1122BC Choson founded by Prince Jizu (Kija) in Southern Manchuria & NW Korea
1000 BC Kijan establishes a military organization for the Korean Army
400s BC Korean warfare dominated by City State rivalries and the growth of Confederations. Old/Ancient Chosen becomes one of the dominated powers
300s BC Puyo tribes of Manchuria ally with and fight various powers in the region
312-279 BC YEN China vs Ancient Chosen War. The Yen Dynasty won contol of the Liao River basin after years of campaigns due in part to the use of iron weapons against the bronze Korean weapons.
206 BC Chosen forces defeated by a CH'IN China expeditionary force.
194 BC Weimen, a defeated dissident Yen General succeeds in gaining control of the Chosen Capital and establishing the Weimen-Chosen dynasty. Chosen ruling family establishes an exiled kingdom among the Ma-han tribes
190-180 BC Weimen-Chosen defeat its neighbors of Chin-bon (south) & Imdun (NE)
128 BC HAN China vs Weimen-Chosen in Manchuria
109-108 BC HAN China Dynasty Invasion. Wu-Ti leads a united Chinese army into northern Korea and conquers the ruling Wiman-Chosen king.
108 BC-313AD HAN Dynasty Commandaries rule but not control northern Korea. They are in constant conflict with native tribes and nomads from Northern manchuria.
57 BC Saro confederation established, the foundation for Silla.
18 BC KOGURYO Dynasty is established in Northwest Korea.
12 AD Koguryo troops, part of a anti-Hsiung-nu expedition, revolt against the HSIN China/Nangnang
20-50 AD Puyo is the dominate tribe in a confederation of Manchurian tribes. They invade Koguryo territory and some migrate into the eastern region. Puyo vs Chinese Commandaries. Puyo vs Koguryo
30 ADWang Tiao revolts against the HAN/Nangnang
49 AD Puyo establishes a 'kingdom'
53-140 Koguryo under Tae'jo begin expansion campaigns. They conquer the Okcho and Eastern Ye/Imdun and fight several campaigns with the Chinese and Nangnang troops
121 Koguryo invades Liaotung peninsula. Fights both the Nangnang and Taebang commandaries. The Taebang receives support from WEI China
227 Koguryo troops capture the Chinese city of Anping at the mouth of the Yalu
242 Koguryo attacks across the Yalu results in WEI counterattacks
244-245 Major WEI China invasion + Xianbei nomad allies captures the Koguryo capital at Kungnae.
245 Koguryo focuses its efforts on recapturing its capital.
246 Tae-Fang and Nangnang commandaries attack Silla and Paekche towns in the Han River valley. Paekche defeats commandary to gain control of part of the Han River valley. (Some sources say that the Commandaries won.)
247 Nangnang commandary attacks the Korean tribes of Okcho and Easst Ye.
285 Puyo attacked by Hsien-pei (Xianbei)
310 Koguryo offensive against Chinese commandaries launched.
313 Paekche forces defeat Kung-Sun's Nangnang troops
313 Koguryo conquers the last Han China Commandary of Nangnang.
317-343 The Xianbei dominated YEN/Mu-jung land in Liao-tung and Manchuria is attacked by a coalition of dissident northern Xianbei tribes + Puyo + Koguryo. After the initial assault Koguryo is left alone to fight the extensive border war.
342-343 Major YEN/Mu-jung invasion captures the Koguryo capital at Kungnae
346 Puyo invaded by Hsien-pei
350 Koguryo is proclaimed a semi-independent vassal of YEN (North) China
356 The War of the Unification of Korea (The 300 Year War) Begins.
356-402 Silla vs Paekche + Kaya + Wa Japan
369 Paekche consolidates control over Ma-Han dissidents
369-390 Paekche Prince Homuda invades Kyushu, Japan. A 20 year campaign is conducted to sudue native Japanese clans. In 390 the Paekche dominated Yamato/Wa dynasty is founded.
