Queen Hyeondeok Explained

Queen Hyeondeok of the Andong Gwon clan
현덕왕후 권씨
Queen consort of Joseon (posthumously honored)
Birth Date:17 April 1417
Birth Place:Hapdeok-hyeon, Hongju County, Chungcheong Province, Joseon
Death Place:Jaseon Hall, Gyeongbok Palace, Hanseong
Spouse:King Munjong of Joseon (m. 1431–1441)
Issue:
Father:Gwon Jeon
Mother:Choi Ah-ji, Internal Princess Consort Haeryeong of the Haeju Choi clan
Succession:Crown Princess of Joseon
Reign:1437 – 10 August 1441
Consort:yes
Predecessor:
Successor:Crown Princess Su
Posthumous Name:
  • 현덕빈; 顯德嬪
  • 인효순혜현덕왕후; 仁孝順惠顯德王后
House:Andong Gwon

Queen Hyeondeok (; 17 April 1417 – 10 August 1441), of the Andong Gwon clan, was the primary consort of Crown Prince Yi Hyang. She died giving birth to the future Danjong of Joseon and was posthumously honoured as Queen Hyeondeok in 1450, later demoted by Sejo of Joseon after he deposed her son, then restored by Jungjong of Joseon.

Biography

Lady Gwon was born on 17 April 1417 into the Andong Gwon clan to Gwon Jeon and his second wife, Choi Ah-Ji, Lady Choi of the Haeju Choi clan. She had 2 older sisters, 2 younger sisters and 1 younger brother.

At the age of 12-13, Lady Gwon entered the palace in 1431 alongside two other girls, Lady Jeong of the Dongrae Jeong clan and Lady Hong of the Namyang Hong clan. All were granted Seunghwi; the 4th junior rank of the crown prince’s concubine .[1] She gave birth to a daughter in 1434, but she died before she reached the age of 4 in 1438.[2]

In 1435, Consort Gwon became pregnant, which drew the jealously of Crown Princess Sun, who had no children and feared that she would be removed in favor of Gwon.[3] She later gave birth to Princess Gyeonghye in 1436. After Crown Princess Sun was banished for sleeping with her maid, Royal Consort Seunghwi was promoted to Yangwon, the 3rd junior rank of concubine.

Soon after though, officials suggested that Kwon be made the next crown princess, as she already had a child, was older than Lady Hong, and her father's government position was high. She was made Crown Princess Gwon late in 1437.[3]

On 9 August 1441, Crown Princess Gwon gave birth to a son named Yi Hong-wi, which was much celebrated, as he was the crown prince's only son. However, Gwon did not recover from the birth and died a day later. She was granted the posthumous title of Crown Princess Consort Hyeondeok [4] and buried at Soreung in Ansan, Gyeonggi.[5] It was said that her death had deeply saddened her husband and father-in-law, as well as those who lived and worked in the palace.

Posthumous status

When Munjong of Joseon ascended the throne, he granted his wife the title of Queen Hyeondeok.[6] Her son later bestowed a full posthumous name during his reign.[7]

In 1456, several years after her brother-in-law Sejo of Joseon had deposed her son as king, Queen Hyeondeok's brother and mother were found guilty of treason and executed. Both the queen and her father were posthumously demoted to commoner status.[8]

Her status was later restored during King Jungjong’s reign and her remains were moved to Hyeonreung to be buried alongside Munjong of Joseon.[9]

Family

In popular culture

References

Works cited

External links

Notes and References

  1. Veritable Records of Sejong, volume 51.
  2. Veritable Records of Sejong, volume 59.
  3. Veritable Records of Sejong, volume 75.
  4. Veritable Records of Sejong, volume 93.
  5. Veritable Records of Danjong, volume 3.
  6. Veritable Records of Munjong, volume 2.
  7. Veritable Records of Danjong, volume 11.
  8. Veritable Records of Sejo, volume 8.
  9. Veritable Records of Seongjong, volume 122.
  10. Awarded the posthumous title Gyeonghye . Veritable Records of Sejong, volume 94.