11. Kim Yu-sin Gim Yu-sin (595 – 18 August 673), also known as Kim Yu-sin, was a general in 7th-century Silla. He led the unification of the Korean Peninsula by Silla under the reign of King Muyeol of Silla and King Munmu of Silla. He is said to have been the great-grandchild of King Guhae of Geumgwan Gaya, the last ruler of the Geumgwan Gaya state. This would have given him a very high position in the Silla bone rank system, which governed the political and military status that a person could attain. Much of what is known about Gim's life comes from the detailed account in the Samguk Sagi, Yeoljeon 1-3, and the much briefer record in the Samguk Yusa, vol. 1. Baekje and Shilla had formed an alliance to counter Goguryeo's power and its intentions to push southwards, and together they launched a successful attack on it, Silla taking the northern territory and Baekje the one south of the Han river. But Silla broke the alliance and attacked Baekje in order to claim both territories for itself. After this betrayal, Baekje allied with Goguryeo. When Goguryeo and Baekje attacked Silla in 655, Silla joined forces with Tang Dynasty China to battle the invaders. Although it is not clear when Gim Yu-sin first became a general, he was certainly commanding the Silla forces by this time. Eventually, with the help of the Silla navy and some 130,000 Tang forces, Yushin attacked the Baekje capital, Sabi, in 660, in one of the most famous battles of that century, the Battle of Hwangsanbeol. The Baekje defenders were commanded by none other than General Gyebaek, although the Baekje forces consisted of about 5,000 men and were no match for Yushin's warriors, which numbered about ten times as many. Baekje, which had already been experiencing internal political problems, crumbled. Gim Yu-sin's Silla forces and their Tang allies now moved on Goguryeo from two directions, and in 661 they attacked the seemingly impregnable Goguryeo kingdom, but were repelled. The attack had weakened Goguryeo, though. In 667 another offensive was launched which, in 668, finally destroyed Goguryeo. Silla still had to subdue various pockets of resistance, but their efforts were then focused on ensuring that their Tang allies did not overstay their welcome on the peninsula. After some difficult conflicts, Silla eventually forced out the Tang troops and united the peninsula under their rule. Related Historic Site Today, Gim Yu-sin is remembered by Koreans as one of the greatest generals in Korean history. His ultimate legacy is 1. Tomb of General Kim Yu-sin the first unification of the Korean nation. One of his ten children, his second son Gim Wonsul, became a general during the time of King Munmu of Silla, and he was essential in unifying Silla. Related Historic Site_Address 1. Tomb of General Kim Yu-sin San 7-1, Chunghyo-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Republic of Korea .