369 Koguryo invades Paekche but is defeated
370 Koguryo gains control of Puyo
370 Koguryo forces in Puyo territory are attacked by an alliance of Hsien-pei and Ma-jung/YEN China.
371 Koguryo's capital is captured and their king is killed during the Paekche counter-offensive.
391-413 Kwanggaet'o Reign. Koguryo vs Paekche plus their Kaya and Wa Japanese allies. Other campaigns are conducted against the Chinese in Liaotung and Sushen of Manchuria.
400 A Koguryo alliance with Silla puts pressure on the Paekche alliance but the war ends in a stalemate along the Han River. Koguryo aid Silla vs Japanese raids
427 Koguryo moves its capital to the easier to defend location of Pyongyang
433-551 A Silla-Paekche alliance vs Koguryo for control of the Han River valley. It ends with the alliance victorious. Some sources have the alliance beginning later. Silla vs Kaya + Japanese allies. The Silla destroys the Kaya Confederation.
475 Koguryo captures the Paeche capital and kills its king
475 First joint Silla-Paekche campaign against Koguryo
512 Silla captures the city state of Usan located on the island of Ullung
532 Silla forces capture the main Kaya city of Pon-Kaya
About 550 Koguryo can be considered involved in a civil war as factions vie for control
551 Major Silla-Paekche campaign vs Koguryo in the Han River valley
554 Silla vs Paekche. The initial conflict was for control of all of the Han River Valley which was currently be shared by both powers. The Silla won when the Paekche King Song was killed in an assault on the Kwansan Fortress. Frequent Paekche raids into Silla continued for years.
562 Silla captures the last Kaya town of Tae-Kaya ending the Kaya Confederation
About 580s Tu-Chueh nomads (Turks) gain control of Manchuria and part of Northern Korea
580-670 Politically major alliance blocs formed. The SUI/TANG China + Silla vs the North-South Coalition of Tu-Chueh + Koguryo + Paekche + Wa Japan
598 Koguryo attack SUI forts in Liaotung. SUI Dynasty China counter-attacks Koguryo but are repelled.
600 Silla defeats the Koguryo along the Naktong river
612 SUI Dynasty China invades Koguryo but are repelled. This invasion consisted of 1 million men. 2/3 of the force sieged Liao-yang fortress while a 300,000 man strike force penetrated Koguryo to attack the capital. This force was defeated by Ulchi Mundok at the battle of Salsu River. Less than 3000 men returned to the main Sui force. Afterwards Sui forces conducted only limited sorties.
613 SUI Dynasty China invades Koguryo but are repelled
614 SUI Dynasty China invades Koguryo but are repelled
640s Koguryo attack Silla along the Han River
642 Paekche vs Silla. Paekche capyutres 40 border outposts and the town of Hapch'on. Silla withdraws and forms a new defensive line.
644-680 TANG-Korean Wars
644-659 TANG Dynasty China invades several times Koguryo but are repelled
645 TANG vs Koguryo. TANG won several sieges but withdrew after a 60 day siege of An-shih fortress failed. The TANG assaulted the walls everyday and sometimes as many as 6-7 times in a single day.
660 TANG Dynasty China joins Silla in an alliance that will break the Tang-Koguryo Silla-Koguryo and the Silla-Paekche stalemates.
660-663 Paekche Campaign. A TANG naval invasion of Paekche coincides with a land campaign by Silla. The Paekche are allied with the Wa Japanese. The initial campaign captures the capital in 660.
661-663 A three year restoration campaign is conducted by Paekche Prince P'ung, Buddist Monk Tochim and General Poksin. The effort fails due to internal disputes where Pokin kills Yochim and then is killed by P'ung. P'ung's last fortresses of Hansan and Taehung falls and resistance ends. A pro-TANG puppet government is installed.
661 TANG naval force under Su Ting-Fang moves upriver and attacks Pyongyang but is repulsed.
667-670 TANG and Silla forces invade Koguryo from the south and west. The Koguryo are defeated and their dynasty ends. TANG forces are aided by exiled Koguryo Prince Namsaeng and his retinue. Some end Koguryo in 668.
668-670 Limited Koguryo resistance by the retinues of individual Lords.
