Background
He was married to Queen Jeongmok, the daughter of King Soseong.
He was married to Queen Jeongmok, the daughter of King Soseong.
He was the younger brother of King Heondeok. Upon rising to the throne, Heungdeok made Kim Yu-jing his prime minister (sijung) and appointed Jang Bogo to the command of the Cheonghae Garrison. Jang later used this as a basis for dominating Silla politics through the mid-9th century.
In 834, the king revised the colors of official dress.
He also issued an edict forbidding "excessive luxuries" to the common people. In 836, Heungdeok died without an heir.
He was buried in the north of Angang-hyeon, now Angang-eup, Gyeongju-si, South of Korea.