Geun-bi Yi

Royal Consort Geun of the Goseong Yi clan (Korean: 근비 이씨; Hanja: 謹妃 李氏) was a Korean royal consort as the first wife of King U and the mother of his successor, King Chang. She was the fourth Goryeo queen who didn't receive a posthumous name like the other consorts following Lady Yun.

Royal Consort Geun
근비
Queen consort of Goryeo
Tenure1379–1388
Coronation1379
PredecessorQueen Indeok
SuccessorQueen Consort No
Born12th day, 12th month (lunar calendar)[1]
Goseong, Kingdom of Goryeo
Spouse
​
(m. 1379)​
IssueChang of Goryeo
HouseGoseong Yi (by birth)
House of Wang (by marriage)
FatherYi Rim
MotherLady Hong
ReligionBuddhism

Biography

Early life

The future Royal Consort Geun was born into the Goseong Yi clan in Goseong County as the daughter of Yi Rim (이림), who was a relative of Yi In-im (이인임),[2] and Lady Hong.

Marriage and palace life

In 1379, she became the consort of the 13-year-old U of Goryeo and given title as Consort Geun (근비, 謹妃), also lived in Hudeok Mansion (후덕부, 厚德府). Following this, Yi Rim was honoured as "Internal Prince Cheolseong" (철성부원군, 鐵城府院君) and his wife became "Lady of Byeonhan State" (변한국부인, 卞韓國夫人) alongside his mother became "Grand Lady of Samhan State" (삼한국대부인, 三韓國大夫人). Two felons were released from prison to mark the occasion.[3] In September 1380, she gave birth to a prince (the future King Chang) and one felon was released to celebrate it.[4]

After King U's deposal

In 1388, after ordering an attack on Liaodong in Ming territory, King U was forced to abdicate during a coup led by the general Yi Seong-gye (이성계).[5] His only young son ascended the throne as King Chang with Yi Seong-gye as the regent, then Royal Consort Geun was promoted to Grand Royal Consort (Korean: 왕대비). All of the former king's other consorts were forced to leave the palace and return to their natal homes.[6]

Little more than a year later, both King U and King Chang were demoted to commoner status with the justification that U had not actually been the son of his royal father,[2] and Wang Yo was enthroned as the new ruler–King Gongyang. In addition to her husband and son, Royal Consort Geun's father and brother were exiled, as well as two of her brothers-in-law, a nephew-in-law, and a nephew.[7] Late in 1389, the two former kings were killed,[2] and Royal Consort Geun's father was imprisoned in Cheongju.[8]

Family
  • Father: Yi Rim (이림, 李琳; d. 1391)
    • Grandfather: Yi Gyo (이교, 李嶠) (? - 1361)
      • Great-Grandfather: Yi Woo, Prince Cheolwon (이우 철원군)
        • Great-Great-Grandfather: Yi Jon-bi (이존비, 李尊庇) (1233 - 1287)
          • Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather: Yi Jin (이진, 李瑨)
          • Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother: Lady Baek of the Nampo Baek clan (남포 백씨, 藍浦 白氏); daughter of Nam Gyeong-seon (백경선, 白景瑄)
        • Great-Great-Grandmother: Lady Yi (이씨); daughter of Yi Ju-il (이주일, 李湊一)
      • Great-Grandmother: Lady Park (박씨)
    • Grandmother: Grand Lady of Third State of the Seongju Yi clan (삼한국대부인 성주 이씨); daughter of Yi Jo-nyeon (이조년, 李兆年) (1269 - 1343)[9]
  • Mother: Lady Hong of Byeon State (변한국부인 홍씨, 卞韓國夫人 洪氏)
  • Sibling(s)
    • Older sister: Lady Yi (이씨, 李氏)
      • Nephew: Lee Mun-hwa, Duke Gongdo (공도공 이문화, 恭度公 李文和; 1358–1414) of the Incheon Lee clan – married Lady Choe of the Chungju Choe clan (충주최씨, 忠州崔氏)
        • Grandniece: Grand Internal Princess Consort Heungnyeong of the Incheon Lee clan (흥녕부대부인 인천 이씨, 興寧府大夫人 仁川 李氏; 1383–1456)
          • Grandnephew-in-law: Yun Beon, Duke Jeongjeong, Internal Prince Papyeong (파평부원군 정정공 윤번, 坡平府院君 貞靖公 尹璠; 1384–1448) – became the father of Queen Jeonghui (정희왕후; 1418–1483)
        • Grandnephew: Yi Hyo-ji (이효지, 李孝智)
          • Great-Grandniece: Lady Lee of the Incheon Lee clan (인천 이씨)
            • Great-Grandnephew-in-law: Kang Hwi (강휘, 姜徽) (? - 1459)
              • Great-Great-Grandniece: Lady Kang of the Jinju Kang clan (신부인 진주 강씨)[10]
    • Unnamed brother
    • Sister: Lady Yi (이씨, 李氏)
      • Unnamed brother-in-law
    • Sister: Lady Yi (이씨, 李氏)
      • Unnamed brother-in-law
  • Husband: Wang Woo, King U of Goryeo (고려 우왕) (25 July 1365 – 31 December 1389)

Notes
  1. Goryeosa, vol. 134. Biographies: vol. 47. King U: Month 12, Year 7.
  2. Goryeosa, vol. 45. Important families: vol. 45. King Gongyang: Month 12, Coronation year.
  3. Goryeosa, vol. 134. Biographies: vol. 47. King U: Month 4, Year 5.
  4. Goryeosa, vol. 134. Biographies: vol. 47. King U: Month 8, Year 6.
  5. Cho (2007).
  6. Goryeosa, vol. 137. Biographies: vol. 50. King Chang: Month 6, Coronation year.
  7. Goryeosa, vol. 45. Distinguished families: vol. 45. King Gongyang: Month 11, Coronation year.
  8. Goryeosa, vol. 45. Distinguished families: vol. 45. King Gongyang: Month 5, Year 2.
  9. His great-grandson, Yi Je (이제, 李濟; ? - 1398), through his grandson Yi In-rib (이인립, 李仁立;1333-1387), married Princess Gyeongsun. She was the only daughter of King Taejong and Queen Sindeok.
  10. Married Prince Boseong’s son, Yi Sun (신풍도정 이순). Prince Boseong was the third son of Grand Prince Hyoryeong

References
  • Cho, Min 조민 (2007). "고려말(高麗末)-조선초(朝鮮初) 국내정치지배세력(國內政治支配勢力)의 대중인식(對中認識)" [Diplomatic Relations with China in the Period of Late Goryeo and Early Chosun Dynasty]. The Journal of Northeast Asia Research (in Korean). 22 (2): 55–76.
  • Jeong In-ji, ed. (1451). 고려사 [Goryeosa]. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
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