Siege of Ansi
| Siege of Ansi | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the First campaign in the Goguryeo–Tang War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Goguryeo | Tang | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Yang Manchun | Emperor Taizong of Tang | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 100,000 soldiers including civilians | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 안시성 전투 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | 安市城 戰鬪 |
The Siege of Ansi was a battle between Goguryeo and Tang forces in the Korean peninsula and a part of First campaign in the Goguryeo–Tang War. The confrontation had lasted for about 3 months from 20 June 645 to 18 September 645.[1]
Background
On 1 April 645, Spearheads of Tang forces led by Li Shiji pretended to march to Huaiyuan town and suddenly started to invade Goguryeo. They attacked several castles including Shin Fortress and Geonan Fortress, etc. to muddle defense system of Goguryeo. As the plan had failed, Li Shiji made an array of all of Tang force and they started to attack Gaemo Fortress on 15 April. Gaemo Fortress was fallen on 25 April. At the same time, the naval forces led by Zhang Liang had landed in Liaodong Peninsula and captured Bisa Fortress on 2 May. Meanwhile, Emperor Taizong of Tang joined the forces and they captured Yodong Fortress and Baekam Fortress one after another. They had decided to attack Ansi Fortress and invaded the fortress on 20 June. Against that, Goguryeo sent about 150,000 forces with Go yeon-su and Go hye-jin to rescue Ansi Fortress. However, they had been defeated by Tang and surrendered.[2]
Development
Tang attacked Ansi Fortress with several siege weapons including Pogeo, a catapult and Chunggeo, a battering ram. However each time Goguryeo repelled the attacks and repaired ramparts. Emperor Taizong of Tang changed camps many times and announced that he would kill all of men in Ansi Fortress when Tang capture the fortress. Tang had built an earthen rampart mobilizing forces of about 500,000 and attacked Ansi Fortress with the earthen rampart as a steppingstone. However, the rampart had suddenly fallen and Goguryeo occupied the rampart. Tang had tried to regain the rampart for 3 days by turning loose on there but Tang failed. In addition, Winter came and food was out. So Tang unavoidably retired.[3]
Notes
- ↑ "민족문화대백과사전- 안시성전투". encykorea (in Korean). Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ↑ "안시성싸움[安市城─] - 두피디아". doopedia.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ↑ "안시성싸움". terms.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved November 11, 2016.