Jeongye Daewongun (Hangul: 전계대원군; Hanja: 全溪大院君; 21 March 1785 – 2 November 1841; ) was a member of the

Korean Korean may refer to: People and culture * Koreans, ethnic group originating in the Korean Peninsula * Korean cuisine * Korean culture * Korean language **Korean alphabet, known as Hangul or Chosŏn'gŭl **Korean dialects and the Jeju language ** ...

Joseon dynasty Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and re ...

as the biological father of King Cheoljong of Joseon. His personal name was Yi Gwang (hangul: 이광; hanja: 李㼅), but he was also known as Kwae-deuk (hangul: 쾌득; hanja: 快得) or Hae-dong (hangul: 해동; hanja: 海東).

Early life

Yi Gwang was born on March 21, 1785, in Ganghwa-do. His birth name was Kwae-deuk, which later changed to Hae-dong and after some years to Gwang. He was one of several illegitimate sons of

Prince Euneon Prince Euneon (Korean: 은언군, Hanja: 恩彦君) (29 May 1754 – 30 June 1801), personal name Yi In (Korean: 이인, Hanja: 李䄄), was a royal prince of the Joseon Dynasty. He was the grandfather of the 25th King of Joseon, King Cheoljong. ...

and the second of two sons of Lady Yi of the Jeonsan Yi clan. His older full-brother had an early death. His legitimate eldest half-brother was Prince Sanggye, also known as Crown Prince Wanpung, who was an adopted son of

Jeongjo of Joseon Jeongjo of Joseon (28 October 1752 – 18 August 1800), personal name Yi San (Korean: 이산; Hanja: 李祘), sometimes called Jeongjo the Great (Korean: 정조대왕; Hanja: 正祖大王), was the 22nd monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. ...

and heir to the throne for a short time, in 1779. His father,

, was an illegitimate son of

Crown Prince Sado Crown Prince Sado (Hangul: 사도세자, Hanja: 思悼世子; 13 February 1735 – 12 July 1762), personal name Yi Seon (Hangul: 이선, Hanja: 李愃), was the second son of King Yeongjo of Joseon. His biological mother was Royal Noble ...

by his concubine, Royal Noble Consort Suk of the Buan Im clan; Sado himself was an illegitimate son of King

Yeongjo of Joseon Yeongjo of Joseon (31 October 1694 – 22 April 1776), personal name Yi Geum (Korean language, Korean: 이금, Hanja: 李昑), was the 21st monarch of the Joseon, Joseon dynasty of Korea. He was the second son of Sukjong of Joseon, King Sukjong ...

. This made Jeongye the half-nephew of

King Jeongjo Jeongjo of Joseon (28 October 1752 – 18 August 1800), personal name Yi San (Korean language, Korean: 이산; Hanja: 李祘), sometimes called Jeongjo the Great (Korean language, Korean: 정조대왕; Hanja: 正祖大王), was the 22nd monarc ...

, but during his life, he did not receive the treatment of a member of the Royal Family. In 1801,

was executed after his legitimate wife, Princess Consort Sangsan of the Jincheon Song clan and his daughter-in-law, Princess Consort Shin of the Pyeongsan Shin clan (the wife of Prince Sanggye), had been baptized into the

Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

. The

Joseon Dynasty Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and re ...

state religion A state religion (also called religious state or official religion) is a religion or creed officially endorsed by a sovereign state. A state with an official religion (also known as confessional state), while not secular state, secular, is not n ...

was

Neo-Confucianism Neo-Confucianism (, often shortened to ''lǐxué'' 理學, literally "School of Principle") is a moral, ethical, and metaphysical Chinese philosophy Chinese philosophy originates in the Spring and Autumn period () and Wa ...

