Yejong of Joseon


Yejong, personal name Yi Hwang, firstly titled Grand Prince Haeyang, was the eighth monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. His older brother was Crown Prince Uigyeong. He succeeded his father, King Sejo, in 1468, when he was 19 years old, but was too physically ill to govern, and died a year later.
One of the most prominent incidents during his reign was the trial and death of General Nam I, who was famous for having suppressed Yi Si-ae's Rebellion along with General Gang Sun. At the age of 28, Nam I was appointed as Minister of Military Affairs. However, when Yejong took the throne, Yu Chagwang, who was jealous of Nam I, accused him of treason when he found out that the king himself was not fond of the general. Yu also involved Gang Sun and initiated a trial witnessed by Yejong. They were found guilty and executed, while Yu Chagwang was promoted to a high office. After this incident, there were many cases where Yu accused ministers who were apparently more prestigious than himself.

Biography

He was born in 1450 as the second son of Grand Prince Suyang and his primary consort, Grand Internal Princess Consort Nakrang. He was promoted to crown prince at the age of 7, after the sudden death of his elder brother, Crown Prince Uigyeong.
In 1468, his father abdicated, but since Yi Hwang was not yet 20 years old and had been physically weak since his childhood, his mother, Queen Dowager Jaseong, came to unofficially rule as Queen Regent for the nation instead. According to records of this era, political decisions were taken by the queen and three subjects nominated by King Sejo.
Although his reign lasted just 14 months, several incidents had occurred. In 1468, the treason of Nam I greatly influenced the court politics. Just before his death in 1469, Joseon started to prohibit all trade with Japan. Yi Hwang also granted common farmers the right to cultivate fields which originally belonged to the military.
He died shortly before his 20th birthday and was buried alongside his second wife, Queen Ansun, in the Seooneung Cluster located in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. Their tomb is known as Changneung.
After Yejong's death, the throne was not inherited by his son. Instead, his nephew and the second son of Crown Prince Uigyeong, Grand Prince Jalsan, became the heir and was posthumously honored as King Seongjong.
Both of Yejong's sons, Grand Prince Inseong and Grand Prince Jean, died without issue. In 1874, during the reign of Gojong, Yi Ong, Prince Seoseong of the Third Junior Rank and a great-great-grandson of Sejong the Great, was posthumously appointed as heir to Grand Prince Inseong. Similarly,, a great-great-grandson of Jeongjong of Joseon, was also granted the title Prince Nakpung and became heir to Grand Prince Jean.

Family

Parents

Consorts and issue