Micheon of Goguryeo

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Micheon of Goguryeo
Hangul 미천왕 or 호양왕
Hanja 美川王, 好壤王
Revised Romanization Micheon-wang or Hoyang-wang
McCune–Reischauer Mich'ŏn-wang
Birth name
Hangul 고을불 or 을불리 or 우불
Hanja 高乙弗 or 乙弗利 or 憂弗
Revised Romanization Go Eul-bul or Eulbulli or U-bul
McCune–Reischauer Ko Ŭlbul or Ŭlbulli or Ubul
Monarchs of Korea
  1. King Chumo 37-19 BCE
  2. King Yuri 19 BCE-18 CE
  3. King Daemusin 18-44
  4. King Minjung 44-48
  5. King Mobon 48-53
  6. King Taejodae 53-146
  7. King Chadae 146-165
  8. King Sindae 165-179
  9. King Gogukcheon 179-197
  10. King Sansang 197-227
  11. King Dongcheon 227-248
  12. King Jungcheon 248-270
  13. King Seocheon 270-292
  14. King Bongsang 292-300
  15. King Micheon 300-331
  16. King Gogug-won 331-371
  17. King Sosurim 371-384
  18. King Gogug-yang 384-391
  19. King Gwanggaeto 391-413
  20. King Jangsu 413-490
  21. King Munja 491-519
  22. King Anjang 519-531
  23. King An-won 531-545
  24. King Yang-won 545-559
  25. King Pyeong-won 559-590
  26. King Yeong-yang 590-618
  27. King Yeong-nyu 618-642
  28. King Bojang 642-668

King Micheon of Goguryeo (died 331, r. 300–331) was the 15th ruler of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea.

Background and Rise to the throne[edit]

He was the grandson of the 13th king Seocheon, and the son of the gochuga Go Dol-go, who was killed by his brother, the 14th king Bongsang.

Micheon lived in hiding as an indentured servant and a salt merchant, but was made king after Bongsang was overthrown by court officials. The tales of Micheon's life in hiding before becoming king are recorded in the Samguk Sagi. He is said to have been a servant of a local lord, and was made to throw stones into a pond throughout the night, to keep the frogs quiet. He escaped and met a salt merchant, and faced much hardship while travelling selling salt.

Meanwhile, King Bongsang became increasingly unpopular, and court officials, led by Prime Minister Chang Jo-Ri, carried out a coup that overthrew King Bongsang, and placed King Micheon on the throne.


Micheon continuously developed the Goguryeo army into a very powerful force. During the disintegration of China's Jin Dynasty, he expanded Goguryeo's borders into the Liaodong Peninsula and the other Chinese commanderies. His first military campaign was in 302, against the Xuantu Commandery. He annexed the Lelang commandery in 313 and Daifang commandery in 314 after attacked Seoanpyeong (西安平; near modern Dandong) in Liaodong.

In his reign, Goguryeo was faced with growing Xianbei influence in the west, particularly Murong Bu (慕容部) incursions into Liaodong. Micheon allied with other Xianbei tribes against the Murong Bu, but their attack was unsuccessful. In 319, the Goguryeo general Yeo Noja (여노자, 如奴子) was taken captive by the Murong Bu. Throughout this period, Goguryeo and the Murongbu attacked each other's positions in Liaodong, but neither was able to gain a lasting victory.

Death and aftermath[edit]

Micheon died and was buried in 331 at Micheon-won. Twelve years later in the reign of King Gogugwon, his remains were dug up by the Former Yan invaders, and held for ransom.

See also[edit]

External links[edit]