The Baekje–Tang War was fought between Baekje and the allied forces of the Tang dynasty and Silla between 660 and 663. The war was caused by the ongoing Goguryeo–Tang War in which numerous attacks and raids were made by Baekje and Goguryeo against Silla. King Muyeol of Silla sought help from Emperor Gaozong of Tang, who launched the invasion of Baekje in 660. After the conquest of Baekje later that year, loyalist forces from Baekje with the aid of Yamato allies attempted to resist the occupation of their kingdom until the two allied forces were destroyed in 663.
The Silla kingdom had formed a military alliance with the Tang empire under Emperor Gaozong's reign. When Goguryeo and Baekje attacked Silla from the north and west respectively, Queen Seondeok of Silla sent an emissary to the Tang empire to request military assistance.[1] In 650, Emperor Gaozong received a poem, written by Queen Seondeok, from the princely emissary Kim Chunchu (who would later accede the Silla throne as King Muyeol).[2] Baekje had allied with Yamato Wa in 653. Even though Baekje was allied with Goguryeo, the Han River valley separated the two states and was a hindrance in coming to each other's aid in time of war. King Muyeol assumed the Silla throne in 654. Between 655 and 659, the border of Silla was harassed by Baekje and Goguryeo; Silla therefore requested assistance from Tang.[3]
In 660, a Tang army of 130,000 set out towards Baekje to further relieve Silla.[1][4] The army led by Admiral Su Dingfang sailed across the Yellow Sea towards and landed on the western coastline of Baekje.[1][2][5] The Tang army defeated a Baekje force at the mouth of the Geum River and then sailed up the river towards Sabi, the capital of Baekje.[6][4]
Crown Prince Kim Beopmin, General Kim Yusin, General Kim Pumil, and General Kim Heumsun were dispatched with a Silla army and set off westwards into the Battle of Hwangsanbeol. It comprised 50,000 troops.[1][4] They marched into Baekje from the eastern border,[1] and crossed through the Sobaek Mountains.[2] General Kim Yusin led the Silla army across the passes of Tanhyon towards Hwangsan Plain,[5] but General Gyebaek could only muster a force of about 5,000 Baekje troops in defense against the advancing Silla army.[4] At Hwangsan Plain, the Silla army defeated the Baekje forces of General Gyebaek.[2]
The capital of Baekje, Sabi, fell to the forces of Tang and Silla.[5][7] Around 10,000 Baekje troops were killed in the siege.[7] Baekje was conquered on 18 July 660,[1] when King Uija of Baekje surrendered at Ungjin.[2] The Tang army took the king, crown prince, 93 officials, and 20,000 troops as prisoner.[7] The king and crown prince were sent as hostages to the Tang empire.[1] The territory of Baekje was annexed by the Tang, which established five military administrations to control the region instead of Silla, which they painfully accepted.[8]
In a final effort, General Gwisil Boksin led the resistance against Tang occupation of Baekje. He requested military assistance from their Yamato allies. In 661, Empress Saimei (who previously reigned as Empress Kōgyoku) and Prince Naka no Ōe prepared for battle and sent Prince Buyeo Pung of Baekje, who had been in Yamato Wa for over 30 years, to aid the resistance. In 662, they sent an expedition to assist General Gwisil Boksin. A year later, 27,000 Yamato troops were sent as reinforcements.[9] The Tang fleet, comprising 170 ships, advanced towards Chuyu and encircled the city at Baekgang River.[10]
In 663 at the battle of Baekgang, the Baekje resistance and Yamato forces were annihilated by the Tang and Silla forces.[11] As the Yamato fleet engaged the Tang fleet throughout the course of two days, they were eventually worn down by the Tang fleet and were destroyed in a decisive counterattack. During the engagement, General Echi no Takutsu was slain. Prince Buyeo Pung of Baekje and a few of his men fled to Goguryeo.[10]
The natives rebelled and besieged Liu Renyuan in the capital until Liu Rengui could bring in reinforcements. A stalemate ensued with Baekje holding some cities while Silla and the Tang occupied others. In the autumn of 663, a combined Tang-Silla army marched for Chuyu, the capital of the rebels. Chuyu was captured on 14 October and the rebellion was vanquished.[6]