Myeongjong of Goryeo (8 November 1131 – 3 December 1202) (r. 1170–1197) was 19th

monarch A monarch is a head of stateWebster's II New College DictionarMonarch Houghton Mifflin. Boston. 2001. p. 707. for life or until abdication, and therefore the head of state of a monarchy. A monarch may exercise the highest authority and power i ...

of 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 unificat ...

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 third son of King Injong. Although it was intended that Injong's second son should succeed his father,It was said that when Injong was choosing an heir, he preferred his second son for his keen insight and wisdom; however, his older brother came to power, and banished him out of jeolousy. he was assassinated because

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 ...

feared that he might become a threat to him in the future. Myeongjong was a weak king, and was merely on the throne to show the general populace they still had a king, as the true rulers were the military leaders. His reign saw constant bloodshed as well as the deaths of the rebels Chung Jung-bu,

Yi Ui-bang Yi Ui-bang (, 1121 – 12 January 1175) was a military ruler of Korea during the Goryeo 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 ...

, and Yi Ui-min (not related to Yi Ui-Bang) but also the hero, Gyeong Dae-seung (General Gyeong was in fact the most loyal of the military leaders. Yet Myeongjong hated and mistrusted him because of his popularity with the populace). After twenty-seven years on the throne, he was sent into exile by the military ruler of the time,

Choe Chung-heon Choe Chung-heon (1149 – 29 October 1219) was a military ruler of Korea during the Goryeo period. Choe's father was a Grand General in the Goryeo military, hence precipitating his own entry into the military. Choe witnessed military men become ...

, and Injong's fifth son, King Sinjong, was placed on the throne.

Family

*Father:

Injong of Goryeo Injong of Goryeo (29 October 1109 – 10 April 1146) (r. 1122–1146) was the 17th monarch of the Korean Goryeo dynasty. He was the eldest son of King Yejong and Queen Sundeok, the daughter of Yi Ja-gyeom. His reign saw two major internal crise ...

(고려 인종) **Grandfather:

Yejong of Goryeo Yejong of Goryeo (11 February 1079 – 15 May 1122) (r. 1105–1122) was the 16th monarch of the Korean Goryeo dynasty. He was the eldest son of King Sukjong and Queen Myeongui, and succeeded to the throne upon his father's death. His reign is u ...

(고려 예종) **Grandmother: Queen Sundeok (순덕왕후) *Mother:

Queen Gongye Queen Gongye of the Jangheung Im clan (; 2 October 1109 – 2 December 1183) was a Korean queen consort as the 3rd wife of King Injong of Goryeo. As his favourite and beloved wife, she was the mother of his three successors ( Uijong, Myeongjon ...

(공예왕후) **Grandfather: Im Won-hu (임원후) **Grandmother: Grand Lady of Jinhan State of the Bupyeong Yi clan (진한국대부인 부평 이씨) *Consort and their Respective issue(s): # Queen Uijeong of the Gim clan (의정왕후 김씨); half second cousin once removed. ## Crown Prince Wang Yeong (태자 왕영) ##

Princess Yeonhui Princess Yeonhui (Hangul: 연희궁주, Hanja: 延禧宮主) was a Goryeo Royal Princess as the first and oldest daughter of King Myeongjong and Queen Uijeong, also the first younger sister of King Gangjong. In 1173, she formally called as Ro ...

(연희궁주) ## Princess Suan (수안궁주) #Concubine Myeong-Chun (명춘; d. 1180) #Concubine Sun-Ju (순주; d. 1179) #Unknown ##Little Prince Wang Seon-sa (소군 왕선사) ##Little Prince Wang Hong-gi (소군 왕홍기) ##Little Prince Wang Hong-chu (소군 왕홍추) ##Little Prince Wang Hong-gyu (소군 왕홍규) ##Little Prince Wang Hong-gyun (소군 왕홍균) ##Little Prince Wang Hong-gak (소군 왕홍각) ##Little Prince Wang Hong-yi (소군 왕홍이) ##Royal Lady Wang (왕녀 왕씨) – married Yi Hwa-ryong (이화룡)

Popular culture

* Portrayed by

Kim Byung-se Kim Byung-se (born September 26, 1962) is a South Korean actor. Kim attended California State University Long Beach. Kim is an avid golfer and can be often seen golfing on his Instagram. Him and his wife have two dogs. Filmography Film ...

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 ...

''.

Family

Popular culture

Notes and references

See also