Anjang of Goguryeo


Anjang of Goguryeo was the 22nd ruler of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. With his original name of Heung-an, he was the eldest son of Munjamyeong. He was named Crown Prince in the seventh year of Munjamyeong's reign, and assumed the throne when his father died in 519. He was supposedly assassinated in 531 without heir.
Under Anjang, Goguryeo continued to maintain close relations with the Chinese dynasties, notably Wei and Liang with constant 'tribute missions', to counterbalance the volatile relationship with the southerly Korean kingdoms of Baekje and Silla. He attacked Baekje in 523 and 529, slaying more than 2,000 Baekje soldiers.
Historical records during the reign of Anjang are rarely found throughout East Asia with some erroneous marks on his death: the Book of Liang completed in 635 says Anjang died in 526 but it was about five or six years later; The Japanese chronicle Nihon Shoki quoting Baekje Bongi says Anjang was killed amid bloody chaos, which implies the final years of his reign were not fairly stabilized. Since series of chaos also sparked at the end of his brother, Anwon’s reign, it is speculated the succession issue had already been entrenched as extreme affair of Goguryeo court among the aristocracy.
When Anjang died without heir in 531, he was succeeded by his younger brother, Anwon.

The Love story of Go Heung-an and Lady Han

Among the numerous historical Korean stories, there is the Love story of a Baekje woman and the 22nd Great King of Goguryeo. It shows many parallels to the Western culture's Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and also the story of Prince Hodong and Princess Nangnang, who also had a forbidden love.