Yi Ui-bang (, 1121 – 12 January 1175) was a military ruler of

Korea Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...

during the

Goryeo Goryeo (; ) was a Korean kingdom founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korean Peninsula until 1392. Goryeo achieved what has been called a "true national unificati ...

period. He was one of many military dictators of Goryeo in the aftermath of the 1170 warrior rebellion.

Life

Background

Yi originated from 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 ...

(전주이씨; 全州李氏). He subsequently joined the military and rose in ranks, becoming a minister in the scholar dominated government.

Rebellion

In August 1170 ( Uijong 24th year), he joined the Goryeo warrior rebellion, which occurred in defiance against the typically minister ruled Korea. Primary leaders of this rebellion was

Jeong Jung-bu Jeong Jung-bu (1106 – 18 October 1179) was a medieval Korean soldier and military dictator during the Goryeo Dynasty (918–1392). He was a career soldier, qualified on military part of civil service examination. He was most noted for leading ...

and

Yi Go Yi Go (?–1171) was a military ruler in Korea. He, with many other military colonels, overthrew King Uijong in the year 1170. When he proceeded to plan a revolt, he was murdered by Yi Ui-bang. Popular culture * Portrayed Park Jun-gyu in the 20 ...

who found that warrior-class treatment was truly unfair and planned a coup e tat to establish a warrior government. The King of Goryeo, Uijong was soon disposed and the new warrior-class ministers set up a puppet king Myeongjong. Yi was named as one of the key figures in the new regime with the title of High Merit Minister (壁上功臣) and given special privileges along with the other ministers. When Yi Go tried to plot a coup and get hold of a dictatorship in 1171, Yi, under the orders of Chung Jung-bu purged and murdered Yi Go.

Governance

With Jeong, Yi increased the size and power of the military and attracted military-class administrators to the regime and appointed these men to national offices which were previously reserved for scholar-class ministers. In 1173, when a scholar-class minister Kim Bo-dang (김보당 金甫當) attempted to restore disposed king Uijong to the throne, Yi decisively slew the former king, preventing any further restoration attempts. With this merit, he was further promoted to Commander of Land Troops. During his co-governance with Jeong, Yi also faced a series of Buddhist Monk uprisings from different shrines around the nation. As Goryeo was officially a Buddhist nation since

Wang Geon Taejo of Goryeo (31 January 877 – 4 July 943), also known as Taejo Wang Geon (; ), was the founder of the Goryeo dynasty, which ruled Korea from the 10th to the 14th century. Taejo ruled from 918 to 943, achieving unification of the Later Three ...

's unification of Korea, the Buddhists had great influence upon the government and most Goryeo kings appointed official Buddhist Great Monk advisors to assist in national administration. Due to the increasing Buddhist uprisings, Yi himself commanded his forces to put down these rebellions and raid Buddhist shrines. With his powerful forces, he swept the nation and raided and pillaged these shrines. At this time,

Jo Wi-chong Jo, jo, JO, or J.O. may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Jo'' (film), a 1972 French comedy * ''Jo'' (TV series), a French TV series *"Jo", a song by Goldfrapp from ''Tales of Us'' *"Jo", a song by Mr. Oizo from ''Lambs Anger'' * Jo a fictio ...

(조위총, 趙位寵), a general of the North-Western border attempted to start a rebellion. Yi responded by murdering favorers of this rebellion such as

Yun In-mi Yun may refer to: *Yǔn, Chinese name of Xionites, a nomadic tribe of Central Asia *Yun (Chinese name) (云/雲), a Chinese family name *Yun (ancient surname), an ancient Chinese surname *Yeon, or Yun, Korean (or Dutch given name) family name *Yun ...

(윤인미, 尹仁美), who was of Seogyung birth. Due to this action, Yi lost support and favors from the people, and when he attempted to put down this rebellion, he failed.

