Gongyang of Goryeo (9 March 1345 – 17 May 1394) was the 34th and final ruler of the
Goryeo Dynasty 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 ...
. He was the descendant of
Duke Yangyang, brother of
King Huijong. He was deposed by
Yi Seong-gye
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 ...
, who then established the new
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 r ...
.
Biography
Background and early life
He was born as the second and youngest son of
Wang Gyun, 6th-generation descendant of
King Sinjong from his youngest son,
Duke Yangyang. His mother was
Princess Boknyeong, a great-granddaughter of
King Chungnyeol. He had an older brother,
Wang U, Prince Jeongyang. Due to this, the future King had the Goryeo royal family's bloods from both of paternal and maternal line.
At a young age, he was honoured as Prince Jeongchang (정창군, 定昌君) and then married the daughter of No Chaek, Internal Prince Changseong from the
Gyoha No clan. His niece,
Lady Kang, married
Yi Seong-gye
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 ...
as his second wife.
Reign
Although he did everything to prove that he had no political ambitions, Yi Seong-gye's faction used him as a bloodless propaganda tool. In 1389, Yi's supporters forced
King Chang from the throne and enthroned King Gongyang in his stead. This faction went on to oversee the events of King Gongyang's brief reign, including the assassinations of
King U and
King Chang. After the murder of
Jeong Mong-ju
Jeong Mong-ju (Korean: 정몽주, Hanja: 鄭夢周, January 13, 1338 – April 26, 1392), also known by his pen name Poeun (Korean: 포은), a historical figure during the transition period of the Korean dynasty moving from Goryeo (918-1392) to ...
, the last major supporter of the Goryeo kings, King Gongyang was deposed in 1392 by Yi Seong-gye, his son (
Yi Bang-won),
Jeong Do-jeon
Jeong Dojeon ( Korean: 정도전, Hanja: 鄭道傳, 1342 – October 6, 1398), also known by his pen name Sambong ( Korean: 삼봉), was a prominent Korean scholar-official during the late Goryeo to the early Joseon periods. He served as the firs ...
and others, which brought the Goryeo dynasty to an end.
Life after deposition
The former king was exiled at first to
Wonju
Wonju () is the most populous city in Gangwon Province, South Korea. The city is located approximately east of Seoul. Wonju was the site of three crucial battles during the Korean War.
Geography
Wonju sits at the southwestern corner of Gangw ...
and given title of Prince Gongyang (공양군, 恭讓君), but was then moved to
Samcheok
Samcheok () is a city in Gangwon-do, South Korea.
History
Ancient age & Three Kingdom
* It was called "Siljikguk or Siljikgokguk"
* 102 under the rule of Silla ( Pasa 23rd)
* 468 under the rule of Goguryeo ( Jangsu 56th)
* 505 The name changed ...
where he got assassinated in 1394 alongside his son,
Crown Prince Wang Seok in Gungchon Village. In 1416,
King Taejong honoured Goryeo's last king as King Gongyang (공양왕, 恭讓王) and sent an envoy to check out his tomb.
Family
Parents
*Father:
Wang Gyun, Internal Prince Jeongwon (정원부원군 왕균)
**Grandfather: Wang Yu, Marquess Sunhwa (순화후 왕유; d.1360)
**Grandmother: Consort Myeongye of the Mahan State, of the Shin clan (마한국명예비 신씨)
*Mother:
Grand Consort Wang of Samhan State (삼한국대비 왕씨)
**Grandfather:
Wang Hun, Grand Prince Yeondeok (연덕부원대군 왕훈 )
**Grandmother: Consort Ahn, of the Jo clan (안의비 조씨)
Consorts and their respective issue(s):
*
Royal Consort Sun of the Gyoha No clan (순비 노씨; d. 1394)
**
Crown Prince Wang Seok (세자 왕석; d. 1394)
**
Princess Suknyeong (숙녕궁주)
**
Princess Jeongsin (정신궁주)
**
Princess Gyeonghwa (경화궁주)
**Prince Wang (왕자 왕씨; d. 1394?)
[There were debated about this unnamed son:
**According to '' Goryeosa'' Biographies vol. 91, it was recorded that King Gongyang just had 1 son, Wang Seok.
*But, based on '' Taejo Sillok'' vol. 5, it was said that King Gongyang had 2 sons whom they two were killed in 1394 under King Taejo's command.]
**Prince Wang An (왕자 왕안;d.1416)
Ancestry
In popular culture
*Portrayed by Kim Jin-hae in the 1983
KBS TV series ''
Foundation of the Kingdom
''Foundation of the Kingdom'' () is a 1983 South Korean historical television series. It aired on KBS1 from January 2, 1983 to December 18, 1983. The series revolves around the fall of Goryeo and the foundation of Joseon.
Cast Kingdom of Goryeo ...
''.
*Portrayed by Kim Woong-chul in the 1983
MBC TV series ''
The King of Chudong Palace
''The King of Chudong Palace'' () is a 1983 South Korean historical television series, the first installment of the drama series ''500 Years of Joseon Dynasty'' by director Lee Byung-hoon and writer Shin Bong-seung. It aired on MBC from March ...
''.
*Portrayed by Kim Young-sun in the 1996–1998 KBS TV series ''
Tears of the Dragon
"Tears of the Dragon" is the first single from Bruce Dickinson's second solo album, '' Balls to Picasso'', released on 28 May 1994. Allmusic called "Tears of the Dragon" a "magnificent" track, "by far the album's best song".
Track listing
C ...
''.
*Portrayed by Kim Byung-choon in the 2012–2013
SBS TV series ''
The Great Seer
''The Great Seer'' (, also known as ''The Great Geomancer'') is a 2012 South Korean historical television series, starring Ji Sung, Ji Jin-hee, Song Chang-eui, Kim So-yeon and Lee Yoon-ji. Set during the turbulent decline of Goryeo, it is a ...
''.
*Portrayed by Nam Sung-jin in the 2014 KBS TV series ''
Jeong Do-jeon
Jeong Dojeon ( Korean: 정도전, Hanja: 鄭道傳, 1342 – October 6, 1398), also known by his pen name Sambong ( Korean: 삼봉), was a prominent Korean scholar-official during the late Goryeo to the early Joseon periods. He served as the firs ...
''.
*Portrayed by Lee Do-yup in the 2015–2016 SBS TV series ''
Six Flying Dragons
''Six Flying Dragons'' () is a South Korean television series starring Yoo Ah-in, Kim Myung-min, Shin Se-kyung, Byun Yo-han, Yoon Kyun-sang and Chun Ho-jin. It aired on SBS on Mondays and Tuesdays at 22:00 for 50 episodes beginning on October ...
''.
*Portrayed by Park Hyung-joon in the 2021
KBS1
The Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) () is the national broadcaster of South Korea. Founded in February 1927, it is one of the leading South Korean television and radio broadcasters.
KBS operates seven radio networks, ten television channels, ...
TV series ''
The King of Tears, Lee Bang-won''.
See also
*
List of monarchs of Korea
*
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 unificat ...
References
*
{{Authority control
1345 births
1394 deaths
Executed Korean people
14th-century Korean monarchs
People executed by hanging
Korean Buddhist monarchs