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Huijong of Goryeo

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Huijong of Goryeo
고려 희종
高麗 熙宗
King of Goryeo
Reign1204–1211
Coronation1204
Grand Hall Gaegyeong
PredecessorSinjong of Goryeo
SuccessorGangjong of Goryeo
BornWang Yŏn
21 June 1181
Gaegyeong, Goryeo
Died31 August 1237 (aged 56)
Beopcheonjeong Temple, Gyodong-hyeon, Yanggwang-do, Goryeo
Burial
Seokneung (석릉, 碩陵)[1]
San–182, Giljeong-ri, Yangdo-myeon, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
SpouseDeposed Crown Princess Wang
(before 1211)
Issue
  • Sons:
    Wang Chi
    Wang Wi
    Wang Cho
    Wang Kyŏng-ji
    Wang Kak-ŭng
  • Daughters:
    Princess Seungbok
    Princess Yeongchang
    Princess Deokchang
    Princess Gasun
    Princess Jeonghui
Posthumous name
Great King Inmok Seonghyo
인목성효대왕
(誠孝仁穆誠孝大王)
Temple name
Jeongjong (정종, 貞宗) → Huijong (희종, 熙宗)
HouseWang
FatherSinjong of Goryeo
MotherQueen Seonjeong
ReligionBuddhism
Korean name
Hangul
희종
Hanja
Revised RomanizationHuijong
McCune–ReischauerHŭijong
Birth name
Hangul
왕연, 왕덕, later 왕영
Hanja
Revised RomanizationWang Yeon, Wang Deok, later Wang Yeong
McCune–ReischauerWang Yŏn, Wang Tŏk, later Wang Yŏng
Courtesy name
Hangul
불피
Hanja
Revised RomanizationBulpi
McCune–ReischauerPulp'i
Posthumous name
Hangul
성효대왕
Hanja
Revised RomanizationSeonghyo Daewang
McCune–ReischauerSŏnghyo Taewang

Huijong of Goryeo (21 June 1181 – 31 August 1237, r. 1204–1211), personal name Wang Yŏng, was the 21st king of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea.

It is said of King Huijong that if he were to have grown old he would have made a great king. When his father ascended to the throne and Huijong became Crown Prince, he rebelled against Ch'oe Ch'ung-hŏn, the military leader of that time, and his younger brother Ch'oe Ch'ung-su. Huijong grew truly hostile towards them after Ch'ung-su forced the Crown Princess to abdicate so that he could replace her with his daughter. During the rebellion, Huijong masterminded a plan to make Ch'ung-hŏn kill Ch'ung-su, but Ch'ung-hŏn found out about it. Huijong was forced to beg for forgiveness and humble himself before one of his own subjects, which only made him hungrier for revenge.

When King Sinjong fell ill in 1204, he stepped down from the throne to let his son Huijong be king.[2] Huijong, knowing that he had to lull Ch'oe Ch'ung-hŏn into a false sense of security in order to be able to kill him, promoted him to Prime Minister of the State. This title was the one most often given out during the time of military rule to people such as Chŏng Chung-bu, Yi Ŭi-min, and even Ch'ung-hŏn's father posthumously. Huijong also named Ch'ung-hŏn the Royal Protector, the greatest honor of the time, which was usually only given to relatives of the King. With these two titles, Ch'oe Ch'ung-hŏn had political power nearly equal to that of the King himself. He used it to obliterate three rebellions, one led by his slave, another by Silla partisans, and one by his nephew Pak Chin-jae (박진재; 朴晋材).

As Ch'ung-hŏn became secure in his new position, however, Huijong began to make preparations. Claiming illness, he tricked Ch'oe Ch'ung-hŏn into coming alone into the palace without his usual host of guards. Once he arrived, Huijong attempted a coup d'état against him.[2] Unfortunately, this failed and Ch'oe Ch'ung-hŏn barely escaped with his life.[2] Enraged, he exiled King Huijong to Yeongjongdo. Ch'ung-hŏn had realized by this time that he held the 'power of the heavens' in his hand, and could crown and exile whomever he wished whenever he wished. King Gangjong was crowned in Huijong's place. Huijong was later allowed to go to Ganghwa Island by Ch'oe, who exercised moderation and leniency to the dethroned Hujiong, though Huijong was later exiled back to Yeongjongdo by Ch'oe's son Ch'oe U after he caught wind of Huijong's attempts to plot a restoration.[2]

Family

[edit]
  1. Deposed Crown Princess Consort of the Kaesong Wang clan (폐태자비 왕씨; 1185–?); third cousin once removed – No issue.
  2. Queen Seongpyeong of the Jangheung Im clan (d. 1249); fifth cousin.
    1. Princess Seungbok (1195–1232)
    2. Wang Chi, Duke Changwon (1197–1262)
    3. Wang Wi, Marquess Siryeong (왕위 시령후; 1199–?)
    4. Wang Cho, Duke Gyeongwon (왕조 경원공; 1201–?)
    5. Wang Kyŏng-ji (왕경지; 1203–?)
    6. Wang Kak-ŭng (왕각응; 1205–?)
    7. Princess Yeongchang (영창공주; 1210–?)
    8. Princess Deokchang (덕창궁주; 1211–?)
    9. Princess Gasun (가순궁주; 1212–?)
    10. Princess Jeonghui (정희궁주; 1213–?)
[edit]

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ One of the four Goryeo Royal Tombs who left in South Korea, along with:
    • Golleung Tomb (곤릉, 坤陵) – his first cousin-in-law, Queen Wondeok's tomb.[1]
    • Hongneung Tomb (홍릉, 洪陵) – his first cousin once removed, King Gojong's tomb.[2]
    • Gareung Tomb (가릉, 嘉陵) – his first cousin twice removed in-law, Queen Mother Sungyeong's tomb.[3]
  2. ^ a b c d "[Why] [이한우의 역사속의 WHY] 최충헌 몰아내려 했던 고려왕 희종의 운명은?". Chosun Ilbo. December 5, 2009. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
Huijong of Goryeo
Born: 21 June 1181 Died: 31 August 1237
Regnal titles
Preceded by King of Goryeo
1204–1211
Succeeded by