General Gae Baek was in charge of the Army near the end of the Paekche Dynasty. Little is known of his personal life, including the year and location of his birth. In 660 AD, when the united forces of Silla and Dang invaded Paekche, General Gae Baek organized 5000 soldiers of the highest morale and courage. He knew before he set out that his army was outnumbered and that his efforts would be futile, but he did not hesitate to try to defend his country, reportedly stating "I would rather die than be a slave of the enemy." Before going into battle, he killed his wife and family to prevent them from falling into the hands of opposing forces, and to prevent the thought of them influencing his actions or causing him to falter in battle. His forces won four small initial battles, but then he was forced to move his forces to block the advance of General Kim Yu-shin on the Paekche capital, Buyeo. The two generals met on the plains of Hwangsan Field, in present day Hamyang, near Chiri Mountain. Gae-Baek's forces fought bravely but they were outnumbered ten to one and, in the end, he and his men were completely defeated. In 655, Paekche and Koryo joined forces to attack Silla, although they were eventually driven back when Silla received aid from Tang Dynasty China. In the first few battles, his forces defeated the enemy, but, in his last battle, he was defeated and was killed while fighting. The Paekche Dynasty was finally destroyed after 678 years of rule, but the name of General Gae Baek is still recognized for his loyalty to his country and his bravery.
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General Gae Baek was in charge of the Army near the end of the Paekche Dynasty. Little is known of his personal life, including the year and location of his birth. In 660 AD, when the united forces of Silla and Dang invaded Paekche, General Gae Baek organized 5000 soldiers of the highest morale and courage. He knew before he set out that his army was outnumbered and that his efforts would be futile, but he did not hesitate to try to defend his country, reportedly stating "I would rather die than be a slave of the enemy." Before going into battle, he killed his wife and family to prevent them from falling into the hands of opposing forces, and to prevent the thought of them influencing his actions or causing him to falter in battle. His forces won four small initial battles, but then he was forced to move his forces to block the advance of General Kim Yu-shin on the Paekche capital, Buyeo. The two generals met on the plains of Hwangsan Field, in present day Hamyang, near Chiri Mountain. Gae-Baek's forces fought bravely but they were outnumbered ten to one and, in the end, he and his men were completely defeated. In 655, Paekche and Koryo joined forces to attack Silla, although they were eventually driven back when Silla received aid from Tang Dynasty China. In the first few battles, his forces defeated the enemy, but, in his last battle, he was defeated and was killed while fighting. The Paekche Dynasty was finally destroyed after 678 years of rule, but the name of General Gae Baek is still recognized for his loyalty to his country and his bravery.
