Capital Relocation to Sabi

The year was 475, and in an ancient Korean kingdom called Goguryeo, in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula, King Jangsu mobilized 30-thousand troops and attacked Hanseong(한성), the capital of the southwestern kingdom of Baekje. When the capital fell to the enemy, Baekje relocated its capital south to Ungjin(웅진) in October of the same year to fend off threats from Goguryeo and reorganize the state system.

Half a century later, in 538, Baekje moved the capital again, this time further south to Sabi, which is present-day Buyeo in South Chungcheong Province. They had an ambitious dream of expanding its territory. The country then changed its name to Nambuyeo(남부여) to emphasize the tradition of the Buyeo clan. In doing so, it dreamed of national revival. The monarch who carried on this dream was King Seong.



Adding a New Page to the History of Late Baekje Period

“He was intelligent, extraordinary and determined, so people called him King Seong.”

This description of King Seong is found in the “History of the Three Kingdoms.” The king ascended to the throne in May 523, succeeding his father King Muryeong(무령). The name of King Seong, meaning Holy King, is derived from a word referring to the wheel-turning holy king who would rule the world by turning the wheels of Buddhist law, not by force or arms.

King Dongseong(동성) reinforced the alliance with the neighboring kingdom of Silla in a bid to revive the prosperous 4th-century Baekje. In the 6th century, King Muryeong set up 22 special administrative districts called damro(담로) across the country. And after moving the capital to Sabi, King Seong dreamed of internal unity and the recovery of the lost territory.

The king sought to promote Buddhism as a means of strengthening the nation’s spiritual base. He never neglected diplomatic issues. He invited highly educated people and imported Buddhist scriptures from the Liang Dynasty of China, with which he maintained close ties. This greatly contributed to improving the quality of Baekje culture. Also, the king spread Buddhism and various cultural products to Japan, where he was called King Seongmyeong(성명), meaning the holy and brilliant king.


Tragic End

After relocating the capital to Sabi, King Seong focused his energy on reclaiming the Han River basin that had been lost to Goguryeo. To this end, the king formed allied troops with Silla and the Gaya confederacy in 551. Finally, the Baekje-led allied forces recovered the Han River area. But the joy was short-lived as King Jinheung(진흥) of Silla disregarded the alliance with Baekje and took the lower reaches of the Han River. In 554, King Seong launched a retaliatory military attack on Silla, despite the objection of pacifists. Crown prince Chang led the attack with 30-thousand soldiers, and Baekje seemed to have the upper hand in the initial stage. The battle reached its peak at the Gwansan(관산) Fortress, which is now in Okcheon(옥천) in North Chungcheong Province. There, Silla forces made a surprise attack and Chang was isolated in battle. King Seong ran to the battlefield to rescue his son. Unfortunately, the king was caught by a slave-turned-soldier of Silla and met a humiliating death. Having lost their king, Baekje troops were at a loss. The country suffered a fatal blow, with four generals and 30-thousand soldiers killed in battle. It was the 32nd year of the king’s reign.

King Seong ruled his nation for over 30 years, but his death in the battle with Silla resulted in the collapse of the Silla-Baekje alliance that had lasted for more than a century. This also jeopardized Baekje’s alliances with the Liang Dynasty of China and Japan, which the king had maintained all his life. In that process, royal power diminished gradually within the Baekje court. A new management system centered on aristocrats began to take root instead, as the indigenous Mahan clan gained power.



Dream of National Revival Fades into History

Throughout the long history of Baekje, it is hard to find a figure who led such a turbulent life like King Seong. For a new take-off of his country, he pushed ahead of capital relocation, rearranged the governing system, recovered the territory that had been plundered by Goguryeo, and took the lead in exchanging Buddhist culture. With these remarkable achievements, the king dreamed of reviving the glory of Baekje. Unfortunately, King Seong’s Baekje could not blossom again and faded into history.