King Wideok威德王

King Wideok (威德王), whose name was Chang (昌), was the eldest son of King Seong. King Seong died in the thirty-second year of his reign, and he succeeded to the throne.

In the first year, in winter, the tenth month, Goguryeo raised troops in great force and came to attack Ungcheonseong, but it was beaten and went back.

In the sixth year, in summer, the fifth month, on the first day byeongjin, the sun was eclipsed.

In the eighth year, in autumn, the seventh month, troops were sent to raid and plunder the border of Silla. The Silla troops came out and struck them and broke them, and those who died were more than a thousand men.

In the fourteenth year, in autumn, the ninth month, an envoy was sent to enter Chen and bring tribute.

In the seventeenth year the Later Ruler of Gao Qi enfeoffed the king as commissioner bearing the tally, palace attendant, great general of chariots and cavalry, Duke of the Commandery of Daebang, and King of Baekje.

In the eighteenth year the Later Ruler of Gao Qi again enfeoffed the king as commissioner bearing the tally, governor of all military affairs of Dongqingzhou, and inspector of Dongqingzhou.

In the nineteenth year an envoy was sent to enter Qi and bring tribute. In autumn, the ninth month, on the first day gyeongja, the sun was eclipsed.

In the twenty-fourth year, in autumn, the seventh month, an envoy was sent to enter Chen and bring tribute. In winter, the tenth month, the provinces and districts on the western border of Silla were raided, and Sejong of Silla, of the rank of ichan, led troops and struck them and broke them. In the eleventh month an envoy was sent to enter the Zhou of the Yuwen and bring tribute.

In the twenty-fifth year an envoy was sent to enter the Zhou of the Yuwen and bring tribute.

In the twenty-sixth year, in winter, the tenth month, a long star stretched across the sky, and after twenty days it was gone. The earth shook.

In the twenty-eighth year the king sent an envoy to enter Sui and bring tribute, and Gaozu of Sui by edict enfeoffed the king as senior grand minister with honors equal to the three offices and Duke of the Commandery of Daebang.

In the twenty-ninth year, in spring, the first month, an envoy was sent to enter Sui and bring tribute.

In the thirty-first year, in winter, the eleventh month, an envoy was sent to enter Chen and bring tribute.

In the thirty-third year an envoy was sent to enter Chen and bring tribute.

In the thirty-sixth year Sui pacified Chen. One warship drifted away and came to the country of Tammora, and when that ship was able to go home it passed through the borders of the country, and the king furnished it out and sent it on very generously, and with it he sent an envoy bearing a memorial to give joy for the pacifying of Chen.

Gaozu thought well of this and sent down an edict. "The king of Baekje, having heard of the pacifying of Chen, has had a memorial brought from afar. The going and the coming is most hard, and if wind and wave are met with, hurt and harm follow at once. That the heart and the ways of the king of Baekje are pure and utter, we already know and hold in trust. Though the distance between us is far, the matter is as if we spoke face to face, and why then must envoys be sent again and again so that we may come to know each other fully? From this time on there is no need to enter with tribute in separate years, and we also shall not send envoys. Let the king know this."

In the thirty-ninth year, in autumn, the seventh month, on the last day imsin, the sun was eclipsed.

In the forty-first year, in winter, the eleventh month, on the day gyemi, a comet appeared at Gak and Hang.

In the forty-fifth year, in autumn, the ninth month, the king sent Wang Byeonna the jangsa to enter Sui and pay court and offer gifts.

The king heard that Sui was raising the campaign in Liaodong, and he sent an envoy bearing a memorial to ask that he might be the guide for the army. The emperor sent down an edict. "In the year past Goguryeo did not bring the tribute of its office and kept no rite of a subject, and therefore we commanded our generals to strike it. Goweon and his ministers were afraid and in dread, and they submitted and laid the blame upon themselves, and we have already pardoned them, and they cannot be attacked." He treated the envoy of Baekje generously and sent him back.

Goguryeo came to know something of this matter, and with its troops it raided and plundered the borders of the country.

In winter, the twelfth month, the king died. The many ministers took counsel and made his posthumous title Wideok (威德).