670 Koguryo territory is divided between Silla (most of modern Korea), TANG (Liaotung and land west of the Yalu) and Parhae (Manchurian land North of the Yalu)
670-680 Silla diplomats quickly forge alliances with the defeated Korean families to present a unified front against TANG China. After ten years of warfare, the TANG withdraw their garrisons from Korea.
670 Silla vs Pro-TANG Paekche troops
671 Silla captures Sabi, the capital of Pro-TANG Paekche
671-676 TANG vs Silla Alliance. Several battles along common borders. TANG won some battles but the Silla troops won most of them The silla victory at Mae-cho fortress ensures a Silla victory. About 698 TANG controlled Parhae (Po-hai or Neo-Koguryo) established in the ex-Koguryo territory which they annexed. it extends from northern Korea past the Yalu and Tumen rivers. Korean nobles and Malgal lower classes.
700 TANG vs Lessor Koguryo (remnant nobles) in several border raids.
721 Silla attempts to build the first Korean Wall along the Parhae border
732 Parhae naval raid on Tang port of Dengzhou
733 TANG + Silla + Lessor Koguryo vs Parhae. Retaliatory campaign.
733 Parhae conquers Lessor Koguryo in Liao-tung region
768- 780 Silla involved in suppressing numerous Peasant revolts.
768-771 Kim Taegong Rebellion. The first of several struggles between rival noble factions in the Silla empire. Private Armies controlled by nobles common.
770-950 SILLA CIVIL WAR. The feudal military syytem results in numerous families vying for control of the central government. They had 20 kings during this era
818-830 Parhae considered a major power in northern Korea-Manchuria. Controls land between the Amur river in the north to the Tae-dong river in the south to the Kaiyuan in the west
822 Kim Hon-chang Rebellion. The one of several struggles between rival noble factions in the Silla empire.
828-851 Hang-po-go with 10,000 personal troops campaign against Chinese pirates
838-839 Kim Kyun-jong Rebellion. The one of several struggles between rival noble factions in the Silla empire
889-890 Sang-ju Revolts. Serious noble led peasant revolts in Korea.. Ch'ojok (Grass) Peasant Brigades formed. The best organized being the Chokkojok (Red Trousered Bandits) in the Southwest.
890-892 Silla vs Neo-Paekche. Silla defeat a confederation of families located in Southwest Korea
901-918 Silla vs Koryo (Neo/Later Koguryo). A group of families in Northwest Korea defeat local Silla governors and eventually overthrows the Silla king.
918-936 Koryo Unification Wars. Koryo troops are involved in defeating most of the private warlord armies in Korea. Also fights the Later Paekche kingdom.
926 Khitan troops conquer Parhae.
927 Later Paekche troops under Kyon-hwon capture Silla capital of Kyongju.
930s Koryo campaigns against Later Paekche in the area west of Naktong.
930 Koryo defeats Later Paekche at Ko-chang
934 Koryo inflicts severe defeat on Later Paekche at Unju
935 Last Silla noble stronghold surrenders to Koryo
936 Major campaign by Koryo to destroy Later Paekche
993 Khitan hordes invade and threaten the capital of Koryo
1005-09 Koryo Civil War. The faction under Kang Cho defeats the faction of Kim Chi-yang and enthrones King Hyonjong.
1010 Khitan/Liao troops invade and burn the capital of Koryo. Kang Cho is killed by the Khitans during the war.
1018 Khitan/Liao invaders are defeated by Koryo. A Khitan force of 100,000 men is decimated in a series of ambushes. Less than 10,000 Khitans survived the invasion. This victory allows the Koryu to expand control to the Yalu River.
1033-1044 Korean Wall built to contol incursions of Khitan and Jurchen tribes. It extends from the mouth of the Yalu River to the Sea of Japan and was located north of modern Wonsan.
1104 Jurchen of Manchuria incursions are forced to withdraw by the Koryu. The mounted Jurchen forces defeat the mainly infantry Koryo army in several battles
1107 The Koryo special Pyolmuban Corps conducts a successful offensive against the Jurchen. Koryo regain control of the Hongwon plain in the eastern coastal region.
