Nulji (reigned 417–458) was the nineteenth ruler (maripgan) of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was the son of King Naemul and Lady Boban, who was the daughter of King Michu.
Nulji married the daughter of King Silseong of Silla, who nonetheless exiled Nulji's younger brothers as hostages to Goguryeo of northern Korea and as diplomats and influential architects to Wa of Japan. Silseong also plotted to have Nulji killed, but with Goguryeo's aid, Nulji was able to kill Silseong in 417, after which he ascended to the throne.
According to one story, in 418 Nulji sent a loyal retainer named to rescue his brothers from Goguryeo and Wa. He was successful in retrieving the brother who was held in Goguryeo, but he was captured while trying to rescue the one held by Wa. Refusing to serve the Wa king, he died under torture. The story of Bak's loyalty has endured as a popular Korean morality tale.
After these difficult events, Nulji worked to free Silla from Goguryeo domination. He set up diplomatic relations with Goguryeo on an equal footing in 424, and established a military alliance with Baekje in 433 to help counter the Goguryeo threat. called Beakje-Silla alliance ()三國史記(Samguk sagi) 百濟本紀 毗有王 > 秋七月, 遣使入新羅, 請和 : An alliance is formed at the suggestion of Biyu of Baekje.
Nulji's reign saw the continuation of a long process of centralization in Silla, marked his father's change of his title to "maripgan" (), which is believed to represent a higher level of authority than the previous title "isageum" (). Under Nulji's rule, patrilineal succession was officially established (Yang, 1999, p. 16). After his death in 458, he was succeeded by his son Jabi, rather than by his brother.
Family Grandfather: Kim Mal-gu (), half–brother of King Michu. Grandmother: Queen Hyulye ( 휴례부인 김씨), of the Kim clan Father: King Naemul Mother: Lady Boban, the daughter of King Michu Wife: Queen Aro, of the Kim clan (), daughter of King Silseong Son: Jabi of Silla (r. 458–479, died 479)–was the 20th ruler of Silla Daughter: Queen Josaeng, of the Kim clan () Son-in-law: Galmunwang Seupbo Grandson: Jijeung of Silla (437–514) –was the 22nd ruler of Silla Granddaughter: Queen Seonhye (), of the Kim clan () Princess Chisul, of the Kim clan (후궁 : 치술공주 김씨), daughter of King Silseong of Silla Daughter: Princess Hwang ()
See also List of Korean monarchs Korean history Silla
References