Queen Sinŭi


Queen Sinŭi, of the Cheongju Han clan, was the first wife of Yi Sŏnggye. She was the mother of King Jeongjong and King Taejong.
She was firstly given the title of Consort Chŏl in 1393. After her second son became king, she was posthumously honored as Queen Sinŭi. In 1899, after the founding of the Korean Empire, she was elevated as Sinŭi, the Dignified Empress.

Biography

Early life

The future Queen Sinŭi was born during King Chungsuk of Goryeo's 5th year of reign on 6 October 1337. Born into the Cheongju Han clan, Lady Han was the fifth child within ten siblings to Han Gyeong and his wife, Lady Sin of the Sangnyeong Shin clan.
In some sources, she is noted as a member of the Anbyeon Han clan, which was founded by Han Ryŏn, a ninth-generation descendant of Han Ran, the progenitor of the Cheongju Han clan.

Marriage and later life

In 1351, when she was 15 years old, she was arranged to marry Yi Sŏnggye who was two years older than her. She later gave birth to six sons and two daughters from 1354 to the 1370s. While Yi Sŏnggye was traveling through the battlefield, Lady Han took care of the household affairs in his hometown and helped out.
During the Goryeo Dynasty, aristocratic men were allowed two wives; one wife was known as the kyŏngch'ŏ, the capital wife, while the other wife was known as the hyangch'ŏ, the countryside wife. In Kaegyŏng, Yi Sŏnggye welcomed Lady Kang, a daughter of Kang Yun-seong, from the noble Goksan Kang clan, as his second wife in 1370. Lady Kang would later become Queen Hyeon.
In 1388, during the 14th year of King U of Goryeo's reign, Lady Han stayed in Jaebyeok-dong, Pocheon, and fled back to Dongbuk-myeon with her children and remaining family under the guidance of her fifth son Yi Pangwŏn. This eventually led her to be concerned about the threat of her life and she later died on 25 November 1391 at the age of 54. Her tomb is called Chenŭng and is located in present-day Kaesong, North Korea.

Post-death

A year after Lady Han's death, her husband established the Joseon period; thus having her husband become king and her children become princes and princesses.
During King Taejo's 2nd year of reign in 1393, she was posthumously given the title of Queen Chŏl. In 1398, during the first year of reign of her second eldest son, King Jeongjong, Lady Han was honored as Queen Sinŭi.
After the death of Queen Hyeon in 1396, Queen Sinŭi's fifth son, Yi Pangwŏn, eventually led a coup d'etat with his wife, Princess Jeongnyeong's encouragement, while King Taejo was in mourning for his second wife. This event led to the deaths of Chŏng Tojŏn and his supporters, as well as the late Queen Sindeok's two sons: Yi Pangbŏn, Grand Prince Muan and Yi Pangsŏk, Grand Prince Uian. This incident became known as the First Strife of Princes.

Family

  • Father: Han Kyŏng, Internal Prince Ancheon
  • Mother: Grand Lady of Samhan State of the Sangnyeong Shin clan
  • Sibling:
  • * Older sister: Lady Han of the Cheongju Han clan
  • * Older sister: Lady Han of the Cheongju Han clan
  • * Older sister: Lady Han of the Cheongju Han clan
  • * Older sister: Lady Han of the Cheongju Han clan
  • * Brother: Han Sŏnggi, Prince Ansan
  • * Brother: Han Kŏm, Duke Yangjŏng, Prince Ancheon
  • * Brother: Han Ch'angsu, Duke Yangjŏng, Prince Anwŏn
  • * Brother: Han Kŭmgang
  • * Brother: Han Yungjŏn
  • Husband: Yi Sŏnggye, King Taejo of Joseon
  • *Father-in-law: King Hwanjo of Joseon
  • *Mother-in-law: Queen Uihye of the Yeongheung Choe clan
Issue: