Rise to the throne

King Jinheung of Silla rose to the throne at a young age when his predecessor and paternal uncle / maternal grandfather, Beopheung, died. Since he was too young to rule a kingdom at the time, his mother acted as regent. When he became of age, he began to rule independently. One of his first acts as true king of Silla was to appoint a man named Kim Isabu as Head of Military Affairs, which occurred in 541. Jinheung adopted a policy of peace with the neighbouring kingdom of Baekje Kingdom. In 551, he allied with Baekje so that he could attack the northern Korean kingdom of Goguryeo. The result of this allied attack on Goguryeo was the conquest of the Han river estuary. The kingdoms of Baekje and Silla agreed on splitting the conquered territory equally between themselves.

Expansion

During the reign of King Seong of Baekje, King Jinheung allied with Goguryeo and launched an attack on the Han River valley during the year 553. In a secret agreement between Silla and Goguryeo, Silla troops attacked the exhausted Baekje army in late 553. Feeling the betrayal from Silla, King Seong attacked during the year 554, but was caught in an ambush led by a Silla general and was assassinated along with those who were accompanying him. King Jinheung guarded the new territory with a firm hand for seven years before sending General Kim Isabu to conquer Daegaya in 561. King Jinheung constructed a monument in his newly conquered territory and established provinces in the area. He subdued all rebellions and continued to develop culture in his kingdom. In 576, the Hwarang was established, and they would later play a huge role in the unification of the Three Kingdoms of Korea.

Death and succession

King Jinheung died in 576 at the age of 51. His 37 year rule of Silla was characterised by conquest and advancement. King Jinheung was succeeded by his second son, Prince Geumryun, who became King Jinji of Silla.

Family

• Father: Galmunwang Ipjong (입종 갈문왕)

　• Grandfather: King Jijeung of Silla (신라 지증왕) (437 - 514)

　• Grandmother: Queen Yeonje of the Miryang Park clan (연제태후 박씨)

• Mother: Queen Jiso (지소태후) (? - 574)

　• Grandfather: King Beopheung of Silla (신라 법흥왕) (? - July 540)

　• Grandmother: Princess Bodo of Silla (보도부인)

• Consorts and their Respective Issue(s):

• Queen Sado of the Park clan (사도왕후 박씨) (? - February 614)

• #Crown Prince Dongryun (동륜태자) (? - 572)

• #King Jinji of Silla (신라 진지왕) (? - 24 August 579)

• #Kim Gu-Ryun (김구륜)

• #Princess Taeyang (태양공주)

• #Princess Ayang (아양공주)

• #Princess Eunryun (은륜공주)

• #Princess Wolryun (월륜공주)

• Princess Sukmyeong (숙명궁주) (? - 603)

• #Crown Prince Jeongsuk (정숙태자)

• Princess Bomyeong (보명궁주)

• Lady Mishil (미실궁주)

• #Prince Sujong (수종전군)

• #Princess Banya (반야공주)

• #Princess Nanya (난야공주)

• Lady Sobi of Baekje (소비)

• Princess Wolhwa (월화궁주 )

• #Prince Cheonju (천주공)

• #Princess Deokmyeong (덕명공주)

• Lady Geumjin (금진낭주 )

• #Princess Nanseong (난성공주)

Legacy

King Jinheung's achievements for his kingdom established the basis for unification of Korea. He is remembered today by the Korean people as one of the greatest rulers of Silla.

生平

《三國史記》記載真興王出生於534年，但《三國遺事》則記載出生於526年。兩則歷史記錄對立，《三國遺事》當是史實。真興王在15歲時，因法興王崩御而繼位。540年至541年期間，由法興王的王后保道夫人攝政；541年至551年期間，由母親只召太后（息道夫人）攝政；此後親政。544年，創建。同時採納異斯夫的建議，命令居柒夫編纂國史。551年，改年號為開國，並舉行。他讓來自伽倻的樂師于勒在新羅普及音樂。568年，改年號為大昌，572年又改為鴻濟。576年，開創源花制度，舉美女、二人，聚集美女三百餘人遊玩，以觀其行義。然而發生俊貞殺害南毛的事件，遂廢除源花制度，開創花郎制度，改為聚集美男子。此後，花郎成為新羅征伐高句麗和百濟的原動力。晚年祝髮出家為僧，法號法雲；思道王后也出家為尼，駐蹕於永興寺。576年，真興王昇遐，年51歲。因長子銅輪太子早卒，遂以次子金輪承繼，是為真智王。

領土擴張

真興王在位期間，積極攻擊高句麗和百濟，在三國競爭之間處於主導地位。548年正月，高句麗的陽原王聯合濊人攻打百濟，攻擊漢北的獨山城。當時新羅與百濟是同盟關係，百濟聖王遣使求救。真興王遣將軍朱珍領兵三千人往救之。朱珍日夜兼程趕到獨山城下，大破高句麗軍隊。551年，趁高句麗內政不穩定之機，新羅與百濟攻擊高句麗，佔領漢江的上游一帶，新羅奪取了十個郡，百濟奪取了六個郡。新羅攻入了今日咸鏡南道、咸鏡北道一帶，設立巡狩碑，高句麗陷入與突厥的戰爭中，新羅則趁機擴張領土。此時百濟提議與新羅聯合，攻擊平壤城。高句麗則承認新羅佔有今日京畿道、黃海道一帶，來換取新羅停止進攻平壤城。新羅拒絕了百濟的提議，接納了高句麗的提議。新羅領土擴張到了京畿道、黃海道等朝鮮半島西北部一帶，又攻取百濟東北部，設置新州，以為軍主。新羅自百濟奪取了漢江下游一帶，將百濟包圍。此後，新羅具有洛東江流域和漢江流域這兩個具有生產力的地域，勢力急劇膨脹，壓制了百濟並阻止了高句麗南進的步伐。同時，新羅控制了仁川灣，直通隋、唐，並與隋、唐保持聯盟關係，確立了三國鼎立。同年陰曆十月，百濟將王女嫁給真興王。554年，百濟聖王親征新羅，為新羅兵所敗，被殺。百濟首都向南退到今日忠淸南道的扶餘。562年，真興王派異斯夫、斯多含征服大伽倻。真興王在各地設置巡狩碑，目前尚存的巡狩碑總共有四個，分別在、、和。

外交

564年，真興王遣使赴北齊朝貢。565年，齊武成帝遣使冊封真興王為使持節、東夷校尉、樂浪郡公、新羅王。南朝陳遣使劉思、僧侶明觀來聘，贈送經論一千七百餘卷。真興王於566年、567年、568年、570年、571年遣使赴南朝陳進獻土產物，572年遣使赴北齊朝貢。

家族

• 父：立宗葛文王

• 母：只召太后

• 王妃：思道王后

　• 長子：銅輪太子

　• 次子：真智王金輪

　• 三子：

　• 長女：太陽公主

　• 次女：阿陽公主

　• 三女：銀輪公主

　• 四女：月輪公主

• 後宮：叔明宮主

　• 四子：

• 後宮：

• 後宮：美室宮主

　• 五子：壽宗殿君

　• 五女：般若公主

　• 六女：蘭若公主

• 後宮：百濟聖王之女

• 後宮：月華公主（大伽倻異腦王之女）

　• 六子：天柱公

　• 七女：德明公主

• 後宮：

　• 八女：暖成公主

評價

影視作品裡的真興王

• 2009年：MBC 《善德女王》 - 李順載

• 2016年：KBS 《花郎》 - 樸炯植