Crown Prince Ŭigyŏng


Crown Prince Ŭigyŏng, personal name Yi Chang and formerly called as Prince Dowon was a Crown prince of the Korean Joseon Dynasty. He was the oldest son of Sejo of Joseon and Queen Jeonghui, also the older brother of Yejong of Joseon. He was the spouse of Queen Insu and the biological father of Seongjong of Joseon.

Biography

He was the eldest grandson of King Sejong the Great, eldest son of seventh King Sejo of Joseon and father of ninth King Seongjong of Joseon. He was titled as Prince Dowon until his father's accession to the throne. In 1450, he married with Han Do-san, the daughter of Han Hwak, a diplomat and politician who became Left or Second State Councillor during the Sejo era.
Ŭigyŏng and Su had their first son, Grand Prince Wolsan, born on 14 January 1455, had their first daughter Princess Myeongsuk born in 1456, and, unknowingly, had their last son and child on 28 August 1457, Grand Prince Jalsan.
Just about a month later on 29 September 1457, the crown Prince died from unknown causes, but some say he was cursed by the late Queen Hyeondeok due to the fact her son, the former king, Prince Nosan was executed by the crown prince's father, Sejo of Joseon.
After his death, his wife and children were granted and allowed to stay within the palace by Sejo's orders. But the former crown princess did not want to impose her stay and thus bringing her father-in-law to build Gyeongun Palace for them to stay nearby the main palace.
Her brother-in-law, Grand Prince Haeyang, became the new Crown Prince and soon became king of Joseon in 1468. He later died in 1469 and which finally left the throne to her youngest son, Seongjong of Joseon instead of her eldest, Grand Prince Wolsan. But because her son was made the adoptive son of his uncle, Yejong of Joseon, and her third cousin, Queen Ansun, prior to his accession, it wasn't until 1474 that Lady Han had to be granted the Mother-of-the-King title, becoming Queen Dowager Insu. Which made her status senior than that of Queen Dowager Inhye despite the former Queen being the wife of the former King and the legal mother of the current monarch.
In 1470, Ŭigyŏng was posthumously honored as "King Deokjong" when his son, Seongjong accessed the throne, while his wife was honored as "Queen Insu" but with an unspecified status.
The tomb of Ŭigyŏng is located at Gyeongneung Royal Tomb, Goyang. This is a very simple one, since he was only a Crown Prince at his death in 1457. On the other hand, the 1504 tomb of his spouse was built in full regalia, and placed at the left of his tomb, since Insu was then the deceased Grand Queen Dowager, with the posthumous name Queen Sohye.

Family

  1. Han Do-san, Queen Sohye of the Cheongju Han clan
  2. #Yi Jeong, Grand Prince Wolsan
  3. #Yi Gyeong-geun, Princess Myeongsuk
  4. #Yi Hyeol, Grand Prince Jalsan
  5. Royal Consort Gwi-in of the Andong Kwon clan — No issue.
  6. Royal Consort Gwi-in of the Papyeong Yun clan — No issue.
  7. Royal Consort Suk-ui of the Geochang Shin clan — No issue.

Popular culture