Anwon of Goguryeo

Who was Anwon of Goguryeo?

King Anwon of Goguryeo was the 23rd ruler of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was the younger brother of King Anjang, and is said to have been tall and wise.

When Anjang died without an heir in 531, Emperor Gaozu of Liang enfeoffed him as king. In the third month of his reign, the Emperor of Wei sent an imperial rescript naming him Commissioner with Special Powers, Cavalier Attendant-in-ordinary, Concurrent Commandant, Protector of the Eastern Tributaries, Dynasty Founding Duke of the Liaodong Commandery, and King of Goguryeo, presenting him with the associated vestments, ornaments, coach, and standard.

The other two of the Three Kingdoms, Baekje and Silla, formed an alliance in response to the Goguryeo threat, leading to a relatively balanced peace. In the only conflict during Anwon's reign, in the ninth lunar month of 540, Baekje laid siege to Usan Castle, but Anwon sent 5,000 cavalry and drove the attackers off.

Goguryeo suffered many natural disasters during Anwon's reign, such as flooding, earthquakes, thunderstorms and a severe epidemic, a severe drought, a plague of locusts.

Anwon's first queen had not given birth to a son.