Queen Gonghye

Queen Gonghye
Queen Consort of Joseon
Tenure9 January 1470 – 9 May 1474
PredecessorQueen Ansun
SuccessorQueen Yun
Born17 November 1456
Yeonhwa-bang, Hanseong, Joseon
Died9 May 1474(1474-05-09) (aged 17)
Guhyeonjeon Hall, Changdeokgung, Hanseong, Joseon
Burial
Sulleung, Samneung Cluster, Paju, South Korea
Spouse
​
(m. 1467)​
Names
Han Song-yi (한송이; 韓松伊)
Posthumous name
Queen Hwiui Sinsuk Gonghye (휘의신숙공혜왕후; 徽懿愼肅恭惠王后)
Clan
DynastyYi
FatherHan Myeong-hoe, Internal Prince Sangdang
MotherInternal Princess Consort Hwangnyeo, of the Yeoheung Min clan
Korean name
Hangul
공혜왕후
Hanja
恭惠王后
RRGonghye wanghu
MRKonghye wanghu

Queen Gonghye (Korean: 공혜왕후; Hanja: 恭惠王后; 17 November 1456 – 9 May 1474), of the Cheongju Han clan, personal name Han Song-yi, was the first wife of King Seongjong, the ninth monarch of Joseon, and the younger sister of Queen Jangsun. She was queen of Joseon from 1470 until her death in 1474.

Biography

Early life

The future Queen Gonghye was born during the reign of King Sejo, as the legitimate youngest daughter among one son and four daughters. Her father was Han Myeong-hoe, who would later become chief state councilor, and her mother was a lady from the Yeoheung Min clan. She had eight brothers and three sisters of concubine birth.

The eldest among her sisters married the eldest son of Shin Suk-ju.

Another sister married the eldest son of Princess Jeonghyeon (정현옹주), King Sejong's third daughter.

Her third sister became crown princess after marrying the future King Yejong, but she died following childbirth, more than six years before her husband's accession to the throne.

Her only full-brother married a daughter of County Princess Biin (비인현주), Grand Prince Hyoryeong's eldest daughter.

One of her nephews married Princess Gongsin (공신옹주), King Seongjong's fifth daughter.

On her paternal side, Lady Han was a second cousin once removed of Queen Jeonghyeon, a fourth cousin once removed of Queen Insu, and a fifth cousin of Queen Ansun.

Through her maternal line, she was a second cousin of Queen Jeongsun.

Marriage

In 1467, at the age of 10, Lady Han married 9-year-old Yi Hyeol, the younger son of the late Crown Prince Uigyeong and a grandson of the reigning King Sejo.

According to Lady Han's epitaph, it was King Sejo who selected her as royal bride, but it has also been said that it was actually Yi Hyeol's mother, Crown Princess Su, who sought to make Lady Han her daughter-in-law after seeing her through a window.[1]

In 1470, with Han Myeong-hoe's influence, Yi Hyeol succeeded his uncle, King Yejong (who was also Lady Han's former brother-in-law), and became the ninth monarch of Joseon (posthumously King Seongjong). Lady Han thus became queen. She was strictly educated according to Confucian ethics by her mother-in-law, now known as Queen Insu, and read books such as Biographies of Exemplary Women.

When Lady Han couldn't become pregnant, King Seongjong took concubines. Without despising the women, Lady Han presented them with clothes and jewelry.

In 1473, she moved to her parents' home due to illness and King Seongjong visited every other day in order to check on her condition. She later recovered and returned to the palace, but her illness flared up again within months. Because her health did not improve, Lady Han requested to move her residence to Changdeokgung, and King Seongjong and the three dowager queens (Jaseong, Insu and Inhye) tended to her. Her parents were also granted permission to enter the palace and look after their daughter; before her death, Lady Han urged them to eat as she knew they had been starving themselves for days while staying by her side.

Death

Lady Han passed away without issue, six months before her 18th birthday. She was buried within Sulleung (술릉), today part of the Samneung Cluster in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. Her elder sister, Queen Jangsun, was buried in the same area.

King Seongjong conferred upon her the posthumous name Gonghye (공혜), praising her for obediently and respectfully serving her in-laws ("gong"), and for her generosity, gentleness, and benevolence ("hye").

In 1498, during Yeonsangun's reign, Lady Han's posthumous name was enhanced by adding Hwiui Sinsuk (휘의신숙; lit. ''glorious restrain, prudent solemnity'').

