Bojang (died 682; ) was the 28th and last monarch of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was placed on the throne by the military leader Yŏn Kaesomun. His reign ended when Goguryeo fell to the allied forces of the southern Korean kingdom of Silla and the Chinese Tang dynasty.

Background

The period of his rule over Goguryeo is recounted in the final two books of the annals of Goguryeo in the Samguk sagi. Bojang's given name was Jang, though he was also known as Bojang. Bojang was the nephew of the previous king, king Yeongnyu and son of Go Dae-Yang. In 642, the general Yŏn Kaesomun carried out a coup d'etat and killed Yeongnyu and many of his supporters. Bojang was then placed on the throne.

With the aim of inducing Goguryeo to join an expedition against Baekje, Silla dispatched Kim Ch'unch'u to request the commitment of troops but Goguryeo did not consent.

For most of his reign, Bojang was a puppet, giving a veneer of legitimacy to Yŏn Kaesomun's military rule. For example, at Yŏn's instigation he supported Taoism and issued edicts repressing Buddhism in the country, which had formerly been officially Buddhist.

Goguryeo experienced many natural disasters during his reign.

Reign

Goguryeo continued battle against the southern Korean kingdom of Silla, in alliance with the third of the Three Kingdoms, Baekje. Silla was further isolated by Goguryeo's restored relations with the Wa of Japan. In 642, Silla sent Kim Ch'unch'u to negotiate a treaty, but when Yŏn Kaesomun demanded the return of the Seoul region, talks broke down, leading Silla to eventually ally with the Tang dynasty.

The Baekje kingdom finally fell to Silla-Tang in 660. Yŏn Kaesomun defeated major invasions of Pyongyang in 661 and Sasu River in 662, but Silla and Tang were now free to focus and intensify their attacks against Goguryeo. In 663, the Baekje revival movement ended as its leader Buyeo Pung retreated to Goguryeo.

One of his sons Ko Yak'gwang settled in Japan in 666 where he founded the Koma clan and became known as Koma no Koshiki Jakkō.

Ko Tŏngmu was a prince of Goguryeo and founded Lesser Goguryeo. He was the third son of King Bojang.

Family

  • Father: Prince Taeyang ()
  • Grandfather: King Pyeongwon ()
  • Sons from first wife:
  • Ko Pongnam () – last Crown Prince of Goguryeo.
  • Ko Immu () – last Magniji of Goguryeo.
  • Ko Ryŏn ()
  • Ko Tŏngmu ()
  • Ko Yak'gwang () "Jakkō" – ancestor of the Koma clan in Japan.
  • Son from second wife: