Koryo Korean
Historical Overview Section
Koryo was a Korean kingdom ruled by a dynasty of the same name from 935 to 1392. During this period Korea began to form a distinctively Korean cultural tradition. The dynasty was formed by Gen. Wang Kon of Later Koguryo, who defeated the Three Kingdoms Koreans of the Silla and of Later Paekche to create a unified Korean peninsula in 936. In the late 10th century, a centralized bureaucratic system replaced the old aristocratic tribal system. The kingdom saw a flowering of the arts, particularly ceramics (Koryo celadon), and Buddhism and Confucianism were influential.
During the tenth century, the Khitan Liao tried to establish relations with Goryeo at least on two occasions. In 942, the Liao ruler Taizu sent an embassy with a gift of 50 camels to Goryeo, but Taejo refused them, banishing the envoys and starving the camels to death. In 951, when the state of Huju (a Late Tang to Five Dynasties state) was established in China, Goryeo made a turn to that side and 9 years later, shifted to the Song Chinese sphere of influence. Relations with the Song Chinese were close, with many embassies being exchanged between Goryeo and Song, but relations would be interrupted by the rise of the Khitan Liao and Jin dynasties. After about 30 years of peace, the Khitan Liao invaded Goryeo. It failed and after two other failed attempts, a state of peace was established in the Far East. For around 100 years, the Far East was relatively peaceful and Munjong strengthened the Liao-Song-Goryeo line. In 1102, the Jin Dynasty threatened and another crisis emerged. But after Yejong agreed to a tributary relationship, peace was maintained and Jin never actually did invade Goryeo. Tension continued through the 12th century and into the 13th century, when the Mongol invasions started.
In 1231, a Mongol Conquest army under Ögedei Khan invaded Goryeo, as part of a general campaign to conquer China. The royal court moved to Ganghwa Island in the Bay of Gyeonggi, in 1232. The military ruler of the time, Choe U insisted on fighting back. Goryeo resisted for about 30 years but finally sued for peace in 1259. Meanwhile, the Mongols began a campaign from 1231 to 1259 that ravaged parts of Gyeongsang and Jeolla provinces. There were six major campaigns: 1231, 1232, 1235, 1238, 1247, 1253; between 1253 and 1258, the Mongols under Jalairtai launched four devastating invasions in the final successful campaign against Korea, at tremendous cost to civilian lives throughout the Korean peninsula, ultimately resulting in Korea becoming a tributary of the Mongol Yuan Chinese Dynasty.
Civilian resistance was strong, and the Imperial Court at Ganghwa attempted to strengthen its fortress. Korea won several victories but the Korean military could not withstand the waves of invasions. In March 1258, the dictator Choe U was assassinated by Kim Jun. Thus, dictatorship by his military group was ended, and the scholars who had insisted on peace with Mongolia gained power. Eventually, the scholars sent an envoy to the Mongols, and a peace treaty was contracted between the Mongol Empire and Goryeo. Some military officials who refused to surrender formed the Sambyeolcho Rebellion and resisted in the islands off the southern shore of the Korean
After a series of battles, Goryeo capitulated to the Mongols, and became a vassal of the Yuan Chinese Dynasty for approximately 80 years. In 1392 Yi Song-gye overthrew the shaky dynasty and founded the Choson dynasty.
Using the army in FoG
- Errata - Nomad nobles should be Superior
- Mass the lancers, delay with the LH,
- Put the foot in any rough going on the flanks to protect the lancers from forced charge/intercepts
- Foot in large 8-man units can just about stand up to enemy cavalry charges, especially if you can force the enemy to charge the end of your line, and also engage enemy cavalry units with your own mounted too.
- Remember, you don't need to actually "win" in combat against enemy mounted, just to pass the cohesion test(s) for losing as this then makes enemy cavalry break off. An 8-strong unit needs to take 3 casualties before it suffers the "-1" for 1HP3B, and "losing to lancers" and "MF losing to mounted in the open" is the same "-1".... so add in a General, perhaps rear support and its entirely possible that any cohesion test for losing to lancers at impact will end up be on a net zero (or even +1) modifier!
- The two superior foot units are better than almost any other infantry in this army list book - especially as most opponents will not want to risk their generals to help their "average" infantry fight. 8 Superior halberdiers, with a general to make them Elite, can take down almost any pedestrians they meet in short order, and can stand up to cavalry pretty well too. Even the X-bowmen with no POA's will be rolling 3 dice per file at impact, requiring 5's and re-rolling 1's & 2's - that's statistically very close to averaging 2 hits every time.
- 8 Superior crossbowmen also cause huge problems for enemy cavalry - and especially elephants.
- Low aggression and moving first can give you plenty of time and space to redeploy cavalry )if they end up in the wrong place) whilst big blocks of infantry occupy the enemy's attention.
- In theme or a Dragons of the East period Cataphracts are usually a waste as most foot they will fight have HvyWpn. Cavalry are better as they can move faster, fight just as well, and can normally get out of Cataphracts way if they need to
UK Tournament Results with this army
Useful Links
User-contributed links about this army:
- Korean History Project Online The Mongol Invasions
- Koguryo Korean DBA Figure Gallery for this army - from Fanaticus
- Perry Miniatures Chosun Korean Flags some great high res flags for download ing and printing from the Perry twins.
- put the link text readers will see in here write some more detail about the link here
Allies
Put information on allied contingents here - including recommendations on which to use, and why.
Painting and Collecting the Army
- Paint schemes, insignia, shield designs? Put it here.
15mm Manufacturers supplying figures for this army
There are relatively few companies selling named "Korean" ranges - they are listed here. You may also want to look at Liao or Song Chinese ranges maybe? There might one day be photos on the Ancients Photo Gallery also on this site
Yi Korean Cavalry
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| image to come |
- Old Glory Fairly Late Koreans
- Irregular Minis - Korean range
- Alan Touller Korean range
- East Riding Uk reseller for Grumpys Miniatures Yi Korean range
- Naismith - Naismith & Roundway's Korean ranges
Army Lists
900 AP list (winner at Usk 2009)
- 1 levies front rank MF unprotected poor Undrilled - Heavy weapon Heavy weapon - 5
- 1 Levies rear rank MF unprotected poor Undrilled bow - - - 5
- 2 Average Spearmen MF Protected Average Drilled - Heavy weapon Heavy weapon - 8
- 3 Average Archers MF Protected Average Drilled bow - - - 8
- 4 skirmishers LF Protected Average undrilled javelins Light spear - - 6
- 5 skirmishers LF unprotected poor undrilled bow - - - 6
- 6 skirmishers LF unprotected Average Drilled bow - - - 6
- 7 Light Horse LH unprotected Average Drilled bow - - - 4
- 8 Singi Guard Lancers Cv armoured superior Drilled - lancers Swordsmen - 4
- 9 Singi Guard Lancers Cv armoured superior Drilled - lancers Swordsmen - 4
- 10 Tae Kak Foot Guards MF Protected superior Drilled - Heavy weapon Heavy weapon - 8
- 11 To Bang Foot Guards MF Protected superior Drilled crossbow - - - 8
- 12 Singi Guard Lancers Cv armoured superior Drilled - lancers Swordsmen - 4
- 13 Singi Gun Lancers Cv Armoured superior Drilled - lancers Swordsmen - 4
- 14 Singi Gun Lancers Cv armoured superior Drilled - lancers Swordsmen - 4
- Fortification - - Fortification 1
- TC TC - - - - - - - 3
- CinC TC - - - - - - - 1
900 AP used by Hammy and Phil at Usk 2010
- 10 Useless Levy Foot, mixed Unit Bw/Halberd
- 4 handgunners
- 6 LF Bowmen
- 6 LF Bowmen
- 4 Lancers
- 4 Lancers
- 4 Lancers
- 8 MF Bw/Halberd, drilled, average
- 4 Lancers
- 4 Lancers
- 8 MF Bw/Halberd, drilled, average
- 4 LH, Bw
- 6 LF, Javelins
- 4 Lancers
- 4 LH
- IC, FC, TC
Am working on an amendment. (No nomad LH with Singi Gun) So the LF may go.
- 1 Academy LH LH Unprotected Average Undrilled Bow - - - 4
- 2 Singi Guard Cv Armoured Superior Drilled - Lancers Swordmen - 4
- 3 Singi Guard Cv Armoured Superior Drilled - Lancers Swordmen - 4
- 4 Singi Guard Cv Armoured Superior Drilled - Lancers Swordmen - 4
- 5 Singi Gun Cv Armoured Superior Drilled - Lancers Swordmen - 4
- 6 LF LF protected Average drilled javelin Lt Sp - 8
- 7 Kwang Gun Spearmen and Xbow MF Protected Average Drilled - Heavy weapon Heavy weapon - 3
- 7 Kwang Gun Spearmen and Xbow MF Protected Average Drilled Crossbow - - - 3
- 8 Kwang Gun Spearmen and Xbow MF Protected Average Drilled - Heavy weapon Heavy weapon - 3
- 8 Kwang Gun Spearmen and Xbow MF Protected Average Drilled Crossbow - - - 3
- 9 Kwang Gun Spearmen and Xbow MF Protected Average Drilled - Heavy weapon Heavy weapon - 3
- 9 Kwang Gun Spearmen and Xbow MF Protected Average Drilled Crossbow - - - 3
- 10 Singi Gun Cv Armoured Superior Drilled - Lancers Swordmen - 4
- 11 Levy MF Unprotected Poor Undrilled - Heavy weapon Heavy weapon - 5
- 11 Levy MF Unprotected Poor Undrilled Bow - - - 5
- 12 Singi Gun Cv Armoured Superior Drilled - Lancers Swordmen - 4
- A CinC IC - - - - - - CinC 1
- B Sub General TC - - - - - - - 1
- C Sub General TC - - - - - - - 1
PBI +4 800pts exactly
I like this. Lots of drilled lancer Cav and good rough terrain troops. Doesn't mind terrain too much and very manouverable, both foot and mounted. Should do well.
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