Goguryeo-Guk

The Goguryeo-Guk (ê³ êµ¬ë ¤êµ) (668) was a restoration of Goguryeo, which was the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. The Goguryeo-Guk was founded, in 668, by former Goguryeo general Geom Mojam, and Go Anseung, who was the nephew of Bojang of Goguryeo, the last ruler of Goguryeo. The Goguryeo-Guk was centered and ruled from the city of Hanseong, which is modern-day Seoul.

Founding
After the fall of Goguryeo in 668, several restoration movements began. All were led by Goguryeo military officers. Among these Goguryeo generals was Geom Mojam, who had been among the many who blocked the Tang-Silla siege of Pyeongyang. When the battle was lost and Goguryeo's Royal Palace burned to the ground, Geom Mojam had already escaped with the bulk of Pyeongyang's citizens and some of the fighting men. From there, Geom led the refugees to Jung-Mo Mountain, which was north of Pyeongyang. There, Geom and several of Goguryeo's former generals were able to gather strength while escaping the eyes of the Andong Tuohufu, Protectorate General to Pacify the East. Soon, Geom led his men and escorted Prince Anseung, who was in Silla, to Hansung, which was a city in the former lands of Baekje. At Hansung, Anseung was proclaimed Taewang of Goguryeo-Guk, and Geom was proclaimed Dae Magniji.

Internal Struggles and Downfall
Goguryeo-Guk was greatly assisted by Silla and its ruler, Munmu of Silla. Two factions arose from within Goguryeo-Guk. One faction was highly against Silla's treatment and view of the restored Goguryeo, while the other found Silla's assistance highly necessary in order for the kingdom to be fully recovered. These two factions fought bitterly, with the Taewang and Dae Magniji on opposite views. This resulted in the assassination of Geom Mojam on Anseung Taewang's orders. Geom Mojam's death left Goguryeo-Guk gravely weakened. Since most of Goguryeo-Guk's officials had been followers of Geom Mojam, Anseung found his court half-empty. Anseung surrendered to King Munmu and was given the title "King of Bodeok" and the Silla Royal surname "Kim." The exact number of Goguryeo people that followed Anseung into Silla is unknown, but it is thought that most of them became a part of the Kingdom of Bodeok. The Kingdom of Bodeok was demolished in 683 by King Sinmun, son of King Munmu, mostly due to the possible threat of rebellion by the Goguryeo people.

Legacy
A new theory among Korean historians states that Gung-ye, the founder of Taebong, was a descendant of Anseung and the Go Royal Family. This theory has not been completely accepted yet, as more research is still in process.

See-Also
*Goguryeo
*Geom Mojam
*Anseung
*Munmu of Silla

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