Jeongjong of Joseon

Jeongjong of Joseon (26 July 1357 – 24 October 1419), born Yi Bang-gwa (Hangul: 이방과, Hanja: 李芳果), whose changed name is Yi Gyeong (Hangul: 이경, Hanja: 李曔), was the second ruler of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He was the second son of King Taejo, the founder and first monarch of the dynasty.

Jeongjong of Joseon
朝鮮定宗
조선 정종
Crown prince of Joseon
Tenure14 October 1398 – 22 October 1398
PredecessorCrown Prince Yi Bang-seok
SuccessorCrown Prince Yi Bang-won
King of Joseon
Reign22 October 1398 – 7 December 1400
CoronationGeunjeongjeon Hall, Gyeongbok Palace, Hanseong, Kingdom of Joseon
PredecessorTaejo of Joseon
SuccessorTaejong of Joseon
King Emeritus of Joseon
Tenure7 December 1400 – 24 October 1419
PredecessorTitle established
SuccessorTaejong of Joseon
BornJuly 26, 1357
Yi Seong-gye's private residence, Gwiju-dong, Hamheung, Kingdom of Goryeo
DiedOctober 24, 1419(1419-10-24) (aged 62)
Indeok Palace, Hanseong, Kingdom of Joseon
Burial
Huneung Tombs, North Hwanghae Province, North Korea
ConsortQueen Jeongan
Posthumous name
  • King Uimun Jangmu Onin Sunhyo the Great
    • 의문장무온인순효대왕
    • 懿文莊武溫仁順孝大王
Temple name
  • Jeongjong (정종, 定宗)
ClanJeonju Yi clan
DynastyHouse of Yi
FatherTaejo of Joseon
MotherQueen Shinui of the Cheongju Han clan
ReligionKorean Buddhism, later Neo-confucianism
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationJeongjong
McCune–ReischauerChŏngjong
Birth name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationI Banggwa, later I Gyeong
McCune–ReischauerYi Panggwa, later Yi Kyŏng
Courtesy name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationGwangwon
McCune–ReischauerKwangwŏn

Biography

Born in 1357 as Yi Bang-gwa, he was a prudent, generous, brave, and able military officer. During the latter days of the declining Goryeo Dynasty, Jeongjong followed his father, Yi Seong-gye, to various battlefronts and fought at his side. When his father became king in 1392, he became prince.

King Taejo had two wives—the first one, who gave birth to six of the king's sons including Jeongjong, died before King Taejo was crowned. King Taejo had a second wife, who had 2 sons from him. The king favored his youngest son, whose mother was Taejo's second wife. Prime Minister Jeong Dojeon also backed him as the successor to the throne, causing much disappointment from other princes. In 1398, King Taejo's fifth son, Yi Bang-won, who later would be King Taejong of Joseon, led a coup along with many military officers and killed his two younger half-brothers, Prime Minister Jeong, and many of his faction. Yi Bang-won first tried to show that he was not intended to take the throne, so he gave a push to his older brother Jeongjong (who was also the oldest then), to be a crown prince. King Taejo was upset and abdicated in disgust, and Jeongjong became king in the following year, 1399. The same year he moved the capital back to Gaegyeong, the old Goryeo capital.

In 1400, a conflict broke out between Yi Bang-won and his older brother, Yi Bang-gan. Yi Bang-won's force attacked and defeated that of Bang-gan's, Bang-gan was then sent into exile along with his family. General Bak Bo, who persuaded Bang-gan to fight against Bangwon, was executed. King Jeongjong, knowing that he was a mere political figurehead for his younger brother Bang-won, appointed him as a crown prince, and abdicated months later.

He was an able, wise administrator even though his short reign was marked by bloodshed within the royal family. He banned all kinds of private troops on the advice of Crown Prince Bang-won. He died in 1419, and was buried near Kaesong.

