Jeongjong of Joseon


Jeongjong of Joseon, born Yi Bang-gwa, whose changed name is Yi Gyeong, was the second king of Joseon Dynasty. He was the second son of King Taejo of Joseon, the founder and first king of the dynasty.

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 Seonggye, 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. Taejo had 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 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, 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 the acting king of the kingdom was his younger brother Bangwon, appointed him as a crown prince, and abdicated a few days 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 Bangwon. He died in 1419, and was buried near Kaeseong.

Genealogy

Ancestors

Family

  1. Queen Jeongan of the Gyeongju Kim
  2. Royal Noble Consort Seong of the Chungju Ji clan
  3. # Yi Hu-Saeng, Prince Deokcheon
  4. # Yi Mal-Saeng, Prince Dopyeong
  5. Royal Consort Suk-ui of the Chungju Ji clan
  6. # Yi Won-Saeng, Prince Uipyeong
  7. # Yi Mu-Saeng, Prince Seonseong
  8. # Yi Ho-Saeng, Prince Imseong
  9. # Princess Hamyang
  10. Royal Consort Suk-ui of the Haengju Ki clan
  11. # Yi Gun-Saeng, Prince Sunpyeong
  12. # Yi Ui-Saeng, Prince Geumpyeong
  13. # Princess Sukshin
  14. # Yi Yung-Saeng, Prince Jeongseok
  15. # Yi Seon-Saeng, Prince Murim
  16. # Princess Goseong
  17. # Princess Sangwon
  18. # Princess Jeonsan
  19. Royal Consort Suk-ui of the Mun clan
  20. # Yi Gwi-Saeng, Prince Jongui
  21. Royal Consort Suk-ui of the Lee clan
  22. # Yi Jong-Saeng, Prince Jinnam
  23. Royal Consort Suk-ui of the Haepyeong Yun clan
  24. # Yi Deok-Saeng, Prince Sudo
  25. # Yi Nok-Saeng, Prince Imeon
  26. # Yi Bok-Saeng, Prince Seokbo
  27. # Yi Bo-Saeng, Prince Jangcheon
  28. # Princess Incheon
  29. # Princess Haman
  30. Princess Gaui of the Yu clan
  31. # Princess Deokcheon
  32. Cho Gung-Jang
  33. Ki-Mae

    His full posthumous name