In 889, the Wonjong and Aeno uprising showed that Unified Silla’s central government was losing control of the countryside. Local discontent over taxation and administration helped spark a wave of rebellions. This moment is often used as an opening marker for the Later Three Kingdoms era because it revealed how far Silla’s authority had weakened.
In 892, the Silla officer Gyeon Hwon captured major towns such as Wansanju and Mujinju, building a power base in the old Baekje region. His success depended on local support and Silla’s inability to respond effectively. This seizure laid the groundwork for a rival kingdom in the southwest.
In 900, Gyeon Hwon formally proclaimed himself king and established Later Baekje with its capital at Wansanju (in today’s Jeonju area). By claiming the Baekje legacy, he aimed to rally regional identity against Silla and compete with the northern regime. His declaration turned rebellion into a lasting rival monarchy.
In 901, the rebel leader Gung Ye declared a new state in the north, later known to historians as Later Goguryeo. This created a second major challenger to Silla and began a three-sided struggle among Silla, the southwest regime led by Gyeon Hwon, and Gung Ye’s northern state. The political map of the peninsula was now openly fractured.
Between 904 and 911, Gung Ye changed his state’s name, finally adopting “Taebong” in 911. The renaming reflected his effort to strengthen legitimacy and unify followers, including through strong religious claims. These shifts also show how unstable and personal rule could be during the era’s civil wars.
On July 24, 918, leading generals removed Gung Ye and installed Wang Geon as the new ruler. Wang Geon renamed the state “Goryeo,” presenting it as the successor to Goguryeo and a stronger alternative to Taebong’s rule. This created the kingdom that would eventually reunify the peninsula.
In 927, Gyeon Hwon’s forces entered Silla’s capital, Gyeongju, overwhelming the remaining authority of the Silla court. King Gyeongae died during the attack, and the invasion demonstrated how exposed Silla had become. The sack also intensified the conflict between Later Baekje and the rising Goryeo state.
After the 927 sack of Gyeongju, Kim Pu became King Gyeongsun under intense pressure from Later Baekje. Silla continued to exist, but its territory and political freedom were severely reduced. This set the stage for Silla’s eventual choice to submit to Goryeo rather than endure continued warfare.
Later in 927, Wang Geon attacked retreating Later Baekje forces near Gongsan (around today’s Daegu) and suffered a serious defeat. The loss included important commanders, showing that Goryeo’s unification effort was not inevitable. However, Goryeo survived the setback and continued building alliances and military strength.
In 930, Goryeo won an important battle at Gochang (linked with the Andong area in later tradition), weakening Later Baekje’s position in the east. The victory helped Goryeo expand influence and stabilize its front after earlier defeats. It became part of the longer turn toward Goryeo dominance in the conflict.
In 935, King Gyeongsun surrendered Silla’s remaining lands to Wang Geon. This ended Silla as an independent kingdom and removed one of the three major players from the struggle. The surrender also strengthened Goryeo’s claim to rule by reducing the cost of continued war in the southeast.
In 935, Kyŏn Sin-gŏm led a coup against his father, Gyeon Hwon, after disputes over succession. Gyeon Hwon was imprisoned but later escaped, and the internal conflict damaged Later Baekje’s ability to resist Goryeo. The power struggle created an opening for a final unification campaign.
In 936, Goryeo’s forces defeated Later Baekje, and Sin-gŏm surrendered, ending the Later Three Kingdoms period. With Silla already absorbed, Goryeo achieved the second major unification of the peninsula after Unified Silla. The outcome created a new political order under the Goryeo dynasty that would shape Korean history for centuries.
Collapse of Unified Silla and the Rise of the Later Three Kingdoms (c. 889–936)