1115 Jurchen launch a major invasion. The Koryu to change their tribute payments from the Chinese LIAO/Khitan Dynasty to the CHIN/Jurchen dynasty.
1135 Koryu under Kim Pu-siu supress a Peasant revolt lead by Buddist monks under Myoch-ong
1170-1210 Koryu troops are forced to supress several peasant uprisings. They are defeated by Choe ChungHon with a personally loyal 3000 man Royal Guard and plus a large number of Slaves who are offered freedom at the end of the campaign.
1172 Dissaffected military + military colonist revolt in the (west) Pyongan province.
1172 Disaffected soldiers and remnants of Cho Wi-ch'ong join forcces and fortify a base on Mt Myohyang. They raid and disrupt government activities in the area until they voluntarily join an army trying to stop a Mongol invasion force.
1176-77 Rebel troops in Mangi and Mang`soi (south) defeat the Kongju garrison and controlled the Ch'ongju and Asan areas. They were defeated in 1177.
1182 Chonju Uprising by soldiers and government slaves hold the town for 40 days.
1193 Kim Sami Revolt. Kim was able to start uprisings in Ch'ongdo and Hyosim. Several government expeditions are defeated
1194 The Kim Sami insurgents are severely defeated at the battle of Miryang.
1198 Manjok fails to implement a revolt of the slaves located in the capital.
1199-1210 Kyongsang Region revolt. The region is the center of cooperation between several rebel groups which allow them to hold off government troops.
1199 Rebels occupy Samch'ok and Ulcin before joining forces with another rebel force at Kyongju. 1200 Slaves from Chinju merged with peasants in Hapch'on.
1202 Kyongju rebels, pro-Silla revivalists, unite with other rebel groups from Ulchin and Ch'ongdo to control Kyongsang province
1215-19 Mongol cross the Yalu to attack Khitan refugees. Joint Koryo and Mongol operations against Khitan refugee tribes.
1219 Last Khitan fortress (Kangdong) (east of Pyongyang) in Koryo territory falls to the combined Mongol-Koryo army.
1220-1350 Japanese pirates raid the Korean coast
1231 Mongols under Sartaq launch a massive raid into Korea and conquer the Koryu in response to insulted and killed envoys.
1232-1258 A government in exile is established and a guerrilla campaign is launched against the Mongol garrisons. The Sambyolch'o leads the effort.
1253-1257 Four anti-insurgent campaigns launched by Mongols under Jalairtai which utterly devastate Korea.
1259-1270 The Choe faction is destroyed and internal dissent in the Koryo court results in a less effective resistance, fewer guerrilla operations vs the Mongol garrisons
1270 Pro-Mongol civil official faction gains control and returns government to Kaesong. Peace is signed with the Mongols and joint Mongol-Koryo military commands are created.
1270-1273 The Anti-Mongol commanders of the Sambyolch'o continue their resistance against Mongol garrisons and the pro-Mongol Koryo government troops. They move their bases to southern Korea and controlled the islands of Chindo, Cheju and the adjacent coastal areas. Chindo falls in 1271 and Cheju in 1273.
1274 Koreans provide numerous troops for the Mongol invasion of Japan. Koryo Generals are nominally in control of the operation.
1281 Koreans provide numerous troops for the Mongol invasion of Japan. Koryo Generals are nominally in control of the operation.
1340s Korean revolts force the removal of Mongol garrisons.
1350-1389 Several campaigns are conducted by Koryo Generals including Ch'oe Yong,Yi Somggye, Ch'oe Mu-son
1359 Koryo defeat warlord armies ,Red Turbans, from China in Northern Korea
1361 Koryo defeat warlord armies , Red Turbans from China in Northern Korea
1388 General Yi Song-Gye revolts and overthrows the Koryu Dynasty. The Yi Dynasty is established.

More Ancient Korea

Military History Through the Three Kingdoms Era
Era of the Three Kingdoms
Chronology of Ancient Korean Military History
Summary of Ancient Korean Kingdoms
Armies of Korea: Organization until 1388
Armies of Ancient Korea: Uniforms Until 1388
DBA/DBM Variants