Ara Gaya

Infobox Korean name
hangul=아라가야 "or" 아나가야
hanja=阿羅伽倻
rr=Ara Gaya "or" Ana Gaya
mr=Ara Kaya "or" Ana Kaya

Ara Gaya, also known as Ana Gaya, Asiryangguk (아시량국, 阿尸良國)), and Alla (안라, 安羅), was a City-state kingdom in the part of Gaya confederacy, in modern day Haman County of South Korea. As the confrontational foreign policy of Daegaya failed, Ara Gaya and its less confrontational policy gained support in the 540s.

By the 6th century, Gaya could not risk the hostility of either Baekje or Silla (two of the Three Kingdoms of Korea that dominated the peninsula, the third being Goguryeo). Ara Gaya put a great deal of effort into pursuing a diplomatic solution for maintaining its independence, including hosting summits between Baekje, Silla and Japan.

The Gaya confederacy was greatly weakened at the time; as northwestern Gaya states fell to Baekje influence and southeastern states fell to Silla influence. Ara Gaya sought its independence by allying with Goguryeo, and asked Goguryeo to invade Baekje in 548. This attempt to weaken Baekje's sphere of influence failed when Goguryeo failed in the campaign.

In 550s, Silla defeated Baekje in a war and occupied the Gyeonggi area. Silla also invaded Gaya to eliminate Baekje's sphere of influence in Gaya. Ara Gaya capitulated to Silla in 559.

ee also

* List of Korea-related topics
* History of Korea
* Gaya confederacy