Nulji of Silla

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.

King Nulji
눌지 마립간
訥祇麻立干

Maripgan

Ruler of Silla

Reign

417-458

Coronation

417

Predecessor

Silseong of Silla

Successor

Jabi of Silla

Born

Unknown

Died

458
Silla

Posthumous name
King Nulji (눌지 마립간; 訥祇麻立干)

Father

Naemul of Silla

Mother

Lady Boban

Nulji of Silla
Hangul	눌지 마립간
Hanja	訥祇麻立干
RR	Nulji maripgan
MR	Nulchi maripkan

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 Bak Je-Sang (ko) 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 (나제동맹; 羅濟同盟)

Nulji's reign saw the continuation of a long process of centralization in Silla, marked his father's change of his title to "maripgan" (마립간; 麻立干), which is believed to represent a higher level of authority than the previous title "isageum" (이사금; 尼師今). 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 (김말구), 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 (아로부인 김씨), 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 (조생부인)
    - Son-in-law: Galmunwang Seupbo
      - Grandson: Jijeung of Silla (437–514) –was the 22nd ruler of Silla
      - Granddaughter: Queen Seonhye (선혜부인), of the Kim clan (왕후김씨)
- Princess Chisul, of the Kim clan (후궁 : 치술공주 김씨), daughter of King Silseong of Silla
  - Daughter: Princess Hwang (황아공주)

Family

See also