King Gojong of Goryeo

The Mongol Empire under

After the murder of Mongol overseers, the Mongols launched a second invasion. General Saritai led the attack. Goryeo forces resisted fiercely, but the Mongols devastated the countryside. The invasion ended when Saritai was killed by a Buddhist monk.

King Gojong moved the royal court and government to Ganghwa Island, a fortified location in the Han River estuary. This relocation was intended to resist Mongol demands and protect the monarchy. The court remained there for nearly 30 years.

The Mongols launched a third invasion, focusing on destroying Goryeo's ability to resist. They ravaged the mainland while the court remained on Ganghwa. After years of war, King Gojong agreed to peace terms in 1238, including sending a prince as hostage.

To invoke Buddhist protection against the Mongol invasions, King Gojong ordered the carving of a new set of the Tripitaka Koreana woodblocks. This massive project was completed in 1251, creating a cultural treasure that survives to this day.

After decades of war, King Gojong finally submitted to Mongol suzerainty. He sent his son, the future King Wonjong, to the Mongol court as a hostage. This ended the military resistance and made Goryeo a vassal state of the Mongol Empire.