Arduin of Ivrea vs King Uijong of Goryeo

After the death of Emperor Otto III, Arduin of Ivrea was proclaimed King of Italy by the Lombard nobility in Pavia. This act challenged the authority of the German king Henry II, who claimed the Italian throne.

Arduin was defeated by Henry II's forces near the Po River. This military loss forced Arduin to retreat to his margraviate of Ivrea, effectively ending his claim to the Italian throne and allowing Henry II to be crowned King of Italy.

Arduin was excommunicated by Pope Benedict VIII for his continued resistance against Henry II. This ecclesiastical condemnation isolated Arduin politically and religiously, contributing to his eventual surrender and retirement.

After years of failed resistance, Arduin retired to the Abbey of Fruttuaria, where he died as a monk. His retirement marked the end of the last major Italian challenge to German rule in the early 11th century.

King Uijong's reign before the coup was characterized by lavish spending on palaces, gardens, and entertainment. He neglected state affairs and surrounded himself with pleasure-seeking courtiers. This extravagance alienated the military and contributed to the coup.

General Jeong Jung-bu led a military coup against King Uijong's civil-dominated government. The king was deposed and exiled to Geojedo. Many civil officials were killed. This coup ended the civil bureaucracy's supremacy and began a century of military rule in Goryeo.

Following the coup, the military regime targeted Buddhist institutions that had been closely tied to the civil bureaucracy. Several temples were destroyed or looted, and monks were persecuted. This marked a decline in state patronage of Buddhism.

After being deposed, King Uijong was exiled to Geojedo Island. In 1173, fearing a restoration attempt, the military regime sent assassins who killed the former king. His death solidified the military's control and eliminated a potential rallying point for loyalists.