Gyeon Gwon

Gyeon Gwon (堅權) was a military commander of the Later Three Kingdoms period. He was one of the meritorious subjects of the founding of Goryeo (開國功臣), and is the progenitor of the Cheonnyeong Gyeon clan.

Life

Gyeon Gwon (堅權) was a figure who helped King Taejo Wang Geon, who destroyed Taebong in 918 and founded Goryeo, and contributed to the founding of Goryeo.

In 921, when a branch of the Malgal (靺鞨) tribe, the Dalgogjeok (達姑狄), invaded through Deungju (登州) in Gangwon Province, Gyeon Gwon led cavalry and pursued them as far as Sakju (朔州) in North Pyongan Province, defeating them.

In 936, together with Gyeon Hwon (甄萱) and others, he led 20,000 cavalry and infantry and attacked and destroyed the forces of Later Baekje's Sinkeom.

As the progenitor, Gyeon Gwon (堅權) served as a general under King Taejo Wang Geon (王建) of Goryeo. When Wang Geon fought the final battle against Sinkeom (神劍) of Later Baekje, he took the post of left wing commander (左翼將), achieved the merit of destroying Later Baekje, was registered as a second-class meritorious subject of the founding of Goryeo (高麗 開國 二等功臣), and rose to the rank of Daesang (大相). In August 918 (1st year of King Taejo of Goryeo), when meritorious subjects who contributed to the founding of Goryeo were selected and rewarded, Gyeon Gwon became a second-class meritorious subject together with Yeonju (連珠), Neungsik (能寔), Gwonsin (權愼), Yeomsang (廉湘), Kim Rak (金樂), and Manan (麻煖), and received gold, silver, vessels, and silk.

In 921 (4th year of King Taejo of Goryeo), when Dalgogeun (達姑㹜, i.e., Malgal) was on the way to invade Silla, Goryeo general Gyeon Gwon (堅權) blocked and defeated them. In 936 (19th year of King Taejo of Goryeo), when Sinkeom (神劍) and others resisted at Cheonan, Gyeon Hwon (甄萱) and Daesang Gyeon Gwon (堅權), Huisul (希述), Hwangbo Geumsan (皇甫金山), and Wonyun (元尹) Gang Yuyeong (康柔英) and others were ordered to command 10,000 cavalry, reorganizing the army, and Sinkeom, frightened, surrendered.

Among the meritorious subjects of the founding of Goryeo who were honored together with Gyeon Gwon, Kim Rak (金樂) is regarded as the progenitor of the Dangak Kim clan (唐岳 金氏), Yeonju (連珠) as the progenitor of the Jeonju Yeon clan, and Manan (麻煖) as the progenitor of the Yeongpyeong Ma clan (永平 麻氏).

References

• 견권 - Encyclopedia of Korean Culture