1 military career
1.1 before japanese invasion
1.2 service during first wave of japanese invasion
1.3 plot remove yi sun-sin
1.4 battle of chilcheonryang — won gyun s first , last naval engagement
military career
upon passing qualification exam, assigned northern border defend against jurchens, raided korean villages. won led successful campaigns along yi il , yi sun-sin against jurchens. promoted admiral in 1592 , sent southern coast of gyeongsang province command province s eastern fleet, yi sun-sin, became admiral before won , took command of jeolla province s western fleet. @ time, won , yi cavalry leaders had no experience naval warfare.
before japanese invasion
at time, japan united after long period of internal warfare new leader, toyotomi hideyoshi. hideyoshi had become supreme ruler on of japan killing many rivals rise power. decided begin expansionist war against japan s neighbors. koreans realized threat japan great: argued joseon dynasty needed prepare invasion japan existing jurchen menace. however, government divided along factional lines , officials not reach decision. hideyoshi saw chance take korea unprepared.
service during first wave of japanese invasion
on april 13, 1592, japanese fleet under kato kiyomasa launched sudden strike on eastern fleet of gyeongsang province , disabled every ship under control. main army under kato , konishi yukinaga landed on korean peninsula next day , marched northward. won, commander of eastern fleet of gyeongsang province, routed invading japanese. (won s predecessor able pass fleet combat readiness inspection 1 year before war.) able force, admiral won may have had opportunity intercept , engage japanese invading forces @ sea, perhaps preventing or delaying japanese incursion on korean soil. however, decided not act upon naval intelligence regarding japanese incursion until japanese landing party established beachhead , laid siege upon city of busan.
at point, won sank many of ships in retreat ensure not captured invading japanese forces. 4 ships left under command, won called yi sun-sin, had prepared war , raised smaller , battle ready fleet. king seonjo ordered both admirals fight against japanese forces on may 2, 1592. won , yi began campaign 2 days later, admiral yi eok ki, commander of eastern fleet of jeolla province later became commander of western fleet of same province following admiral yi sun-sin s promotion.
on may 7, korean navy under yi destroyed japanese fleet in battle of okpo. later won promoted army general, while yi sun-sin became naval chief of staff.
plot remove yi sun-sin
in 1597, japanese decided stop negotiations koreans , chinese ming dynasty , planned re-invasion of korea. so, plotted remove admiral yi sun-sin position. japanese spies directed konishi yukinaga spread word kato kiyomasa urging other japanese continue fighting , crossing sea. king seonjo ordered admiral yi capture kato, yi refused so, knew words fabrications of japanese agents.
seonjo in fear of possible coup d état attempt yi or supporters, never plotted, seonjo convinced himself happen day: yi refused carry out orders several times , fleet strongest combat force on both sides. yi refused carry out orders purely due tactical reasons, act of insubordination itself, no matter how justifiable, frightened king beyond breaking point. king seonjo ordered execution of yi, royal court reluctantly yet resisted order , able lower punishment imprisonment , demotion. yi placed under command of gwon yul recover wounds torture administered during investigation of charges against him. seonjo replaced yi won gyun naval chief of staff.
battle of chilcheonryang — won gyun s first , last naval engagement
won knew information false , did not advance toward busan same tactical reasons yi reported royal court before removal post. yi removed refusing orders engage japanese. government continued trust information , ordered won attack japanese ships @ ungchŏn. won attacked japanese — unarmed , protected under cease-fire treaty support negotiation process terminated — , defeated them. lost 1 of battleships , captain during attack. did not advance after receiving letter of protest japanese commander. field marshal gwon yul, under heavy pressure king, recalled won headquarters , once again ordered him attack busan. won led navy towards busan, along famous admiral yi eok ki, following orders despite tactical considerations.
the japanese @ first seemed retreat, trap. japanese prepared devastate joseon navy before land invasion. number of japanese ships great koreans frightened, including admiral bae seol. japanese fleet, commanded todo takatora, advanced toward won gyun s fleets. won knew lose battle had no choice engage.
at battle of chilchonryang, of joseon navy s ships destroyed. won killed in action. small detachment of twelve warships under command of admiral bae sŏl — refused participate , fled before battle began — survived. every other ship in combat destroyed or disabled, along of joseon navy line officers , many capable mid-level commanders.
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