Adalla of Silla


Adalla was the eighth ruler of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He is commonly called Adalla Isageum, isageum being the royal title in early Silla. As a descendant of Silla's founder Hyeokgeose, his surname was Bak.

Family

Background

He was the eldest son of King Ilseong, his mother being of the Bak clan. He married the daughter of King Jima, making this a marriage of 8th degree consanguinity. He was the last of the Bak clan to rule over early Silla. Descendants of Bak Hyeokgeose would rule again near the end of Unified Silla.

Reign

Judging from the reports in the Samguk sagi, Adalla's reign was a time of considerable expansion. However, some scholars doubt the chronology because Silla was still a small state.
He is said to have opened the road over Haneuljae in 157, and also the pass of Jungnyeong in 159, extending Silla north of the Sobaek mountains.
Tensions increased with the rival Korean kingdom Baekje for harboring a Silla traitor. The Samguk sagi reports 20,000 soldiers and 8,000 cavalry of Silla battled Baekje in 167.
During his reign, Adalla maintained peaceful relations with the Wa of Japan, who sent an envoy in 158. Himiko sent another envoy in 173.
In AD 157, According to the Samguk yusa, This is the time when the legends of Yeono and Seo occurred.
Kamigaito saw Ito's "Itsuhiko" as Yeono. In other words, the Itsuhiko, which was established in this area after crossing from Iseoguk of Silla, confronted the forces of Yamato, Hokuriku and Setona Ikai, and formed an alliance with Silla. This shows the interaction between ancient Korea and Japan.

Adala's last decade of history question

According to the Samguk sagi, there are no record between 174 and 184 years.
Major questions arise during this period.
Considering the fact that Park will not succeed to the throne, but Seok, the Beolhyu Isageum, will succeed to the throne afterwards. It can be estimated that there was considerable confusion within Silla at that time. In particular, the mother of Naehae Isageum, is written as Lady Naerye, who is the same person as Queen of Adalla Isageum.
Samguk sagi:
  • 173 AD, spring, first month, use the Gudo who is a Michu's father as a Pajinchan and KooSoohye as an Ilgilchan
  • 173 AD, spring, second month, A problem happens in the progenitor tomb and an epidemic breaks out.
  • 173 AD, summer, fifth month, Himiko (queen) sent an envoy.
  • 174 AD, spring, first month, It rains with a sandstorm.
  • 174 AD, spring, second month, A well dries.
  • 184 AD, spring, third month, A king dies.

Legacy

There is no record of his activities during the last decade of his reign. He died without a male heir, and was succeeded by the Seok clan.
Adalla's tomb is believed to lie next to those of two later kings of Bak Hyeokgeose's line, in the Samneung complex near Namsan in central Gyeongju.