Admiral Li Song Sin: biography, military career

The famous Korean admiral Lee Sun Sin, who lived in 1545-1598, is one of the main national heroes of his country. He led the fleet during the war with Japan. The strategist and tactician is also famous for not losing a single battle (total 23 sea battles on his account).

early years

The future admiral Li Song Xing was born on April 28, 1545. He was a native of the capital of the country - Seoul. The child came from the genus Lee. His ancestors were among the military Korean nobility. In 1555, the boy's father was arrested for supporting the repressed opponents of the authorities.

Because of the incident, the future Admiral Li Song Xing moved to the province and for a long time received the status of politically unreliable. Now the career of an official was closed to him. The young man decided to devote himself to the army. In Korea, the military was considered second-class people. They were inferior in importance to bureaucrats.

In 1576, Li Song Xing passed the exam and became an officer of the Korean army. He was sent to serve in a small northern fortress. His duties included defending the country from the raids of neighboring nomadic tribes.

Appointment as Admiral

Due to his talents and abilities, Li Song Xin became Admiral of the Korean Navy in 1591. At this time, the top of the country was preparing for an approaching war with Japan. The need for urgent reforms has arisen in the army. Soldiers and sailors were distinguished by weak discipline. This could have played a fatal role in the event of a military conflict with its neighbors.

Therefore, Admiral Li Song Sin started to introduce new orders in the fleet. There was a system of punishments and awards. If a soldier or an officer came across a breach of the statute, he was subjected to public punishments. Such rules made it possible to quickly rid the army of unprofessional personnel. Many of them fell on high positions thanks to kinship and nepotism. Now in their place were able soldiers. The barriers to the poor who wanted to serve their country and climb the career ladder have disappeared.

Admiral Lee Song Xing established the supply of weapons and clothing for the rank and file. When the officer only became the head of the fleet, he had to change the obsolete and rotten ships that had stood idle for many years. The army budget was now replenished due to deductions from private trade, which made it possible to quickly bring the fleet in order. For the first time in many years, exercises were organized at sea.

Tactician and Reformer

Thanks to years of mastering strategic mastery, Korean admiral Lee Sun Sin became an expert in the field of combat tactics. His army reforms affected not only organizational issues, but also the very structure and composition of the fleet. The admiral realized that the future was for a distant battle. Therefore, he increased the number of shooters and artillerymen. With the beginning of his command, new types of weapons appeared.

Admiral Lee Sun Sin also stood behind the advent of the revolutionary Kobuxon ships. The naval commander personally changed the design of the old models and suggested starting to build ships of a new type. Because of the appearance, these ships also began to be called "turtles".

For greater security, the frame was covered with metal plates. The length of the ship was about 30 meters. A fearsome dragon's head was set in front. The ship had high running characteristics. The design included two masts and two sails. The ship was maneuverable - he could turn around literally standing still.

The beginning of the war with Japan

In 1592, the Japanese army launched an invasion of Korea. This event was not a surprise. A year before, the Japanese ruler asked Korea for permission to pass the troops. His goal was China. However, the Koreans refused to allow foreign troops to enter their territory. In Seoul, they feared the violence of "guests" or China's retaliatory attack.

When Japan refused, the country began to prepare for the inevitable war. The diplomatic conflict was warmed by the ambitions of the island state. On the eve of Japan united under the sole authority of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Now he wanted to conduct a successful military campaign to consolidate his own influence in his homeland.

Brilliant victories of the Korean fleet

In April 1592, Admiral Li Song Sin was appointed the leader of the entire Korean fleet, which opposed the Japanese attack. The Imjin wars - this is how the conflict between neighbors was later named in historiography. Li Song Sin needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of his own reforms, which he held several years before the confrontation began.

The first serious test for the fleet was the naval battle of Tanhpo. At the beginning of the war, the admiral made his main striking force kobuksony - ships of a new type, shortly before it adopted them into service. In the first battle, the Korean fleet flooded 72 enemy ships. In the future, the admiral continued to smile good luck. He did not lose a single battle.

The plans of the Japanese command were foiled. It was assumed that half a million people would invade Korea. In fact, the figure was much lower. In addition, the army, still in Korea, was cut off from the supply of equipment, supplies, etc. Admiral Li Song Sin made a huge contribution to the strategic defeat of the Japanese. The film about this national hero, shot already in modern times, paints a story about how the famous naval commander made key decisions and defeated the enemies of his country.

Opal

Thanks to the victories of Li Song Sina, the Japanese agreed to start negotiations. In Tokyo, we wanted to take the time to regain our strength and try to attack Korea for the second time. Soon the Japanese command was extremely lucky.

In the higher echelons of the Korean government, they were afraid of the popular love enjoyed by Admiral Li Song Sin. The biography of this commander was flawless. If desired, he could get rid of any competitors at court. While the diplomats of Korea and Japan tried to reach a peaceful settlement, intrigues against the admiral flared in the capital. As a result, he was put in prison on false charges and demoted to sailors.

Won Gyong

Instead of Li Sung Sin, his court rival Von Gyun was appointed commander-in-chief of the fleet. The new admiral did not shine with the talents and organizational qualities of his predecessor. At that time, the news about the fall of Li Xun Sin reassured the Japanese government. In 1596, Korea was again declared war.

Due to Vong Gyun's strategic mistakes, the Korean fleet suffered several significant defeats. Many ships were sunk, others became completely unsuitable for service. Won Gyong was killed in the Battle of Chhilchongnan.

The Last Victory and Death

At this critical moment, the Korean king more than ever needed the talent that Admiral Lee Sun Sin possessed. The movie about this national hero shows his fall and return to the system the way it was in reality. In 1598, he was restored to the rank of admiral and released from prison.

The Korean fleet, suffered in several unsuccessful collisions, was a miserable sight. Despite this, Li Song Xing was not going to give up. He collected the remnants of the ships and led them to attack the Japanese.

The decisive battle of the Imjin war took place on December 16, 1598. The Korean fleet sank 200 Japanese ships, won and finally saved the country from foreign invasion. However, Li Song Xing died from a stray bullet fired by the enemy. The tragic death made the admiral only legendary in the eyes of the inhabitants of his country. Today in Korea, many monuments dedicated to the national hero are established.