Myeongjong of Goryeo


Myeongjong, personal name Wang Ho, was the 19th king of Korea's Goryeo dynasty. He was the third son of King Injong. His reign marked the beginning of the century-long military rule of Korea known as the Goryeo military regime.
Although it was intended that King Injong's second son should succeed his father, he was assassinated because Chŏng Chung-bu feared that he might become a threat to him in the future. Myeongjong was a weak puppet king, and was merely on the throne to show the general populace they still had a king, as the true rulers were the military leaders who had launched a coup d'état against Myeongjong's older brother and had established a military government. Despite this, Myeongjong did attempt to play off the military leaders against each other to both secure his own survival but also in an attempt to regain royal authority. His reign saw constant bloodshed as well as the deaths of the military rulers Chŏng Chung-bu, Yi Ŭi-bang, Kyŏng Tae-sŭng, and Yi Ŭi-min.
After twenty-seven years on the throne, he was sent into exile by the military ruler of the time, Ch'oe Ch'ung-hŏn. King Injong's fifth son, King Sinjong, was placed on the throne.

Family

  1. Queen Uijeong of the Gangneung Kim clan, half second cousin once removed.
  2. #Crown Prince Wang Yeong, 1st son
  3. #Princess Yeonhui, 1st daughter
  4. #Princess Suan, 2nd daughter
  5. Concubine Myeongchun – No issue.
  6. Concubine Sunju – No issue.
  7. Unknown
  8. #Wang Seon-sa, 2nd son
  9. #Wang Hong-gi, 3rd son
  10. #Wang Hong-chu, 4th son
  11. #Wang Hong-gyu, 5th son
  12. #Wang Hong-gyun, 6th son
  13. #Wang Hong-gak, 7th son
  14. #Wang Hong-yi, ''8th son''

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