Chongzhen Emperor vs King Hyeonjong of Goryeo

Chongzhen became emperor after the death of his brother Tianqi. He inherited a Ming dynasty plagued by fiscal crisis, peasant rebellions, and the growing threat of the Manchu Qing in the northeast.

Chongzhen ordered the execution of the powerful eunuch Wei Zhongxian, who had dominated the court under Tianqi. He also purged Wei's faction, attempting to restore Confucian bureaucratic control.

The peasant rebel Li Zicheng led a massive uprising in northern China. Chongzhen's government failed to suppress the rebellion due to fiscal shortages and military defeats, allowing Li to capture Beijing.

As Li Zicheng's forces breached Beijing, Chongzhen committed suicide by hanging himself on a tree in Jingshan Park. His death marked the end of the Ming dynasty after 276 years.

Chongzhen rejected proposals to relocate the Ming court to Nanjing. He chose to remain in Beijing, believing that abandoning the capital would undermine his legitimacy and the dynasty's claim to rule.

The Liao dynasty (Khitan) invaded Goryeo with a large army. King Hyeonjong, advised by General Seo Hui, negotiated a settlement. The Khitan withdrew after Goryeo agreed to end relations with Song China, but the border was not ceded.

Emperor Shengzong of Liao invaded Goryeo after Hyeonjong refused to pay homage. The Khitan captured the capital Gaegyeong. Hyeonjong fled to Naju. The invasion ended with a Khitan withdrawal after a failed siege of a fortress.

Following the Khitan invasions, King Hyeonjong ordered the construction of a massive defensive wall in northern Goryeo. The Cheolli Jangseong (Thousand Li Wall) was built to fortify the border against future invasions from the Liao dynasty.

King Hyeonjong oversaw the compilation and promulgation of a comprehensive legal code, the Goryeo Code. This code systematized laws and administrative regulations, strengthening central governance and legal consistency across the kingdom.

The Liao dynasty launched a third invasion. General Gang Gam-chan led Goryeo forces to a decisive victory at the Battle of Gwiju. The Khitan army was nearly annihilated, ending the Liao invasions and securing Goryeo's independence.