The kingdom of Shilla evolved from the town-state of Saro 사로, which was situated in the ancient Jin-han 진한 region and within the vicinity of present-day Gyeongju. According to early Korean historical tradition, Bak Hyeokgeose 박혁거세 founded this small state in 57 BCE. The Saro state formed from a confederation of several clans - Geumnyang, Saryang, Bonpi, Moryang, Hanji, and Seupbi. Bak Hyeokgeose, who many in present-day Korea with the surname "Bak" / "Pak" / "Park" regard as an ancestor, was of the Geumnyang clan and first ruler of Saro and his queen, Aryeong, was of the Saryang clan; from this information, it can be theorized that these two clans were the dominant power-holders of the Saro state. Saro eventually formed a federation with other towns, clans, and chiefdoms within the region and it is this federation that would become the kingdom of Shilla.
When King Talhae 탈해 (circa 57-80 CE) of the Seok clan took power in Saro, the process of consolidation of Saro's power and eventual transformation into the Shilla kingdom began. A strong, coherent monarchical state society developed by the time of Naemul Maripgan 내물 마립간 in the late fourth and early fifth centuries CE. It was also during this time that the rulers of the monarchy came from only a single clan as opposed to previous system where successors hailed from Saro's three most powerful clans. The monarchs following Naemul hailed from the Kim clan.
The Shilla kingdom started off small and relatively vulnerable with the powerful kingdoms of Goguryeo to the north and Baekje to the west and was occasionally attacked by Japanese marauders from the archipelago, but it nonetheless survived and overcame these challenges. In contrast to the Goguryeo and Baekje kingdoms, Shilla was a relative latecomer, but last definitely did not mean least, especially considering the eventual meteoric rise of power that Shilla experienced towards the end of the Samguk period.
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