Battle of Salsu
Salsu River (today's Chongchon River), North Korea
What happened
General Eulji Mundeok of the Korean kingdom of Goguryeo fought a huge invading army sent by Emperor Yang of China's Sui dynasty, led by Yu Zhongwen and Yuwen Shu. Emperor Yang sent about 300,000 soldiers to capture Pyongyang, the Goguryeo capital. Eulji Mundeok pretended to surrender, lured the Sui army deep into Goguryeo, and his forces destroyed its supply fleet. As the hungry Sui army retreated across the Salsu River, Goguryeo forces attacked, and only a few thousand Sui soldiers made it home.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It is remembered as a famous victory in Korean history. The failed invasions of Goguryeo helped bring about the fall of the Sui dynasty.
What came next
Rebellions spread across China after Sui's defeats, and the dynasty soon fell. Eulji Mundeok is honoured in South Korea today.
Did you know?
Euljiro, a main street in Seoul, and South Korea's second-highest military decoration are named after Eulji Mundeok.
Timeline
- 612Sui forces fail to capture Goguryeo's border fortresses.
- 612A Sui army marches on Pyongyang.
- 612Goguryeo defeats the retreating Sui army at the Salsu River.
- 618The Sui dynasty falls.