Battle of Hwangsan

Overview

The Battle of Hwangsan (荒山大捷) was a major victory over Japanese pirates (Waegu) won by Yi Seong-gye and others at Hwangsan (荒山, present-day Unbong-eup, Namwon-si, Jeollabuk-do Special Self-Governing Province) near Mount Jiri in September 1380 (6th year of King U). It is also called the "Unbong Battle" or the "Hwangsan Battle." The months are in the lunar calendar, and the exact date is not recorded.

Background

After losing all their ships in the Battle of Jinpo in August 1380, the Japanese pirates, their retreat cut off, fled to Okju (Okcheon) and joined the group that had landed earlier. They roamed the inland areas of Chungcheong and Gyeongsang, including Yeongdong, Seonsan, Sangju, Seongju, and Hamyang, plundering as they went. The Goryeo court sent a large army, but failed to stop them. In September, the pirates burned Unbong-hyeon in Namwon and set up camp at Inwol Station (present-day Inwol-ri, Inwol-myeon, Namwon-si), boasting that they would march north, which alarmed the court.

Course of Events

Command Organization

The court appointed Yi Seong-gye, who had distinguished himself in suppressing the pirates near the capital Gaegyeong, as Commissioner for Pacification of Yangguang, Jeolla, and Gyeongsang Provinces. Byeon An-yeol was made Chief Inspector-General (Do Chechalsa), and Woo In-yeol, Yi Won-gye, Park Im-jong, Do Gil-bu, Hong In-gye, Im Seong-mi, and Wang Bok-myeong were appointed as commanders to assist Yi Seong-gye.

Combat

The fighting took place near Jeongsanbong (鼎山峰) north of Hwangsan. The pirates attempted to cut off the rear of the Goryeo army with cavalry, but Yi Seong-gye led his personal troops forward and reportedly shot down many of the enemy. After being defeated once, the pirates held out by relying on the rugged terrain.

The leader of the pirates was a young general named Ajibalto (阿只拔都). The records describe him as handsome and extraordinarily skilled in martial arts. Riding a white horse and wearing armor and a helmet that covered his neck and face, he swung his spear and knocked down Goryeo soldiers, and the Goryeo army struggled greatly to face him. In the end, Yi Seong-gye and Yi Ji-ran attacked him together and shot Ajibalto dead, after which the tide turned, and the Goryeo army nearly annihilated the pirates. A widely known anecdote holds that Yi Seong-gye struck Ajibalto's helmet with an arrow and knocked it off.

Results

• It is said that the stream ran red with the blood of the slain pirates, and for six or seven days no one could drink its water. The "Blood Rock" legend of Unbong is related to this.