Anjang of Goguryeo

Anjang of Goguryeo (died 531, r. 519–531) was the 22nd ruler of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. With his original name of Heung-an, he was the eldest son of Munjamyeong. He was named Crown Prince in the seventh year of Munjamyeong's reign (498), and assumed the throne when his father died in 519. He was supposedly assassinated in 531 without heir, and was succeeded by his younger brother, Anwon.

Anjang of Goguryeo
Hangul
안장왕
Hanja
安藏王
Revised RomanizationAnjang-wang
McCune–ReischauerAnjang-wang
Birth name
Hangul
흥안
Hanja
興安
Revised RomanizationHeung-an
McCune–ReischauerHŭngan

Under Anjang, Goguryeo continued to maintain close relations with the Chinese dynasties, notably Wei and Liang with constant 'tribute missions', to counterbalance the volatile relationship with the southerly Korean kingdoms of Baekje and Silla. He attacked Baekje in 523 and 529, slaying more than 2,000 Baekje soldiers.

Historical records during the reign of Anjang are rarely found throughout East Asia with some erroneous marks on his death: the Book of Liang completed in 635 says Anjang died in 526 although the actual date is believed to be about five or six years later; The Japanese chronicle Nihon Shoki quoting Baekje Bongi says Anjang was killed amid bloody chaos, which implies the final years of his reign were unstable. Since chaos also marked the end of his brother Anwon’s reign, it is speculated that succession issues had already been entrenched among the Goguryeo aristocracy.


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