Danjong of Joseon

Danjong of Joseon (9 August 1441 – 24 December 1457, reigned 1452–1455) was the sixth king of the Joseon Dynasty. He was forced to abdicate by his uncle, who became Sejo of Joseon, and exiled to Yeongwol County, where he was later put to death and his remains are buried.[1]

Danjong of Joseon
朝鮮端宗
조선 단종
Danjong of Joseon
King of Joseon
Reign14 May 1452 – 11 June 1455
PredecessorMunjong of Joseon
SuccessorSejo of Joseon
Born9 August 1441
Jaseon Hall, Gyeongbok Palace, Hanseong, Joseon
Died24 December 1457(1457-12-24) (aged 16)
Gwanpunghyeon, Yeongwol County, Gangwon Province, Joseon
SpouseQueen Jeongsun
Posthumous name
King Gongeui Onmun Sunjeong Anjang Gyungsun Donhyo the Great
공의온문순정안장경순돈효대왕
恭懿溫文純定安莊景順敦孝大王
Temple name
Danjong (단종, 端宗)
HouseJeonju Yi
FatherMunjong of Joseon
MotherQueen Hyeondeok
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationDanjong
McCune–ReischauerTanchong
Birth name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationI Hong-wi
McCune–ReischauerI Hongwi
Joseon monarchs
Taejo 1392–1398
Jeongjong 1398–1400
Taejong 1400–1418
Sejong the Great 1418–1450
Munjong 1450–1452
Danjong 1452–1455
Sejo 1455–1468
Yejong 1468–1469
Seongjong 1469–1494
Yeonsangun 1494–1506
Jungjong 1506–1544
Injong 1544–1545
Myeongjong 1545–1567
Seonjo 1567–1608
Gwanghaegun 1608–1623
Injo 1623–1649
Hyojong 1649–1659
Hyeonjong 1659–1674
Sukjong 1674–1720
Gyeongjong 1720–1724
Yeongjo 1724–1776
Jeongjo 1776–1800
Sunjo 1800–1834
Heonjong 1834–1849
Cheoljong 1849–1863
Gojong 1863–1907
Sunjong 1907–1910

Biography

Danjong was born on 9 August 1441 during his grandfather’s, King Sejong, reign. His mother, Queen Hyeondeok, didn’t recover from giving birth and as a result, died the next day. Danjong’s father died of disease in 1452; he was left with his older sister, Princess Gyeonghye and older half-sister, Princess Gyeongsuk.

King Danjong succeeded his father, Munjong of Joseon, at the age of 12. Since he was too young to rule, the government of the kingdom fell to the Chief State Councilor, Hwangbo In, and his Left State Councilor, General Kim Jong-seo, along with his sister, Princess Gyeonghye acting as his guardian.[2]

In 1453, this government was overthrown in a coup led by the king's uncle, Sejo of Joseon, who persuaded a number of scholars and officials who had served in the court of Sejong the Great to support his claim to the throne. Hwangbo In and Kim Jong-seo were seized and murdered in front of the gate of Gyeongbokgung. On 22 January 1454, the 14 year old Danjong married the 15 year old daughter of Song Hyeon-su who was from the Yeosan Song clan (later known as Queen Jeongsun). A year later in 1455, Danjong was forced to abdicate and became King Emeritus of Joseon while his wife became Queen Dowager Uideok.

The following year, six officials of the court or sayuksin attempted to restore Hong-wi to power, but their plot was discovered and they were immediately executed. The King Emeritus was later demoted to Prince Nosan (노산군, 魯山君) and exiled to Yeongwol County. His wife also lost her status as queen dowager, was demoted to princess consort rank (titled as Princess Consort Nosan; 노산군부인), and kicked out of the palace. She had a difficult life from then on.

Perceiving that he would present a continuing threat to his rule, Sejo then accepted the advice of the court and ordered that Danjong be disposed of. In 1457, he was put to death at his place of exile.

There was an attempt to honor the late king and Queen during Jungjong’s reign, but he rejected the proposal. In the reign of King Sukjong, scholars at his court proposed that the titles be restored. In 1698, the demoted Prince Nosan and Princess Consort Nosan were posthumously restored after 200 years, receiving the posthumous name of "Danjong", and thereafter was referred to as King Danjong, and his wife as “Queen Jeongsun”.

Family
  1. Queen Jeongsun of the Yeosan Song clan (1440 – 7 July 1521) (정순왕후 송씨)[3][4][5][6]
  2. Consort Suk-ui of the Sangsan Kim clan (1440 – 1525) (숙의 김씨)[7]
  3. Consort Suk-ui of the Andong Kwon clan (? – 1519) (숙의 권씨)[8][9][10]

His full posthumous name
  • King Danjong Gongeui Onmun Sunjeong Anjang Gyungsun Donhyo the Great of Korea
  • 단종공의온문순정안장경순돈효대왕
  • 端宗恭懿溫文純定安莊景順敦孝大王

See also

References
  1. Lee, Jeong-bong (1 June 2011). "A hamlet rich in history and art". Joongang Daily. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  2. An, Seung-jun (4 April 2014). "Forgotten story of Princess Gyeonghye". The Korea Times. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  3. Was demoted to Princess Consort following her husband's deposition & demotion. Restored back on 6 November 1698
  4. Daughter of Song Hyeon-soo (송현수), Internal Prince Yeoryang (여량부원군); and Lady Yeoheung, Princess Consort to the Internal Prince, of the Yeoheung Min clan (여흥부부인 민씨). Younger sister of Song Geo (송거). Granddaughter of Song Bok-won (송복원). Niece of Song Jeong-soo (송정수). Cousin of Song Yeong (송영).
  5. Also a niece of Grand Prince Yeongeung's wife, Princess Consort Daebang
  6. Married on 22 January 1454
  7. Daughter of Kim Sa-woo (김사우, 金師禹) (1415 - 1464) and Lady Yi of the Gwangju Yi clan (광주 이씨)
  8. Lady Kwon is a relative of Kwon Ram
  9. The consort’s name was Kwon Jong-bi (권중비, 權仲非)
  10. Daughter of Kwon Wan (권완, 權完) (? – 1457)
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.