Ancestors

Family
  1. Queen Jeongan of the Gyeongju Kim clan (22 January 1355 – 2 August 1412) (정안왕후 김씨) — No issue.[2][3]
  2. Royal Noble Consort Seong of the Chungju Ji clan (성빈 지씨)[4]
    1. Yi Hu-saeng, Prince Deokcheon (1397 – 1465) (이후생 덕천군)[5]
    2. Yi Mal-saeng, Prince Dopyeong (1402 – 1439) (이말생 도평군)
  3. Royal Consort Suk-ui of the Chungju Ji clan (숙의 지씨)[4][6]
    1. Yi Won-saeng, Prince Uipyeong (? – 1461) (이원생 의평군)[7][8]
    2. Yi Mu-saeng, Prince Seonseong (10 December 1396 – 7 July 1460) (이무생 선성군)[9]
    3. Yi Ho-saeng, Prince Imseong (이호생 임성군)[10][11]
    4. Princess Hamyang (함양옹주)[12][13][14]
  4. Royal Consort Suk-ui of the Haengju Ki clan (? – 1457) (숙의 기씨)[15]
    1. Yi Gun-saeng, Prince Sunpyeong (? – 1456) (이군생 순평군)[16][17]
    2. Yi Ui-saeng, Prince Geumpyeong (? – 1435) (이의생 금평군)
    3. Princess Sukshin (1401 – 1486) (숙신옹주)[18]
    4. Yi Yung-saeng, Prince Jeongseok (1409 – 1464) (이융생 정석군)
    5. Yi Seon-saeng, Prince Murim (1410 – 1474) (이선생 무림군)
    6. Princess Goseong (고성옹주)[12][19][20]
    7. Princess Sangwon (상원옹주)[12][21][22]
    8. Princess Jeonsan (전산옹주)[12][23][24]
  5. Royal Consort Suk-ui of the Nampyeong Mun clan (숙의 문씨)
    1. Yi Gwi-saeng, Prince Jongui (1393 – 1451) (이귀생 종의군)
  6. Royal Consort Suk-ui of the Pyeongchang Yi clan (숙의 이씨) (? - 1443)
    1. Yi Jong-saeng, Prince Jinnam (1406 – 1470) (이종생 진남군)
  7. Royal Consort Suk-ui of the Haepyeong Yun clan (1368 - 1417) (숙의 윤씨)[25]
    1. Yi Deok-saeng, Prince Sudo (? – 1449) (이덕생 수도군)
    2. Yi Nok-saeng, Prince Imeon (1399 – 1432) (이녹생 임언군)
    3. Yi Bok-saeng, Prince Seokbo (1399 – 1447) (이복생 석보군)[10]
    4. Yi Bo-saeng, Prince Jangcheon (이보생 장천군)[26]
    5. Princess Incheon (인천옹주)[12][27][28]
    6. Princess Haman (함안옹주)[12][29][30]
  8. Princess Gaui of the Yu clan (가의궁주 유씨)
    1. Princess Deokcheon (덕천옹주)[12][31]
  9. Cho Gung-jang (초궁장)[32]
  10. Ki Mae (기매)

Titles
  • 1392 – 6 October 1398: Prince Yeongan (영안군, 永安君)
  • 6 October 1398 – 14 October 1398: The Crown Prince of Joseon (조선의 왕세자, 朝鮮之 王世子)
  • 14 October 1398 – 28 November 1400: The King of Joseon (조선의 왕, 朝鮮之 王)
  • 28 November 1400 – 15 October 1419: The King Emeritus of Joseon (조선의 상왕, 朝鮮之 上王)
  • Personal name:
    • Yi Bang-gwa (이방과, 李芳果)
    • Yi Gyeong (이경, 李曔)
  • Courtesy name: Gwangwon (광원, 光遠)
  • Posthumous name: King Uimun Jangmu Onin Sunhyo the Great (의문장무온인순효대왕, 懿文莊武溫仁順孝大王)
  • Temple name: Jeongjong (정종, 定宗)
  • Ming Dynasty: Gongjeong (공정, 恭靖)

