A year before (641), King Uija had assumed the throne of Baekje. In 642, King Uija attacked Silla and captured around 40 strongpoints. Meanwhile, in 642, the military dictator Yeon Gaesomun murdered over 180 Goguryeo aristocrats and seized the Goguryeo throne. He placed a puppet king onto the throne after killing the king in 642. These newly formed governments in Baekje and Goguryeo were preparing for war and had established an mutual alliance against Tang and Silla.
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Wikipedia