Jeongjong of Joseon


Jeongjong, personal name Yi Bang-gwa, later Yi Gyeong, was the second monarch of the Joseon of Korea. He was the second son of King Taejo, the founder of the dynasty. Before ascending to the throne, he was known as Grand Prince Yeongan.

Biography

Born in 1357 as the second son of Yi Seong-gye and his first wife Lady Han, he was a prudent, generous, brave, and able military officer. During the latter days of the declining Goryeo dynasty, Jeongjong followed his father to various battlefronts and fought at his side. When his father took the throne in 1392, he became a prince.
Taejo had two wives — the first one, who gave birth to six sons, died before he was crowned; the second wife was Lady Gang, with whom he had two sons. The king favored his youngest son, whose mother was Lady Gang. Chief State Councillor Chŏng Tojŏn also backed him as successor, causing much resentment in the other princes.
In 1398, Taejo's fifth son, Yi Bang-won led a coup along with many military officers and killed his two younger half-brothers, Chŏng Tojŏn, and many of his faction. Yi Bang-won first tried to show that he was not interested in the throne, so he gave a push to Yi Bang-gwa, to be the next crown prince. King Taejo was upset and abdicated in disgust, and Yi Bang-gwa became Joseon's second ruler. The same year he moved the government back to Kaegyŏng, the old Goryeo capital.
In 1400, a conflict broke out between Yi Bang-won and his elder brother, Yi Bang-gan. Yi Bang-won's force attacked and defeated that of his brother Yi Bang-gan's, who was then sent into exile along with his family. General Park Bo, who persuaded Yi Bang-gan into rebellion, was executed. King Jeongjong, knowing that he was a mere political figurehead for his younger brother, appointed him as crown prince and abdicated months later.
He was an able and wise administrator despite his short reign being marked by bloodshed within the royal family.
Jeongjong died in 1419 and was buried alongside his wife, Queen Jeongan, at Hurŭng, in present-day P'anmun Ward, Kaesŏng, North Hwanghae Province, North Korea.

Family

Parents

Consorts and issue

  • Queen Jeongan of the Gyeongju Gim clan
  • Royal Noble Consort Seong of the Chungju Ji clan
  • * Yi Hu-saeng, Prince Deokcheon, tenth son
  • * Yi Mal-saeng, Prince Dopyeong, twelfth son
  • Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Chungju Ji clan
  • * Yi Won-saeng, Prince Uipyeong, first son
  • * Yi Mu-saeng, Prince Seonseong, seventh son
  • * Yi Ho-saeng, Prince Imseong, tenth son
  • * Princess Hamyang, eighth daughter
  • Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Haengju Gi clan
  • * Yi Ui-saeng, Prince Geumpyeong, second son
  • * Princess Sangwon, first daughter
  • * Yi Gun-saeng, Prince Sunpyeong, fourth son
  • * Princess Goseong, second daughter
  • * Princess Jeonsan 1398–?), third daughter
  • * Princess Sukshin, fifth daughter
  • * Yi Yung-saeng, Prince Jeongseok, fourteenth son
  • * Yi Seon-saeng, Prince Murim, fifteenth son
  • Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Nampyeong Mun clan
  • * Yi Gwi-saeng, Prince Jongui, third son
  • Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Haepyeong Yun clan
  • * Yi Nok-saeng, Prince Imeon, fifth son
  • * Yi Deok-saeng, Prince Sudo, eighth son
  • * Yi Bok-saeng, Prince Seokbo 1399–1447), eleventh son
  • * Yi Bo-saeng, Prince Jangcheon, sixteenth son
  • * Princess Haman, fourth daughter
  • * Princess Incheon, sixth daughter
  • Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Pyeongchang Yi clan
  • * Yi Jong-saeng, Prince Jinnam, thirteenth son
  • Royal Princess Gaui of the Yu clan
  • * Yi Bul-no, sixth son
  • * Princess Deokcheon, seventh daughter
  • Kisaeng Cho Gung-jang
  • Gi Mae
  • * Yi Ji-woon, ninth son

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