Considering a Korean TL

1. Baekje-Nippon Union

I thought this already happened in OTL from 500 to the mid 600s, especially considering the Battle of Baekgang, but I'm assuming you want a more permanent union. In order to accomplish this, one possibility, though unlikely, is Goguryeo absorbing Silla in a similar manner as they did with Buyeo in the mid or late 400s, forcing Baekje to consolidate its hold on Chinese colonies and tighten its relation with Japan. In this case, Goguryeo would dominate on land, while Baekje would have to aggressively pursue naval domination in order to maintain its trading posts/colonies. However, this also assumes that King Jangsu would have no ambition of unifying the peninsula. If he found a reason to absorb Silla, then it is also likely that he would have viewed Baekje as a threat.

Another possibility is to weaken Silla enough so that Baekje experiences a resurgence in the 500s, eventually managing to dominate the peninsula. When the Sui or the Tang invades Goguryeo, Baekje could work with them, or could aid Goguryeo but force it to concede to certain terms, weakening the northern state. However, this is tricky as well because Chinese reunification will ultimately mean conflict with Baekje's colonies on the coast. Because we have a lack of records attesting what happened in OTL, it's hard to say whether Goguryeo could have taken advantage by invading peninsular Baekje, or the Sui and Baekje could have worked out terms through diplomacy.


I'm assuming you mean the state established in 918, in which case the rulers' titles already indicated that they considered themselves as emperors until the Mongols/Yuan lowered their status. However, in order to increase their power, they could ironically take a diplomatic approach. Balhae had fallen to the Liao only 8 years earlier, and King Taejo (Wang Geon) had welcomed the crown prince along with numerous refugees. Because Balhae most likely had a court historian as well, Goryeo could have asked for a map and some documents proving their territorial hold on Manchuria, and negotiate with the Liao. Of course, the Khitan could have also invaded outright, causing more problems, but considering how Balhae remnants resisted foreign rule for about 200 years, and how Goryeo actively resisted the Liao, it is possible that had they joined forces, Goryeo might have gained a stable hold on southern Manchuria.


I already addressed a few possibilities here, although in the last possibility, I meant the 1800s and not the 1900s. I would also like to add that Joseon became submissive to the Ming and the Qing and adapted neo-Confucianism mostly due to invasions from the Yuan, Japanese, and Manchus (Qing) over a period of 400 years. There were occasional lulls as well, but the chaos was devastating enough.

As a side note, looking at your maps, the analogues in my timeline for the territories of Goryeo and Joseon are similar to that of yours, even though my POD will occur in the 400s, with a possible earlier one in the 200s BC.
 

Sumeragi

Banned
-Baekje Stuff-
Check the POD date below.


I'm assuming you mean the state established in 918, in which case the rulers' titles already indicated that they considered themselves as emperors until the Mongols/Yuan lowered their status.
That's not entirely correct. The only one (as far as we know) to have a full-scale imperial title was Gwangjong, although the style of the court did indicate imperial status. However, things began falling down when Goryeo entered into a "brotherhood" pact with the Jin, and completely fell with the Mongols.


I already addressed a few possibilities here, although in the last possibility, I meant the 1800s and not the 1900s. I would also like to add that Joseon became submissive to the Ming and the Qing and adapted neo-Confucianism mostly due to invasions from the Yuan, Japanese, and Manchus (Qing) over a period of 400 years. There were occasional lulls as well, but the chaos was devastating enough.
Joseon wasn't that submissive of the Ming, since it did constantly ticked the Ming off by its claim on Laiodong, based on the Goryeo king's title "King of Shenyang".


As a side note, looking at your maps, the analogues in my timeline for the territories of Goryeo and Joseon are similar to that of yours, even though my POD will occur in the 400s, with a possible earlier one in the 200s BC.
Interesting.




Just to clarify, the PODs of the timelines are

1. 660
2. 1274
3. 1583
 
Check the POD date below.

Well that's a different matter altogether. The best possibility in this case would be a Baekje/Yamato victory over Silla/Tang in the Battle of Baekgang, or a variant of it. However, this would potentially cause drastic butterflies, because if Baekje regains its hold on the southwestern portion of the peninsula, then Balhae or a variant could take shape much earlier. This would most likely lead to another version of the Three Kingdoms, in which the northern one will regain Goguryeo's territory in southern/central Manchuria and could attack the Tang, while Baekje could reclaim its possessions up to the Han River and coastal areas of China, including Liaoxi. If Silla and the Tang are separated from each other long enough, and Baekje and the northern state coordinate their efforts, there might be another version of the North-South states period. Of course, the probability that all of these events will happen within 15-30 years is highly unlikely, but it would be interesting.

That's not entirely correct. The only one (as far as we know) to have a full-scale imperial title was Gwangjong, although the style of the court did indicate imperial status. However, things began falling down when Goryeo entered into a "brotherhood" pact with the Jin, and completely fell with the Mongols.

This is true, especially because we refer to them as kings, but I was trying to state that Goryeo was somewhere between a kingdom and an empire.

Joseon wasn't that submissive of the Ming, since it did constantly ticked the Ming off by its claim on Laiodong, based on the Goryeo king's title "King of Shenyang".

This is also true, but in comparison to Goryeo, Joseon relied more on diplomacy for settling disputes. This might be due to the fact that the Ming was more consolidated than Goryeo's rivals, but the Mongols/Yuan were formidable as well.

Interesting.

If we could come to a compromise on the PODs, we could probably work together. I tend to settle for earlier ones, which will result in more butterflies. However, yours might be harder to work out because as time went on, Korean states generally became more defensive and resorted more often to diplomacy instead of launching invasions.

I find it hard to wrap my mind around your second POD, because it seems that Goryeo will ally with the Mongols while remaining autonomous/independent, but I'm sure there is a way. In regard to your third possibility, my suggestion on Yi I seems to be the best fit, but it would have to change bureaucratic measures, so I guess it's up to you.
 

Sumeragi

Banned
Well that's a different matter altogether. The best possibility in this case would be a Baekje/Yamato victory over Silla/Tang in the Battle of Baekgang, or a variant of it. However, this would potentially cause drastic butterflies, because if Baekje regains its hold on the southwestern portion of the peninsula, then Balhae or a variant could take shape much earlier. This would most likely lead to another version of the Three Kingdoms, in which the northern one will regain Goguryeo's territory in southern/central Manchuria and could attack the Tang, while Baekje could reclaim its possessions up to the Han River and coastal areas of China, including Liaoxi. If Silla and the Tang are separated from each other long enough, and Baekje and the northern state coordinate their efforts, there might be another version of the North-South states period. Of course, the probability that all of these events will happen within 15-30 years is highly unlikely, but it would be interesting.
Perhaps a discussion for another time.


This is also true, but in comparison to Goryeo, Joseon relied more on diplomacy for settling disputes. This might be due to the fact that the Ming was more consolidated than Goryeo's rivals, but the Mongols/Yuan were formidable as well.
It actually goes back to how Joseon was established, with Yi Seong-gye launching the coup (the circumstances which you would know). Not only that, but Taejong had a very good relationship with the Ming.


I find it hard to wrap my mind around your second POD, because it seems that Goryeo will ally with the Mongols while remaining autonomous/independent, but I'm sure there is a way. In regard to your third possibility, my suggestion on Yi I seems to be the best fit, but it would have to change bureaucratic measures, so I guess it's up to you.
The entire invasion of Japan was really more of an alliance than the Mongols conscripting Goryeo. Goryeo's relationship with the Yuan was pretty complex, ranging from in-laws, subject, co-partner, idol (why else would the Mongols call Korea "the land of the rainbow"?).
 
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