Battle of Jwa-won

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Jwa-Won
partof=
date=172
place=Jwa-Won
result=Decisive Goguryeo Victory.
combatant1=Goguryeo
combatant2=Eastern Han
commander1=Myeongnim Dap-bu
commander2=Geng Lin†
strength1=Few thousand
strength2=Around 100,000
casualties1=Unknown
casualties2=Reportedly no or few survivors.The Battle of Jwa-won (Hangul: 좌원전투, Hanja: 坐原戰鬪) was a tremendous Goguryeo victory under the command of Myeongnim Dap-bu during the 26th year of the reign of King Sindae, the 8th ruler of Goguryeo.

The Coup de'tat of 146

In 146, all of Goguryeo rejoiced as news of the death of its tyrannical 7th Taewang spread throughout the land. The man responsible for the death of the tyrant was Myeongnim Dap-bu, a Jo-Ui seonin and court official. Myeongnim Dap-Bu invited the dead ruler's youngest and only surviving brother, Grand Prince Go Baek-gu, to the kingdom's capital to become the next ruler of Goguryeo. The Grand Prince became Goguryeo's 8th King Sindae, during that year. This coup was the first successful military revolt in Goguryeo's history. Myeongnim Dap-Bu was given the position of "Guksang", and became the first Prime Minister of Goguryeo. Myeongnim Dap-Bu was never recorded to have abused his position, but strengthened the nation's strength economically, politically, and militarily. At this time of peace and recovery, the Han Empire assembled a large army and prepared to invade Goguryeo in the year 172.

The Battle of Jwa-Won

Han Governor Gyeongnim, governor of Xuantu, led an army of around 100,000 into Goguryeo. In preparation for the invasion, Myeongnim Dap-Bu filled in the local wells, and made sure that the surrounding land could yield no food supply to the enemy forces. In addition, a moat was made, and many lines of defenses were made outside of Goguryeo's capital, Guknae Fortress, at a place called Jwa-Won. The Goguryeo forces retreated into the fortress, and protected it upon the arrival of the enemy troops. After days of siege, the Han army was exhausted, and began to retreat. Myeongnim Dap-bu took advantage of the enemy's retreat and ambushed the Han army as they were beginning to retreat. According to "Samguk Sagi", there were no survivors. Survivors and the aftermath of the battle were not recorded in any Chinese historical sources.

Aftermath

After the battle of Jwa-Won, the Eastern Han Empire was gravely weakened, and eventually fell in 220 AD. Myeongnim Dap-bu, the Goguryeo hero of the battle, died in the year 179, at the age of 113.

See also

* Three Kingdoms of Korea
* Goguryeo
* Han Dynasty
* Myeongnim Dap-bu

Sources

* Samguk Sagi