Charles V of France vs Gojong of Goryeo

Charles V reorganized the French royal administration, establishing a more efficient tax system and a standing army. He appointed capable officials and strengthened the monarchy's control over finances. These reforms provided the resources needed to recover from the Hundred Years' War.

Charles V founded the Royal Library in the Louvre, collecting over 900 manuscripts. He patronized scholars and translators, making works available in French. This library became the foundation of the Biblioth

Charles V launched a series of military campaigns under Bertrand du Guesclin to reclaim lands lost to England. Using a strategy of avoiding pitched battles, the French gradually recaptured most of the territories ceded at Br

Charles V ordered the construction of the Bastille fortress in Paris to protect the city and serve as a royal residence. The fortress later became a symbol of royal authority and a prison. It was a key element of Charles's fortification of Paris.

Mongol forces under General Sartaq invaded Goryeo, capturing Kaesong and forcing King Gojong to flee to Ganghwa Island. The invasion devastated the countryside and led to a tributary agreement that was soon broken.

King Gojong moved the royal court and government to Ganghwa Island to resist Mongol demands for submission. The island's natural defenses allowed Goryeo to continue resistance for nearly 30 years.

Under Gojong's patronage, the Buddhist canon was carved onto over 80,000 woodblocks to invoke divine protection against the Mongols. The Tripitaka Koreana remains one of the most complete and accurate versions of the Buddhist scriptures.

After decades of war, King Gojong agreed to submit to the Mongol Empire, sending his son (future King Wonjong) as a hostage. The peace treaty ended the invasions but made Goryeo a vassal state of the Mongols.