Battle of Cheoinseong Fortress
Part of the Mongol invasions of Korea
DateDecember 16, 1232
Location
Result Decisive Goryeo Victory
Belligerents
Goryeo militants Mongol Empire
Commanders and leaders
Kim Yun-hu Saritai 
Hong Bok-won[1]
Strength
100 monk soldiers
1,000 refugees
Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationCheoinseong jeontu
McCune–ReischauerCh'ŏinsŏng chŏnt'u

The Battle of Cheoin was a battle between Goryeo militants and forces of the Mongol Empire in Cheoin-bugok, Suju, Yanggwang-do (modern day Yongin, Gyeonggi) on December 16, 1232. Despite being outnumbered, civilian forces of the fortress managed to hold off the Mongol advance. Following the death of the Mongolian general Saritai, the invading force withdrew, effectively ending the second Mongol invasion of Korea.[2]

Background

In August 1232, in response to the Goryeo military government's relocation to Ganghwado, the Mongol Empire began its second invasion of Korea. After conquering Gaegyeong and Hanyang, Saritai, supreme commander of the invading Mongol forces, initially planned an amphibious invasion of the island. However, he later decided on an advance further south.[3] The Mongol army reached Gwangju in November but failed to take over its fortress. Saritai then ordered the most of his army to resume its blockade on Ganghwado and continued his advance south with the rest of his troops until his arrival at the village of Cheoin.

Cheoin was then a bugok, a segregational administration where cheonmin peasants made up the majority of the population. As the village itself relatively small and had little strategic value, it was left undefended by regular forces. Hence, its local fortification, Cheoinseong fortress, was small and earthen, with a circumference of about 425m. Around 1,000 civilians were sheltered at the fortress, along with a group of roughly 100 monk soldiers. [4]

Development

Nevertheless, Saritai began preparations for a siege and split his forces surrounding Cheoinseong fortress, presumably seeking a quick takeover of its supply storage and human resources. The people of the fortress decided to fight against the Mongols and nominated monk soldier Kim Yun-hu as commander. Saritai initiated his attack on December 16, but failed to take over the fortress and was ambushed by guerilla forces that had been waiting on a hill nearby its eastern gate. The same day, Saritai was fatally hit by an arrow, presumably fired by a monk archer who was stationed inside the fortress. After his death, Mongol forces collapsed and were forced to retreat.[5][1]

Aftermath

The battle of Cheoin became a major turning point in the war. As Mongol forces became disorganized, the war turned in Goryeo's favor. The Mongol Empire concluded a peace treaty with Goryeo and withdrew its troops.

The Goryeo government later offered Kim Yun-hu a promotion in his government position, crediting him as the man who shot the Mongol general. However, Kim declined, claiming that he did not possess a bow and an arrow during the battle. Nevertheless, the Goryeosa recognizes him as the man who shot Saritai, and he is widely acknowledged as so. Kim Yun-hu participated again in battle 21 years later at the Battle of Chungju, during the fifth Mongol invasion of Korea.[1]

Cheoin-bugok was later promoted to a hyeon, freeing it from its former segregational status.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Kang, Jaegwang. (2022). "Strategy and Leadership of Kim Yoonhu(金允侯) throughout Fighting against Mongol," Research Institute of Korean Studies., 96, 191-223.
  2. "처인성(處仁城)전투 - 문화콘텐츠닷컴". culturecontent.com (in Korean). Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  3. Hong, Minho. (2022). "The Characteristics and its Affects of the Battle of Cheoin Castle(處仁城) in the Period of Goryeo-Mongol War," Institute for Military History, MND., 124, 89-131.
  4. "처인성[處仁城] - 두피디아". doopedia.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  5. "처인성전투[處仁城-] - 두피디아". doopedia.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved November 7, 2016.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.