Queen Myeongui

Queen Myeongui of the Chŏngju Yu clan was a Korean queen consort as the first and primary wife of King Sukjong of Goryeo and the mother of most of his children.

Biography

Marriage and palace life

She married Sukjong when he was still known as Duke Gyerim. Before 1079, she was given royal title as Princess Myeongbok while living in Myeongbok Palace and later changed into Princess Yeondeok when she moved to Yeondeok Palace. Her mother, Lady Kim was formally called as "Grand Lady of the Nakrang State".
Then, following her husband who ascended the throne as a King, she become a Queen Consort in 1099. But, in the Goryeosa, there was some misunderstanding because her name after becoming a queen consort, her clan name was written as Yi clan which wasn't her clan.
However, on 10 November 1105, her husband passed away and their oldest son, Wang U ascended the throne as Yejong of Goryeo those making Yu honoured both as Queen Mother and Grand Queen Mother in 1105. Beside Yejong, she bore Sukjong 6 other sons and 4 daughters. After that, she was given Sungmyeong Mansion in Cheonhwa Hall as her residence and affiliated institution. As a queen dowager, her birthday was also specially celebrated.

Later life

Death

On 8 August 1112, the queen dowager caught an illness and died suddenly after went to recuperation outside the palace at her old age in Sinbak Temple. On 8th month in the same year, she was buried in Sungneung Tomb and received her posthumous name.

Funeral

During her funeral, the Liao dynasty sent their envoys to mourn. But, seeing this, the internal court said:
이 이런 예우.

Posthumous name

In 1140, name Yu-ga was added.
In October 1253, name Gwang-hye was added to her posthumous name too.