Downfall and death

Yi, attempting to put down Jeong and gain more power, tried to appoint his daughter as Royal

Princess consort Princess consort is an official title or an informal designation that is normally accorded to the wife of a sovereign prince. The title may be used for the wife of a king if the more usual designation of queen consort is not used. More informal ...

, an action which did not fulfill objective but instead further endangered Yi's political situation. Due to this action, the 2nd Jo Invasion force, led by Jeong Jung-bu's son Jeong Gyun subsequently murdered Yi Ui-Bang and his supporters and removed his daughter from the royal family. However, soon enough, Jeong Jung-bu was also murdered and the young and righteous dictator

Gyeong Dae-seung Gyeong Dae-seung (Hangul: 경대승, Hanja: 慶大升) (1154 – 4 August 1183) was the third of many military dictators who ruled during the late period of the Goryeo. Unlike his predecessors, General Gyeong was determined to fix Goryeo's prob ...

took power.

Evaluation

General Yi Ui-bang's main legacy remains in the balance that was achieved through the purging of scholars during his co-governance with Jeong. Before the arrival of Yi, the scholar class had more influence in the government to the extent that the warrior-class was greatly mistreated. With the changing of kings and shifting of power from scholar-class to warrior-class, Goryeo faced a new era. A final and very important legacy is his connection with the founder of 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 ...

Yi Songgye Taejo of Joseon (4 November 1335 – 27 June 1408), born Yi Seong-gye (), was the founder and first ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. After ascending to the throne, he changed his name to Yi Dan (), and reigned from 1392 to 1398. He was ...

. Yi Ui-Bang's younger brother Yi In was a 6th generation ancestor of Yi Songgye, thus connecting Yi Ui-Bang and Yi Songgye together.

Family

*Father: Yi Yong-bu (이용부, 李勇夫) **Grandfather: Yi Gung-jin (이궁진, 李宮進) *Mother: Lady Yi (이씨, 李氏) **Grandfather: Yi-Hyeong (이형, 李珩) *Brother(s): **Older brother: Yi Jun-ui (이준의, 李俊儀; d. 1174) **Younger brother: Yi Rin (이린, 李隣) **Younger brother: Yi Geo (이거, 李琚) *Wife: Lady Jo (부인 조씨, 夫人曺氏) **Daughter: Queen Sapyeong (사평왕후, 思平王后; d. 1174) ***Son-in-law:

Gangjong of Goryeo Gangjong of Goryeo (10 May 1152–26 August 1213) (r. 1211–1213) was the 22nd ruler of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea. He was the eldest son of King Myeongjong. Gangjong was confirmed as heir in 1173. In 1197, he and his father were driven to ...

(고려 강종 ��宗 1152 – 1213) ****Granddaughter:

Princess Suryeong Princess Suryeong was a Goryeo Royal Princess as the first and eldest daughter of King Gangjong when he was still a crown prince, from his first former wife, Queen Sapyeong, who was the daughter of Yi Ui-bang. She was, possibly, the older half-s ...

(수령궁주, 壽寧宮主; b. 1174)

Popular culture

* Portrayed by

Seo In-seok Seo In-seok (born February 22, 1949) is a South Korean actor. Seo made his acting debut in 1976, and among his notable television series are the historical dramas '' Emperor Wang Gun'' (2000) and ''Jeong Do-jeon Jeong Dojeon ( Korean: 정도� ...

in the 2003-2004 KBS TV series ''

Age of Warriors ''Age of Warriors'' () is a South Korean historical television series. It aired on KBS1 from February 8, 2003, to August 15, 2004, every Saturday and Sunday at 21:45 ( KST) for 158 episodes. The series is set during the military rule over Goryeo ...

''.

References

*http://mtcha.com.ne.kr/koreaman/goryo/man93-iyibang.htm (차석찬의 역사창고) *http://enc.daum.net/dic100/viewContents.do?&m=all&articleID=b18a0210a *http://www.encyber.com/biodic/contents_n.php?cd=1602&p=4&masterno=127558&haksupno=1742 *http://kr.dic.yahoo.com/search/enc/result.html?pk=17174900