Aejang of Silla


Aejang was the 40th ruler of the Korean kingdom of Silla. He was the eldest son of King Soseong and Queen Gyehwa. He married a lady of the Pak clan.

Reign

In the year 800, Aejang rose to the throne after the death of the former king. Since he was too young to rule on his own because he was 12 at the time, his uncle Kim Eon-seung, who before 800 was serving as Ichan,became a regent for the king as byeongburyryeong, a modern equivalent of head of ministry of defense.
In 802, Aejang had the great temple of Haeinsa built on Gayasan. In 803, he formed an alliance with Wa. In 806, he forbade the building of new temples. In 809, he was slain along with his brother Chemyeong by his uncle Kim Eon-seung, who had been regent and took the throne for himself.

Family