, so Princess Sangsan,

and Princess Shin were executed for treason. Some of

's sons, including Yi Gwang, were exiled on

Ganghwa Island Ganghwa Island (Hangul ; Hanja ), also known by its native name Ganghwado, is a South Korean island in the estuary of the Han River. It is in the Yellow Sea, off Korea's west coast. The island is separated from Gimpo (on the South Korean mainla ...

where they lived as poor farmers, but in 1822 the family received a special pardon from King Sunjo.전계대원군신도비(全溪大院君神道碑) 해석문
On November 2, 1841, Grand Internal Prince Jeongye died at his home in Gyeonghaeng,

Hanseong Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 of ...

, at the age of 56. The cause of death is unknown.

After death

In August 1841, the Noron faction plotted a coup d'état in order to crown Yi Won-gyeong, Yi Gwang's eldest child and only legitimate son as the new King. However, the plot was detected, which led to the execution of Yi Won-gyeong. The sole survivors were Yi Gwang's two illegitimate sons, Yi Gyeong-eung and Yi Won-beom, who were again exiled to Ganghwa-do. In 1849, his son, Yi Won-beom, born to a concubine named Lady Yeom, became the new monarch of

Joseon Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and re ...

as King Cheoljong. The title ''Daewongun'' was posthumously conferred on Prince Jeongye, making his full name Jeongye Daewongun. His tomb was originally in Jingwan,

Eunpyeong-gu Eunpyeong District (은평구, ''Eunpyeong-gu'') is one of the 25 districts of Seoul, South Korea. Eunpyeong has a population of 450,583 (2010) and has a geographic area of 29.7 km2 (11.5 sq mi), and is divided into 16 '' dong'' (administrative ...

Seoul Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 ...

, northwest of his father, Prince Euneon's grave, but it was moved to

Yeoju Yeoju () is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Yeoju was a county but was raised to the status of a city in September 2013. Together with the neighboring city of Icheon, it is known as a major center of contemporary South Korean ceramics, ...

, and in August 1851, to Seondan-ri, Pocheon-eup, near Wangbang Mountain.

Family

*Father: Yi In, Prince Euneon (29 May 1754 – 30 June 1801) (이인 은언군) **Grandfather: King Jangjo of Joseon (13 February 1735 – 12 July 1762) (조선 장조) **Grandmother: Royal Noble Consort Suk of the Buan Im clan (? - 1773) (숙빈 임씨) *Mother: Princess Consort Jeonsan of the

Jeonju Yi clan The Jeonju Yi clan () is a Korean clan with the surname Yi. Their Bon-gwan is in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province. The clan includes the former House of Yi which ruled the Joseon dynasty and the Korean Empire. Their founder was Yi Han (). His des ...

(19 December 1764 – 4 June 1819) (전산군부인 전주 이씨) *Consorts and their Respective Issue: ** Grand Internal Princess Consort Wanyang of the Jeonju Choi clan (19 February 1804 - 19 February 1840) (완양부대부인 전주 최씨) *** Yi Wongyeong, Prince Hoepyeong (11 September 1827 – 6 September 1844) (회평군 이명), first son ** Grand Internal Princess Consort Yongseong of the Yongdam Yeom clanElevated to ''Budaebuin'' (

Hangul The Korean alphabet, known as Hangul, . Hangul may also be written as following South Korea's standard Romanization. ( ) in South Korea and Chosŏn'gŭl in North Korea, is the modern official writing system for the Korean language. The let ...

: 부대부인,

Hanja Hanja (Hangul: ; Hanja: , ), alternatively known as Hancha, are Chinese characters () used in the writing of Korean. Hanja was used as early as the Gojoseon period, the first ever Korean kingdom. (, ) refers to Sino-Korean vocabulary, wh ...

: 府大夫人, i.e. Grand Internal Princess Consort), on the ascension of her son to the throne. (20 July 1793 - March 1834) (용성부대부인 용담 염씨) *** King Cheoljong (25 July 1831 – 16 January 1864), third son **Lady Yi (이씨) *** Yi Gyeongeung, Prince Yeongpyeong (20 July 1828 – 1 February 1902) (영평군 이경응), second son

Early life

After death

Family

Ancestry

References

Further reading