Hangul 문주왕 Name Munju Baekje McCune–Reischauer Munju-wang | Revised Romanization Munju-wang Hanja 文周王 | |
Munju of Baekje (?–477, r. 475–477) was the 22nd king of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. His reign saw considerable disunity within Baekje following the fall of its capital in present-day Seoul.
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Background
He was the first king to rule Baekje from its new capital in Ungjin, present-day Gongju, after the Han River valley was lost to Goguryeo. He ascended to the throne after his father’s death in the sack of the former Baekje capital at Hanseong.
Prior to 475, Munju served as chief minister (Sang-jwa'pyeong, 上佐平) under his father, Gaero. In the Goguryeo assault of 475, he went to Silla to request help. According to the Samguk Sagi, he returned with 10,000 Silla warriors but was too late to prevent the fall of the capital.
Reign
After the move of the capital, the Baekje power structure fell into chaos when the traditional Buyeo-descended aristocracy clashed with the local Mahan-based clans; rivalry within the old aristocracy, suppressed by previous powerful kings, resurfaced.
He sought to refortify Baekje’s remaining defenses and strengthen the country's position against Goguryeo. He was successful in 476 in gaining suzerainty over the kingdom of Tamna on Jeju island.
In the midst of this instability, the chief general and Minister of Defense, Hae Gu, took control of the military and killed Munju's brother Buyeo Gonji in 477. After this Hae Gu exercised effective rule over the country.
That year, Munju was murdered by an agent of Hae Gu.
Family
Popular culture
King Daughter 2013