Deokheung Daewongun


Deokheung Daewongun, known before as Prince Deokheung before becoming Daewongun, personal name Yi Cho was a royal family member of the Joseon period and the first Daewongun in Korean. He was the second son of Jungjong of Joseon and Royal Noble Consort Chang of the Ansan An clan, also the biological father of Seonjo of Joseon.

Biography

Early life

The future Grand Internal Prince Deokheung was born on 2 April 1530 as the 9th son of Jungjong of Joseon and his second son with Royal Noble Consort Chang of the Ansan An clan, the daughter of An Tan-Dae who was the member of Uijeongbu. He was firstly named Yi Hwan-su and later was changed into Yi Cho. Then, on 1538, he honoured as Prince Deokheung.

Marriage and later life

In 1542, the grandson of Jeong In-Ji, Jeong Se-Ho 's daughter, Lady of the Hadong Jeong clan went to his house in Dojeong Palace, Sajik-dong, Hanseong-bu and then they were married. Later, in March 1554, both of his house and his father in-law's house were impeached by some of Ministers, but his half younger brother, King Myeongjong defeated them. Deokheung and his wife had 3 sons and 1 daughter. He also had one concubine named Sun-Dan and with her, he had one daughter whom named Yi Hye-Ok.

Seonjo's ascension to the throne

During his lifetime, based on Myeongjong's Annals, he was criticized for being ignorant. In 1567, his third son, Yi Yeon, Prince Haseong succeeded Myeongjong who died without any royal heir as the 14th King of Joseon. Meanwhile, those servants who were negative about Myeongjong did not object to the success of Yi-Yeon and immediately agreed.
In 1 November 1569, he and his wife, as the biological parents of the King were given royal title from Prince Deokheung become Grand Internal Prince Deokheung and from Princess Consort Hadong become Grand Internal Princess Consort Hadong. After that, the family shrine was established in Dojeong Palace and under the support from Jamjeo.
Deokheung later died on 14 June 1559 and was buried in San 5–13, Deoksong-ri, Byeolnae-myeon, Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.

Family

Consort and their respective issue:
  1. Grand Internal Princess Consort Hadong of the Hadong Jeong clan
  2. #Yi Jeong, Prince Hawon
  3. #Yi Myeong-Sun
  4. #Yi In, Prince Hareung
  5. #Yi Yeon, Prince Haseong
  6. Sun-Dan
  7. #Yi Hye-Ok

Others

  • After the death of Crown Prince Sunhoe, the only son of King Myeongjong, he decided to choose a successor for the throne and the chosen was among the sons of Deokheung Daewongun. Myeongjong also selected Han Yun-Myeong and Jeong Ji-Yeon as the teachers for Deokheung's sons. In the other hand, Yun Wŏnhyŏng expected a successor from among his sons and forced him to marry his daughter with the son of Deokheung. At first, Deokheung accepted it, but Myeongjong objected and eventually collapsed.