Crown Prince Uigyeong (Korean의경세자; Hanja懿敬世子; 12 October 1438 – 29 September 1457[a]), personal name Yi Jang (이장; 李暲) and formerly called as Prince Dowon (도원군; 桃源君) was a Crown prince of the Korean Joseon Dynasty. He was the oldest son of Sejo of Joseon and Queen Jeonghui, also the older brother of Yejong of Joseon. He was the spouse of Queen Insu and the biological father of Seongjong of Joseon.

Crown Prince Uigyeong
의경세자
King Uigyeong
(의경왕; 懿敬王)
Crown Prince of Joseon
Reign26 July 1455 – 29 September 1457
Coronation26 July 1455
PredecessorCrown Prince Yi Hong-wi
SuccessorCrown Prince Yi Hwang
BornYi Jang (Korean이장; Hanja李暲)
(1438-10-12)October 12, 1438
Grand Prince Suyang's private residence, Hanseong, Joseon
DiedSeptember 29, 1457(1457-09-29) (aged 18)
Bon Palace, Hanseong, Joseon
Burial
Gyeongneung tomb, 475–81, Yongdu-dong, Deogyang District, Goyang, South Korea
Consort
(m. 1450⁠–⁠1457)
Issue
  1. Yi Jeong, Grand Prince Wolsan
  2. Yi Gyeong-geun, Princess Myeongsuk
  3. Yi Hyeol, Grand Prince Jalsan
Posthumous name
King Seonsuk Gonghyeon Onmun Uigyeong the Great
선숙공현온문의경대왕
宣肅恭顯溫文懿敬大王
Temple name
Deokjong (덕종; 德宗)
HouseHouse of Yi
FatherSejo of Joseon
MotherQueen Jeonghui of the Papyeong Yun clan
Crown Prince Uigyeong
Hangul
의경세자
Hanja
Revised RomanizationUigyeong Seja
McCune–ReischauerUik'yŏng Sech'a
Birth name
Hangul
이장
Hanja
李暲
Revised RomanizationI Jang
McCune–ReischauerI Ch'ang
Courtesy name
Hangul
원명
Hanja
原明
Revised RomanizationWonmyeong
McCune–ReischauerWonmyŏng

Biography

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The Royal Tomb of Crown Prince Successor Uigyeong

He was the eldest grandson of King Sejong the Great, eldest son of seventh King Sejo of Joseon and father of ninth King Seongjong of Joseon. He was titled as Prince Dowon until his father's accession to the throne. In 1450, he married with Han Do-san (later Crown Princess Consort Su), the daughter of Han Hwak, a diplomat and politician who became Left or Second State Councillor during the Sejo era.[1]

Uigyeong and Su had their first son, Grand Prince Wolsan, born on 14 January 1455, had their first daughter Princess Myeongsuk born in 1456, and, unknowingly, had their last son and child on 28 August 1457, Grand Prince Jalsan (later Seongjong of Joseon).

Just about a month later on 29 September 1457, the crown Prince died from unknown causes, but some say he was cursed by the late Queen Hyeondeok due to the fact her son, the former king, Prince Nosan was executed by the crown prince's father (the latter's uncle), Sejo of Joseon.

After his death, his wife and children were granted and allowed to stay within the palace by Sejo's orders. But the former crown princess did not want to impose her stay and thus bringing her father-in-law to build Gyeongun Palace (now known as Deoksu Palace) for them to stay nearby the main palace.

Her brother-in-law, Grand Prince Haeyang, became the new Crown Prince and soon became king of Joseon in 1468. He later died in 1469 and which finally left the throne to her youngest son, Seongjong of Joseon instead of her eldest, Grand Prince Wolsan. But because her son was made the adoptive son of his uncle, Yejong of Joseon, and her third cousin, Queen Ansun, prior to his accession, it wasn't until 1474 that Lady Han had to be granted the Mother-of-the-King title, becoming Queen Dowager Insu (인수대비). Which made her status senior than that of Queen Dowager Inhye despite the former Queen being the wife of the former King and the legal mother of the current monarch.

In 1470, Uigyeong was posthumously honored as "King Deokjong" (덕종) when his son, Seongjong accessed the throne, while his wife was honored as "Queen Insu" (인수왕비) but with an unspecified status.

The tomb of Uigyeong is located at Gyeongneung Royal Tomb, Goyang.[2] This is a very simple one, since he was only a Crown Prince at his death in 1457. On the other hand, the 1504 tomb of his spouse was built in full regalia, and placed at the left of his tomb, since Insu was then the deceased Grand Queen Dowager, with the posthumous name Queen Sohye (소혜왕후).

Family

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  1. Han Do-san, Queen Sohye of the Cheongju Han clan (소혜왕후 한씨; 16 October 1437 – 21 May 1504)
    1. Yi Jeong, Grand Prince Wolsan (이정 월산대군; 14 January 1455 – 31 January 1489)
    2. Yi Gyeong-geun, Princess Myeongsuk (명숙공주; 1456 – 23 November 1482)
    3. Yi Hyeol, Grand Prince Jalsan (이혈 잘산군; 28 August 1457 – 29 January 1495)
  2. Royal Consort Gwi-in of the Andong Kwon clan (귀인 권씨; ? – 8 June 1494) — No issue.
  3. Royal Consort Gwi-in of the Papyeong Yun clan (귀인 윤씨; 1438–?) — No issue.
  4. Royal Consort Suk-ui of the Geochang Shin clan (숙의 신씨; 1436 – 16 June 1476) — No issue.
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Notes

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  1. ^ In the Korean calendar (lunisolar), he was born on 15 September 1438 and died on 2 September 1457.

References

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  1. ^ 덕종 [King Deokjong]. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. 2020.
  2. ^ Cultural Heritage Administration (2020). "Royal Tombs". Cultural Heritage Administration. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
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