Gyeongsun of Silla

Gyeongsun (897–978), personal name Kim Pu, was the 56th and final ruler of the Koreanic kingdom Silla.

Biography A sixth-generation descendant of King Munseong, he was the son of Kim Hyo-Jong by Princess Gyea, who was the daughter of King Heongang. His wife was Lady Jukbang of the Juksan Park clan, his eldest son was Crown Prince Maui, and his youngest son was Beomgong.

Gyeongsun was placed on the throne by the Later Baekje king Kyŏn Hwŏn after the Hubaekje forces sacked Gyeongju in 927 and forced Gyeongsun's predecessor to commit suicide. Kyŏn had specifically placed Gyeongsun on the throne to fracture Silla's alliance with Goryeo. The kingdom was already in an extremely weakened state, so Gyeongsun reigned over a tiny remnant of the former Silla territory until finally abdicating in favour of Taejo of Goryeo in 935. Gyeongsun led his officials to Songak for the official ceremony, heading a convoy filled with treasures and beautiful women that extended for more than thirty Li. Taejo of Goryeo waited for Gyeongsun in the Goryeo capital's suburbs and then formalized Gyeongsun's submission by marrying his eldest daughter, Princess Nangrang, to him and was appointed sasim-gwan (사심관, inspector-general) of Gyeongju, becoming the first of Goryeo's sasim-gwan system. Taejo married Gyeongsun's uncle's daughter who became one of Taejo's many queens. She would later become the grandmother of Goryeo King Hyeonjong of Goryeo.

He lived out the remainder of his life near the Goryeo capital (modern-day Kaesong). He died in 978 and his tomb lies in Jangnam-myeon, Yeoncheon County, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.

Worship

In Korean shamanism, Gyeongsun is worshiped as one of Wangshin .

Family

Father: Kim Hyo-jong, King Shinheung of Silla (; 877 – ?) Grandfather: King Uiheung of Silla (; 857 – 915) Unnamed grandmother (856 – 916) Mother: Queen Mother Gyea of the Gyeongju Kim clan (; 886 – ?) Grandfather: King Heongang of Silla (; 861 – 886) Grandmother: Queen Mother Uimyeong of the Gyeongju Kim clan (; 861 – ?) Consorts and their Respective Issue: Lady Jukbang of the Juksan Park clan (; 893 – 954) Kim Il, Crown Prince Maui (; 912 – ?), sixth son Kim Goeng (; 914 – 967), seventh son Kim Myeong-jong, Duke Yeongbun (; 916 – ?), eighth son Lady Kim of the Gyeongju Kim clan (; 918 – ?), second daughter Lady Ahn of the Sunheung Ahn clan (; 899 – ?) Kim Deok-ji (; 920 – ?), tenth son Princess Nakrang of the Kaesong Wang clan (; 897 – ?) Lady Kim of the Gyeongju Kim clan (; 913 – ?), first daughter Kim Seok, Prince Uiseong (; 922 – ?), eleventh son Kim Eun-yeol, Prince Daean (; 934 – 1028), twelfth son Lady Kim of the Gyeongju Kim clan (; 936 – ?), third daughter Queen Heonsuk of the Gyeongju Kim clan (; 937 – ?), fourth daughter Kim Kŏn, Prince Gangreung (; 940 – ?), thirteenth son Kim Sŏn, Prince Eonyang (; 943 – ?), fourteenth son Kim Chu, Prince Samcheok (; 946 – ?), fifteenth son Kim Ryeo-gyeong , Lady Kim of the Gyeongju Kim clan (950 – ?), fifth daughter Princess Wang of the Kaesong Wang clan – No issue. Lady Songhui of the Seok clan (; 885 – ?) Kim Jeon (; 901 – 935), first son Kim Yo (; 903 – ?), second son Kim Gon (; 905 – 935), third son Kim Bun (; 907 – ?), fourth son Kim Yeong (; 907 – ?), fifth son Kim Jeong (; 917 – ?), ninth son Lady Ahn (; 920 – ?)

In popular culture Portrayed by Shin Hwi-shik in the 2000–2002 KBS TV series Taejo Wang Geon. Portrayed by Lee Do-ryun in the 2002–2003 KBS TV series The Dawn of the Empire.