See also

Notes
  1. By the time of Taejo's abdication and Jeongjong's accession on 14 October 1398, Taejo was already bestowed the title of "Grand King Emeritus"(태상왕).
  2. Called "Consort Deok" (덕비) during her lifetime. In the aftermath of the Second Strife of Princes when her husband abdicated in favor of his younger brother Taejong (who was then the newly-appointed Crown Prince) on 28 November 1400, along with his being bestowed the courtesy title of "Retired King Inmun'gong'ye, " (인문공예상왕), she was bestowed the courtesy title of "Queen Dowager Sundeok" (순덕왕대비; "Queen Dowager" is the closest translation of her title even though her husband is still alive) by her royal brother-in-law. Her other little-known posthumous name is "Queen Anjeong" (안정왕후) [Diary of Prince Yeonsan-gun, vol. 52, 08 April 1504, entry 1; Diary of Prince Gwanghae-gun, vol.18, 06 August 1609, entry 1].
  3. Daughter of Kim Cheon-seo (김천서), Lord Wolseong (월성부원군); and Lady Yi (이씨), Lady Samhanguk (삼한국대부인).
  4. Ji Yoon (지윤, ?–1377) and Lady Ahn (안씨)'s 3 daughters each married to Taejo's 2 eldest sons: the eldest daughter married Prince Jinan-daegun (Taejo's eldest son) and became his princess consort (Lady Samhanguk (삼한국대부인)). Their other 2 daughters became Jeongjong's concubines; the youngest daughter first became the Royal Consort Suk-ui (Decent Beauty; 숙의) while the 2nd daughter later became the Royal Noble Consort Seong (성빈).
  5. Later married Lady Yi of the Jangsu Yi clan (장수 이씨), Princess Gotaek (고택군부인). Their grandson Seong Hui-an (성희안), thru their eldest daughter's husband Seong Chan (성찬), would be one of the leaders of the 1506 coup that ousted Prince Yeonsan-gun and placed to the throne his younger half-brother Prince Jinseong-'daegun.
  6. She is the sister of Royal Noble Consort Seong
  7. eldest son
  8. He was married to Royal Princess Consort Choi of the Dongju Choi clan and had 8 children. ( 5 sons and 3 daughters)
  9. His first wife was Jeong Mong-ju's granddaughter.
  10. His wife, Princess Consort Yi of the Pyeongchang Yi clan (군부인 평창 이씨) had no issue with her husband, and as a remedy, he adopted his younger half-brother Prince Seokbo’s 3rd son Yi Geum-son, becoming Prince Gokseong (이금손 곡성군).
  11. With a concubine, he had a daughter who married Go Gye-geon (고계건, 高繼乾)
  12. On 18 November 1431, Sejong summoned and held a discussion with 5 of his ministers regarding Jeongjong (then known by his temple name as "Gongjeong" (공정대왕); Sukjong granted him his final temple name of "Jeongjong", on July 3, 1681. [Sukjong Sillok, vol.11, entry 2]) King Sejong also proposed to emulate the system of the Jin Dynasty, wherein the Emperor's daughters were addressed as "Imperial Princesses" (full title 군공주 gun'gongju, shortened to 군주 gunju), and bestow the same title, albeit lowered in rank and style, to his female cousins and nieces. After Hwang Hui (황희) agreed, Sejong ordered the discussion to be moved to the Hall of Worthies for further discussion & evaluation. [Sejong Sillok, vol.54, entry 4] On 22 November, Sejong finally bestowed the title of "Princess" (군주) to seven of Jeongjong's illegitimate daughters, as well as his brothers' legitimate daughters, including the 5th daughter of his eldest brother, Grand Prince Yangnyeong. [Sejong Sillok, vol.54, entry 3]
  13. Per Sejong, her alternate title is also "Princess Ham'yang" (함양군주).
  14. Later married Park Gaeng (박갱), son of Park Deuk-jung (박득중); created Lord Jidon (지돈녕).
  15. Daughter of Ki Myeon (기면), & elder sister of Ki Geon (기건, ?-1460), Duke Jeongmu (정무공).
  16. second son
  17. His wife was Princess Consort Seol of the Sunchamg Seol clan. They had 2 sons and 2 daughters.
  18. Later married Kim Se-min (김세민), son of Kim Gyeom (김겸); created Lord Pandon (판돈녕).
  19. Per Sejong, her alternate title is also "Princess Goseong" (고성군주).
  20. Later married Kim Han (김한), son of Kim Jeong-gyeong (김정경); created Lord Jijung (지중추).
  21. Per Sejong, her alternate title is also "Princess Sang'won" (상원군주).
  22. Later married Jo Hyo-san (조효산), son of Jo Eui-bang (조의방).
  23. Per Sejong, her alternate title is "Princess Ansong" (안성군주).
  24. Later married Yi Hui-jong (이희종).
  25. Daughter of Inspector General Yun Bang-eon (대사헌 윤방언).
  26. In 1444, Sejong bestowed the posthumous title of "Lord Jangcheon" (장천정) to Jeongjong's youngest son, and in 1872, Gojong upgraded the posthumous title to "Prince Jangcheon-gun".
  27. Per Sejong, her alternate title is also "Princess Incheon" (인천군주).
  28. Later married Yi Gwan-shik (이관식), son of Yi Seong-gan(이성간).
  29. Per Sejong, her alternate title is also "Princess Ham'an" (함안군주).
  30. Later married Yi Hang-shin (이항신), created Lord Bujidon (부지돈녕), Prince Consort Wollim (월림군), & Duke Sojeong (소정공).
  31. Later married Byeon Sang-bok (변상복, ?–1455), son of Byeon Yi (변이).
  32. A kisaeng from Hwangju who comforted Jeongjong after his abdication, and was involved in the eventual deposition of Crown Prince Yangnyeong [Taejong Sillok].
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