Titles

  • During the reign of King Sejo (r. 1455–1468):
    • Lady, of the Cheongju Han clan (청주 한씨; 淸州韓氏)
      • Han Myeong-hoe's daughter (한명회의 딸)
      • Lady Han (한씨; 韓氏)
    • Princess Consort Cheonan (천안군부인; 天安郡夫人; from 25 February 1467)
  • During the reign of King Seongjong (r. 1470–1495):
    • Queen (왕비; 王妃; from 9 January 1470)
    • Queen Gonghye (공혜왕후; 恭惠王后; from 1474)

Family

  • Father: Han Myeong-hoe (한명회), Internal Prince Sangdang (상당부원군; 5 December 1415 – 7 December 1487)
  • Mother: Internal Princess Consort Hwangnyeo (황려부부인), of the Yeoheung Min clan (여흥 민씨; ?–1490)
  • Sibling(s)
    • Lady, of the Cheongju Han clan (청주 한씨)[a]
    • Lady, of the Cheongju Han clan (청주 한씨)[b]
    • Queen Jangsun (장순왕후; 3 March 1445 – 14 January 1462)
    • Han Bo (한보), Prince Nangseong (낭성군; 1447–1522)
    • Han Bok (한복)[c]
    • Han Im (한임)[c]
    • Han Su (한수)[c]
    • Han Mok (한목)[c]
    • Han Seok (한석)[c]
    • Han Seo (한서)[c]
    • Han U (한우)[c]
    • Han On (한온)[c]
    • Lady, of the Cheongju Han clan (청주 한씨)[c][d]
    • Lady, of the Cheongju Han clan (청주 한씨)[c][e]
    • Lady, of the Cheongju Han clan (청주 한씨)[c][f]
  • Husband: King Seongjong (성종대왕; 28 August 1457 – 29 January 1495) — No issue.
    • Biological father-in-law: King Deokjong (덕종대왕; 12 October 1438 – 29 September 1457)
    • Adoptive father-in-law: King Yejong (예종대왕; 23 January 1450 – 9 January 1470)
    • Biological mother-in-law: Queen Sohye (소혜왕후), of the Cheongju Han clan (청주 한씨; 16 October 1437 – 21 May 1504)
    • Adoptive mother-in-law: Queen Ansun (안순왕후), of the Cheongju Han clan (청주 한씨; 27 April 1445 – 12 February 1499)

Ancestry

Ancestors of Queen Gonghye
Han Su
(한수)
Han Sang-jil
(한상질)
Lady, of the Andong Gwon clan
(안동 권씨)
Han Gi
(한기)
Song Sin-ui
(송신의)
Lady, of the Cheongpung Song clan
(청풍 송씨)
Han Myeong-hoe, Internal Prince Sangdang
(상당부원군 한명회)
Yi Haeng
(이행)
Yi Jeok
(이적)
Lady, of the Seosan Ryu clan
(서산 류씨)
Lady, of the Yeoju Yi clan
(여주 이씨)
Park Gaheung
(박가흥)
Lady, of the Suncheon Park clan
(순천 박씨)
Queen Gonghye
Min Geun
(민근)
Min Jung-rip
(민중립)
Lady, of the Andong Gwon clan
(안동 권씨)
Min Dae-saeng
(민대생)
Heo Jin
(허진)
Lady, of the Yangcheon Heo clan
(양천 허씨)
Lady, of the Munhwa Yu clan
(문화 유씨)
Internal Princess Consort Hwangnyeo, of the Yeoheung Min clan
(황려부부인 여흥 민씨)
Heo Gyeong
(허경)
Heo Geum
(허금)
Lady, of the Juksan Park clan
(죽산 박씨)
Lady, of the Yangcheon Heo clan
(양천 허씨)

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Married Shin Ju (신주).
  2. ↑ Married Yun Ban (윤반), Prince Yeongcheon (영천군).
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Half-sibling.
  4. ↑ Married Kang Hui-geon (강희건).
  5. ↑ Married Shin Seung-son (신승손).
  6. ↑ Married Hong Gap-saeng (홍갑생).

References

  1. ↑ 신, 명호 (17 May 2007). 조선왕비실록 [Annals of the Queen of Joseon] (in Korean). 역사의아침 (Morning of History). pp. 197–198. ISBN 978-89-958849-6-6.
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