Deposed Princess Yeondeok

Queen consort of Goryeo (died 1139)
Injong of Goryeo
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(m. 1124⁠–⁠1126)​
HouseGyeongwon Yi clanFatherYi Cha-gyŏmMotherLady Ch'oe

Deposed Princess Yeondeok of the Gyeongwon Yi clan (Korean: 폐비 연덕궁주 이씨; Hanja: 廢妃 延德宮主 李氏; d. 4 August 1139) was a Korean queen consort as the 1st wife of her nephew, King Injong of Goryeo.[1][2] It was said that she was possessed of beauty and gentleness, and an unblemished character.[3] She was the second, alongside Queen Sundeok (initially older sister and later mother-in-law) and Princess Bokchang.

Biography

Injong was afraid that Yeondeok's father, Yi Cha-gyŏm, who was the most powerful noble at that time, would give the throne to another prince, thus diluting and splitting power. Hoping to avoid this, Injong forced Yeondeok to become his Queen Consort.

On 8th months 1124 (according to the lunar calendar), she formally become his Queen consort,[4] entered the Palace, and was honoured as Princess Yeondeok (연덕궁주; 延德宮主).[5] According to Dongguk Tonggam, on the day she became queen it rained a great deal, the wind blew strongly, and the trees were uprooted.[6]

Meanwhile, on 20 June 1126 (4th year reign of Injong), Princess Yeondeok's father was ousted. Following this, some of Injong's servants said

"The Princess couldn't be the king's queen consort as she was a close relative from his maternal side"
(궁주는 왕의 종모(從母)이니 왕후가 될 수 없다)

Afterwards, she and her younger sister were deposed from their positions and became simply Lady Yi (이씨). Even after she was deposed, Injong, and other reigning kings, continued to treat generously. She died on 4 August 1139, without any children.

References

  1. ^ "고려 인종 2년, 갑진년(甲辰年), 1124년". Naver (in Korean). Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  2. ^ Park, Hye-June (2004). Property and subjectivity: Women's property rights in Joseon Korea (1392–1910) (Thesis). OCLC 61400049. ProQuest 305124355.
  3. ^ "고려시대 史料 Database". db.history.go.kr (in Korean). Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  4. ^ "고려사 > 권15 > 세가 권제15 > 인종(仁宗) 2년 > 8월 > 이자겸의 셋째 딸을 왕비로 맞아들이다". Goryeosa (in Korean). Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  5. ^ "왕비 이씨를 연덕궁주로 책봉하다". db.history.go.kr (in Korean). Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  6. ^ "고려 인종 3년, 을사년(乙巳年), 1125년". m.terms.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  • Deposed Princess Yeondeok on Encykorea (in Korean).
  • 폐비 이씨 자매 on EToday News (in Korean).
  • Deposed Princess Yeondeok on Goryeosa (in Korean)
  • 폐비 이씨 on Doosan Encyclopedia (in Korean).


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