Alcheon
Alcheon | |
|---|---|
| Sangdaedeung of Silla | |
| In office 647–654? | |
| Monarch | Jindeok |
| Preceded by | Bidam |
| Succeeded by | Kŭm Kang |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 577? |
| Died | after 654 |
| Nationality | Silla |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 알천 |
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Alcheon |
| McCune–Reischauer | Alch'ŏn |
Kim Alcheon (aka So Alcheon, 577?–686?) was a Silla politician who served as a general during Queen Seondeok's reign, and as Sangdaedeung from 647 to 654, during Queen Jindeok's reign. He was the first politician to serve in Silla's highest military and political office, respectively.[1]
Birth and Ancestry
[edit]Little is known about Alcheon's early life and ancestry.[2] The genealogy book of the Jinju So clan suggests that Alcheon was born in 577 in Saryang-bu, Gyeongju, and died in 686.[3][4] According to genealogy records Alcheon was also the 25th great-grandson of So Bŏldori (소벌도리; 蘇伐都利), who was a chief from Saro-guk, and the 14th great-grandson of King Adalla of Silla.[4]
A famous legend about Alcheon's bravery relates that once, Alcheon was out in the forest together with the other hwarangs. Suddenly, a tiger appeared and was about to attack them. The Hwarangs were terrified and started to panic, but Alcheon just smiled and attacked the tiger alone and killed it with his bare hands.[citation needed]
Career
[edit]In 636, Alcheon, who was then a general, received orders from Queen Seondeok to drive off the Baekje forces in Yeoguen-gok.[5] Alcheon and his 500 men ambushed and decimated Baekje general Uso's invading force near Doksan Fortress.[6] Alcheon was promoted as the Grand General (대장군; 大將軍) of Silla the following year.[6] In early 638, Alcheon repelled invading Goguryeo forces outside Chiljungseong Fortress, capturing and killing numerous enemy soldiers.[6]
Despite his victories against both Baekje and Goguryeo forces, no records of his career as the Grand General of Silla after the 638 battle of Chiljungseong Fortress appear in historical sources.[7] Thus, historians have speculated that Silla's failures during Uija of Baekje's 642 campaign may have led to his removal from his military position.[7]
In early 674, Bidam, who was then the Sangdaedeung of Silla, launched a rebellion against Queen Seondeok.[8] Bidam rallied the nobility, arguing that a woman was unfit for the position of a monarch.[8] Nevertheless, Alcheon remained loyal to the throne, and the rebellion was suppressed under the leadership of Kim Yu-sin.[9] Seondeok's death during the rebellion led to the coronation of Queen Jindeok.[9] Possibly seeking a figure who would satisfy the Silla nobles, Jindeok immediately appointed Alcheon, who was a jingol noble from birth,[2] as Bidam's successor.[9]
The Seonggol lineage, which had been in a lack of a male heir since the death of Jinpyeong,[citation needed] came to a complete end with Queen Jindeok's death in 654.[2] With no Seonggol heirs to inherit the throne, the Hwabaek Council offered Alcheon the position of king regent by procedure.[2] However, Alcheon declined the offer on account of his "old age" and "lack of virtue";[10] he instead endorsed Kim Ch'un-ch'u, who would later assume the throne as King Muyeol of Silla.[1][2]
No historical accounts of Alcheon after his endorsement of Kim Ch'un-ch'u exist.[10] It is assumed that he resigned from his position as Sangdaedeung in 655 upon Kŭm Kang's appointment as his successor.[10]
Popular culture
[edit]- Portrayed by Lee Seung-hyo in the 2009 MBC TV series Queen Seondeok.
- Portrayed by Im Hyuk in the 2012–2013 KBS1 TV series Dream of the Emperor.
References
[edit]- ^ a b Kim 2012, p. 23.
- ^ a b c d e 김영하. "알천 (閼川)". Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean). Retrieved October 27, 2024.
- ^ 이정현 (March 24, 2020). "신라 화랑의 후손 '금수저' 증명서 발급했다". Weekly Chosun (in Korean).
- ^ a b 박노석. "진주소씨". Encyclopedia of Korean Local Culture (in Korean). Retrieved October 27, 2024.
- ^ Samguk Yusa 2006.
- ^ a b c Kim 2012, p. 26.
- ^ a b Kim 2012, p. 34.
- ^ a b Kim 2012, p. 35.
- ^ a b c Kim 2012, p. 36.
- ^ a b c Kim 2012, p. 43.
Sources
[edit]- 김병곤 [Kim ByoungGon] (2012). "신라 중대로의 전환기 알천의 역할과 위상" [Alcheon's roles and position during Silla's mid-transition period.]. 신라문화 (in Korean). 40 (40). The Research Institute for Silla Culture of Dongguk University: 23–48 – via KCI.
- Il-yeon (2006). Il-yeon: Samguk Yusa: Legends and History of the Three Kingdoms of Ancient Korea. Vol. 1. Translated by Tae-Hung Ha; Grafton K. Mintz. Silk Pagoda. ISBN 1-59654-348-5.