Queen Wŏn'gyŏng

Queen Wŏn'gyŏng (Korean: 원경왕후; Hanja: 元敬王后; 6 August 1365 – 27 August 1420) of the Yeoheung Min clan, was the wife of King Taejong, the third monarch of Joseon, and the mother of Sejong the Great. Known as Queen Chŏng during her tenure, she was queen of Joseon from 1400 until her husband's abdication in 1418. She was then styled as Queen Dowager Hudŏk during the reign of her son, King Sejong. Biography Early life The future Queen Wŏn'gyŏng was born during the reign of King Gongmin of Goryeo, as the third daughter of Min Che and his wife, a lady of the Yeosan Song clan. She had two elder sisters, four younger brothers and one younger sister. Her grandfather's elder brother, Min Yu (민유), eventually became the 12th great-grandfather of Queen Inhyeon, the 16th great-grandfather of Princess Consort Yŏhŭng (Grand Internal Prince Heungseon's mother), the 17th great-grandfather of Grand Internal Princess Consort Sunmok and Empress Myeongseongtae, and the 18th great-grandfather of Empress Sunmyeonghyo. Lady Min was also a fourth cousin-twice-removed of her sister-in-law, Queen Chŏngan. Through her great-grandfather, she was a first cousin-once-removed of Consort Hui, a first cousin-three times-removed of Concubine Myŏng (consort of her husband, King Taejong), and a first cousin-four times-removed of Crown Princess Kim. Through her mother, Lady Min was a fourth cousin-once-removed of Han Hwak, and a fifth cousin of Queen Jangsun and Queen Gonghye. At the age of 17, she married the 15-year-old Yi Pangwŏn, fifth son of Yi Sŏnggye (posthumously King Taejo) and his first wife, Lady Han. Ten years later, when Joseon was established by her father-in-law, her husband was titled Prince Chŏngan (정안군), while she became known as Mistress Chŏngnyŏng (정녕옹주). Involvement in royal politics In 1394, the capital was moved from Kaegyŏng (present-day Kaesŏng) to Hansŏng (present-day Seoul). When the new dynasty was proclaimed and officially brought into existence, Taejo raised the issue of which son would be his successor. Although Yi Pangwŏn had contributed most to his father's rise to power, he harbored a profound hatred against two of his father's key associates, Chŏng Tojŏn and Nam Ŭn. King Taejo's second wife, Queen Sindeok, then formed an alliance with Chŏng Tojŏn and had her youngest son, Yi Pangsŏk, appointed as crown prince. In 1398, Chŏng Tojŏn, who was enjoying great power at the time, promulgated a law requiring that all private soldiers and weapons be surrendered to the state; however, Lady Min managed to hide weapons and private soldiers belonging to her family. Shortly after King Taejo fell ill, the Min clan took advantage of this opportunity to give the weaponry and resources to Yi Pangwŏn. Yi Pangwŏn then rose up with his elder brothers, Yi Pang'ŭi (이방의) and Yi Panggan, and two of his brother-in-laws, Min Mugu (민무구) and Min Mujil (민무질), and immediately raided the palace, killing Chŏng Tojŏn and his followers, and his two half-brothers, Yi Pangbon (이방번) and Yi Pangsŏk. This incident became known as the First Strife of the Princes. Aghast at the fact that his sons were willing to kill each other for the throne, and psychologically exhausted from the death of his second wife, King Taejo abdicated in favor of his eldest surviving son, Yi Panggwa (posthumously King Jeongjong). In early 1400, the Second Strife of the Princes took place when Yi Pangwŏn and Yi Panggan vied for the position of successor to King Jeongjong. Yi Panggan was defeated and exiled. Subsequently, King Jeongjong appointed Yi Pangwŏn as crown prince, and Lady Min became crown princess. Later that year, King Jeongjong voluntarily abdicated in favor of Yi Pangwŏn (posthumously King Taejong), and Lady Min thus became queen. Family downfall In 1406, King Taejong brought up the topic of abdicating but later withdrew his statement. In the process, the elder two of Lady Min's brothers, Min Mugu and Min Mujil, voiced their gratification with the news; the two men were then exiled to Jeju Island, where they would be executed in 1410. Their father, Min