King Sindae (, 89–179; r. 165–179)Sindae of Goguryeo was the eighth ruler of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. The Samguk sagi records him as the half-brother of the sixth king Taejo and the seventh king Chadae.Institute of Korean Culture, 〈International Journal of Korean History VII-IX〉, 2005. p.164 Other records indicate he may have been Taejo or Chaedae's son.
Background He remained quiet under the harsh reign of Chadae, secluding himself in the mountains. After Myeongnim Dap-bu assassinated Chadae, Sindae was invited to ascend the throne by court officials. At that time he was already 77 years old. The Samguk yusa indicates that Sindae himself killed Taejo and Chadae to become king.King Chadae, King Sindae KBS Radio, Kings and Queens of Korea He tried to stabilize the court by incorporating Chadae's son and other opponents into his administration. To strengthen royal power, he created the supreme ministerial post of guksang(國相), and appointed Myeongnim Dap-bu to the office.
Reign In 169 and 172, Goguryeo was attacked by China, but successfully continued resistance to control the border. Goguryeo united with the Xianbei and attacked the Yuju and Byeongju districts of the Later Han dynasty of China; however, their alliance brought no great victory. The Later Han invaded Goguryeo in the eleventh month of 172, but were destroyed by Myeongnim Dap-bu's army at Jwawon(坐原),Samguk sagi,"八年，冬十一月，漢以大兵嚮我。王問群臣，戰守孰便。衆議曰：「漢兵恃衆輕我，若不出戰，彼以我為怯，數來。且我國山險而路隘，此所謂一夫當關，萬夫莫當者也。漢兵雖衆，無如我何，請出師禦之。」答夫曰：「不然。漢，國大民衆。今以强兵遠鬪，其鋒不可當也。而又兵衆者宜戰，兵少者宜守，兵家之常也。今漢人千里轉糧，不能持久。若我深溝高壘，淸野以待之，彼必不過旬月，饑困而歸。我以勁卒薄之，可以得志。」王然之，嬰城固守。漢人攻之不克，士卒饑餓引還。答夫帥數千騎追之，戰於坐原，漢軍大敗，匹馬不反。王大悅，賜答夫坐原及質山，為食邑。" gaining success to expand its territory into western side of the kingdom.
Death In 176, he named his second son Nammu as the crown prince (subsequent king Gogukcheon), which consolidated the tradition of patrilineal succession. Sindae died in the twelfth lunar month of 179, at the age of 91.
Family Unknown wife 1st son: Prince Balgi (); committed suicide after King Sansang ascended the throne. 2nd son: Prince Nammu () 3rd son: Prince Yeonu () 4th son: Prince Gyesu (); an active general during the reign of both king Gogukcheon and Sansang.
In popular culture Portrayed by Bae Gi-beom in the 2024 TVING original series Queen Woo
See also History of Korea Three Kingdoms of Korea List of Korean monarchs
References