List of monarchs of Korea
This is a list of monarchs of Korea, arranged by dynasty. Names are romanized according to the South Korean Revised Romanization of Korean. McCune-Reischauer romanizations may be found at the articles about the individual monarchs. Gojoseon. Gojoseon (2333 BCE – 108 BCE) was the first Korean kingdom. According to legend, it was founded by Dangun in 2333 BCE. Bronze Age archaeological evidence of Gojoseon culture is found in northern Korea and Liaoning. By the 9th to 4th century BCE, various historical and archaeological evidence shows Gojoseon was a flourishing state and a self-declared kingdom . Both Dangun and Gija are believed to be mythological figures, but recent findings suggest and theorize that since Gojoseon was a kingdom with artifacts dating back to the 4th millenium BC, Dangun and Gija may have been royal or imperial titles used for the monarchs of Gojoseon, hence the use of Dangun for 1900 years. Buyeo. Buyeo (c. 2nd century BC – 494 CE) ruled in modern-day Northeast China. Although records are sparse and contradictory, it is speculated that in the 1st century BCE, Dongbuyeo (Eastern Buyeo) branched out, after which the original Buyeo is sometimes referred to as Bukbuyeo  (Northern Buyeo). Its remnants were absorbed by the neighboring and brotherhood kingdom of Goguryeo in 494. Mahan confederacy. Mahan confederacy (1st century BC to 5th century AD) was an ancient Korean kingdom. According to the Samguk yusa, it was established after the fall of Gojoseon by its last king Jun in the southeastern part of the Korean peninsula. Goguryeo. Goguryeo (37 BC – 668 AD) was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Goguryeo rulers may have used the title of "Taewang" (太王, "Greatest King").  Baekje. Baekje (18 BC – AD 660) was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Temple  names were the same as personal names, unless noted otherwise. Silla. Silla (57 BC – 935 CE) was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. In the early years, Silla was ruled by the Pak, Seok, and Kim families. Rulers of Silla had various titles, including "Isageum, Maripgan, and Daewang". Like some Baekje kings, some declared themselves emperor. Gaya confederacy. The Gaya confederacy (42–562) consisted of several small statelets. All rulers of Gaya bore the title "Wang" ("King"). Geumgwan Gaya. Geumgwan Gaya (42–532) was one of the Gaya confederacy. Daegaya. Daegaya (42–562) was one of the Gaya confederacy. Tamna. Tamna (2337  BCE–938) was an ancient Korean kingdom on Jeju Island. Balhae. Balhae (698–926) was an ancient Korean kingdom established after the fall of Goguryeo. Balhae occupied southern parts of Northeast China, Primorsky Krai, and the northern part of the Korean peninsula. Later Baekje. Hubaekje (900–936) was founded by Gyeon Hwon, who was a general during Later Silla's period of decline. Thus began the Later Three Kingdoms period. Hubaekje met its downfall at the hands of Gyeon Hwon himself, who later led the Goryeo armies alongside Taejo of Goryeo to capture Singeom, the prince of Hubaekje, who had betrayed Gyeon Hwon . Taebong. Taebong (901–918), also known as Majin or Later Goguryeo, was established by Gung-ye, an outcast prince of Silla. Gung-Ye joined General Yang-Gil's rebellion, and rose through the ranks. He eventually assassinated Yang-Gil and established a new kingdom, naming it Later Goguryeo. Gung-Ye turned out to be a tyrant, and was overthrown by his generals, opening the way for General Wang Geon, who established Goryeo. Goryeo dynasty. Goryeo (918–1392) was ruled by the Wang Dynasty. The first ruler had the temple name "Taejo," which means "great progenitor", and was applied to the first kings  of both Goryeo and Joseon, as they were also the founders of the Wang and Yi Dynasties respectively. Starting with Gwangjong, rulers of Goryeo styled themselves emperors, with the first three rulers elevated to that title posthumously. With the Mongol conquest, however, the title of the ruler was demoted to a king, or "Wang." The next twenty-three kings (until Wonjong) are also referred to by their temple names, ending in "jong". Beginning with Chungnyeol (the twenty-fifth king), all the remaining kings of Goryeo had the title "Wang" ("King") as part of their temple names. Era names are in  bracket where available. Joseon dynasty. Joseon (1392–1910) followed Goryeo. In 1897, when Joseon became the Korean Empire, some of the Joseon kings were posthumously raised to the rank of emperors. Joseon monarchs had temple names ending in "jo" or "jong." "Jo" was given to the first kings/emperors of new lines within the dynasty, with the first king/emperor having the special name (Taejo), which means "great progenitor" (see also Goryeo). "Jong" was given to all other kings/emperors. Two kings, Yeonsangun and Gwanghaegun, were not given temple names after their reigns ended. Each monarch had a posthumous name that  included either the title "Wang" ("King"), "Hwangje" ("Emperor"), "Daewang" ("King "X" the Great"), or "Daeje" ("Emperor "X" the Great"). For the sake of consistency, the title "King/Emperor" has been added to each monarch's temple name in the list below. <nowiki>*</nowiki> see Korean Empire section Korean Empire. In 1897, King Gojong proclaimed Joseon to be the Korean Empire, which lasted until 1910. Technically, the emperors can be referred to by their era names rather than their temple names, but the latter are commonly used.