Che (민제), had a hard time coping with the exile of his sons and died in 1408. Around this time, Lady Min's relationship with her husband had already worsened as Taejong began taking concubines from influential families — his concubines had previously been mostly former maids of Lady Min, so her standing was not diminished by their existence. The situation was exacerbated when she didn't inform Taejong of the birth of their fourth daughter, Princess Chŏngsŏn, in 1404. It was said that her jealousy and the frequent marital disputes caused Taejong to avoid Lady Min's quarters; he once threatened to depose her, but this was probably either a maneuver to keep her in check, or a remark blurted out in a fit of rage, as the deposition would have been an unwise political move and out of character for King Taejong. In 1416, Lady Min's remaining brothers, Min Muhyul (민무휼) and Min Muhoe (민무회), stated that the crown prince, Yi Che, would take great care of their family as they shared a close familial bond. When word reached Taejong, he saw it as a threat; the two brothers were exiled and then executed. Later life and death In 1418, King Taejong abdicated in favor of their third son, Yi To (posthumously King Sejong), but continued to rule with an iron fist until his death. Lady Min became queen dowager, but died less than two years later. She was buried within Heolleung (헌릉), today part of the Heonilleung burial ground, in Seocho District, Seoul. King Taejong, who outlived Lady Min by two years, was later buried alongside her. Lady Min has been described as a smart and ambitious woman with an astute political drive, who frequently intervened in state affairs. Family Father: Min Che (민제), Internal Prince Yŏhŭng (여흥부원군; 1339 – 13 October 1408) Mother: Grand Princess Consort of Samhan State (삼한국대부인), of the Yeosan Song clan (여산 송씨; 1342–1414) Sibling(s) Sister: Lady, of the Yeoheung Min clan (여흥 민씨; 1355–?) Sister: Lady, of the Yeoheung Min clan (여흥 민씨; 1357–?) Brother: Min Mugu (민무구), Prince Yŏgang (여강군; 1369 – 29 April 1410) Brother: Min Mujil (민무질), Prince Yeoseong (여성군; 1372 – 29 April 1410) Brother: Min Muhyul (민무휼), Prince Yeowon (여원군; 1373 – 13 January 1416) Brother: Min Muhoe (민무회), Prince Yeosan (여산군; 1375 – 13 January 1416) Sister: Lady, of the Yeoheung Min clan (여흥 민씨) Husband: King Taejong (태종대왕; 21 June 1367 – 8 June 1422) Father-in-law: King Taejo (태조대왕; 4 November 1335 – 27 June 1408) Mother-in-law: Queen Sinŭi (신의왕후), of the Anbyŏn Han clan (안변 한씨; 6 October 1337 – 25 November 1391) Stepmother-in-law: Queen Sindeok (신덕왕후), of the Goksan Kang clan (곡산 강씨; 20 July 1356 – 23 September 1396) Issue Princess Chŏngsun (정순공주; 1385 – 18 September 1460) Princess Kyŏngjŏng (경정공주; 1387 – 29 June 1455) Unnamed son (1389) Unnamed son (1390) Unnamed son (1392) Princess Kyŏngan (경안공주; 1393 – 8 June 1415) Yi Che (이제), Grand Prince Yangnyŏng (양녕대군; 1394 – 8 October 1462) Yi Po (이보), Grand Prince Hyoryŏng (효령대군; 29 January 1396 – 22 June 1486) Yi To (이도), King Sejong (세종대왕; 15 May 1397 – 8 April 1450) Princess Chŏngsŏn (정선공주; 1404 – 5 March 1424) Yi Chong (이종), Grand Prince Sŏngnyŏng (성녕대군; 12 August 1405 – 20 March 1418) Unnamed son (1412) Ancestry In popular culture Portrayed by Kim Young-ran in the 1983 MBC TV series The King of Chudong Palace. Portrayed by Choi Myung-gil in the 1996–1998 KBS1 TV series Tears of the Dragon and the 2008 KBS TV series The Great King, Sejong. Portrayed by Kang Se-jung in the 2014 KBS1 TV series Jeon Do-jeon. Portrayed by Im Ye-jin in the 2015 MBC TV series Splash Splash Love. Portrayed by Gong Seung-yeon in the 2015–2016 SBS TV series Six Flying Dragons. Portrayed by Kim Sa-hee in the 2015 film Empire of Lust. Portrayed by Seo Young-hee in the 2021 SBS TV series Joseon Exorcist. Portrayed by Park Jin-hee in the 2021–2022 KBS1 TV series The King of Tears, Lee Bang-won. Portrayed by Cha Joo-young in the 2025 tvN series, The Queen Who Crowns. See also History of Korea Consort kin Politics of Joseon Styles and titles in Joseon Notes References External links 원경왕후 (in Korean). Doosan Encyclopedia.