Namhae of Silla

Namhae of Silla (?–24, r. 4–24 CE) was the second King of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He is commonly called Namhae Chachaung, chachaung being an early Silla title.

Namhae is the only king who is called Chachaung. According to the Samguk Sagi, Kim Dae-Mun explained that the title "Chachaung" meant a shaman in Old Korean.

Background
He was the eldest son of Park Hyeokgeose, Silla's founder, and Lady Aryeong. His surname was Park, and his wife was Lady Unje. Alternatively, the Suseo (隋書), a Chinese history book compiled during the reign of Taizong of Tang, suggests that Namhae actually originated from Baekje. Historians theorize that Namhae was a Baekje priest who either was expelled from Baekje and settled in Silla. The Samguk Yusa records that Namhae violently usurped King Hyeokgeose by killing him, thus becoming the second king of Silla.

Reign
His reign was characterized by a series of foreign invasions. In 4, the Lelang army surrounded Geumseong, the Sillan capital, but was repelled.

In 8, when the Namhae of Silla heard that Talhae was benevolent, he married his eldest daughter to him.

The Wa of Japan invaded Silla in 14, and while Silla stopped them, Lelang invaded again. A comet shower was said to have scared the Lelang soldiers, however, and they retreated.

The Bukmyeong(北溟) people plowed the fields and got Royal Seal of Ye, previously used by Buyeo's kings, and dedicated it to Silla in 19. It is not clear where Bukmyeong means.

He was buried in Sareung-won.

Family
Parents Consort and their respective issue:
 * Father: Hyeokgeose
 * Grandmother: Lady Saso
 * Mother: Lady Aryeong
 * Grandmother: Lady Saso
 * Younger sister: Lady Aro
 * Lady Unje
 * Son: Ilji Galmulwang
 * Son: Yuri of Silla (?–57, r. 24–57), formally known as Yuri Isageum was the third king of Silla
 * Son: Unknown name
 * Daughter: Queen Ahyo –became the wife of Talhae of Silla

In popular culture

 * Portrayed by Kwon Sung-duk in 2010 MBC TV series Kim Su-ro, The Iron King.