Gwanggaeto the Great

Gwanggaeto the Great conquered the Lelang Commandery, a Chinese commandery located in the Korean peninsula. This victory eliminated Chinese influence in the region and brought the territory under Goguryeo control. It marked a significant expansion of Goguryeo's territory and power.

Gwanggaeto the Great launched campaigns against the Xianbei and Khitan nomadic confederations in Manchuria. He defeated them, securing Goguryeo's northern borders and expanding its influence into Manchuria. These campaigns demonstrated Goguryeo's military strength and protected its territory from nomadic incursions.

Gwanggaeto the Great led a military campaign that subjugated the Baekje kingdom, forcing it to become a vassal state of Goguryeo. He captured the Baekje capital, Hansung, and took the Baekje king as a hostage. This victory made Goguryeo the dominant power on the Korean peninsula.

After Gwanggaeto's death, his son King Jangsu erected a large stele in his honor at the site of his tomb in Ji'an, China. The stele is inscribed with a detailed account of Gwanggaeto's conquests and achievements. It is a crucial historical source for understanding Goguryeo's history and territorial extent.