Queen Hyeondeok

Queen Hyeondeok of the Andong Gwon Clan was the primary consort of the crown prince of Joseon. She died giving birth to the future Danjong of Joseon and was posthumously honoured as Queen Hyeondeok, later demoted by Sejo of Joseon after he deposed her son, then restored by Seongjong of Joseon.

Queen Heondeok of the Gwon Clan
현덕왕후 권씨
Crown Princess of Joseon
Tenure1436 - 1441
PredecessorCrown Princess Sun
SuccessorCrown Princess Song
BornApril 17, 1418
Kingdom of Joseon
DiedAugust 10, 1441(1441-08-10) (aged 23)
Hanseong
SpouseKing Munjong of Joseon
IssuePrincess Gyeonghye
Danjong of Joseon
HouseAndong Gwon
FatherGwon Jeon (권전)
MotherLady Haeryeongbu of the Haeju Choi Clan (해령부부인 해주 최씨)
In this Korean name, the family name is Gwon.

Biography

Lady Gwon entered the palace in 1431 alongside two other women, Lady Jang and Lady Hong. All were granted the rank of seunghwi consort (Hangul: 승휘).[1] She gave birth to a daughter in either 1432 or 1433, but she died before she reached one year old.[2]

In 1435, Consort Gwon became pregnant, which drew the jealously of the crown princess, who had no children and feared that she would be removed in favour of Gwon.[3] She gave birth to Princess Gyeonghye in 1436. After Crown Princess Sun was banished for sleeping with her maid, officials suggested that Gwon 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 Royal Noble Consort Gwon late in 1436.[3]

On 9 August 1441, Royal Noble Consort Gwon gave birth to a son named 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 Royal Noble Consort Hyeondeok (hanja: 顯德)[4] and buried at Sorung (hanja: 昭陵) in Ansan, Gyeonggi.[5]

Posthumous status

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

In 1457, several years after Sejo of Joseon had deposed her son as king, Queen Hyeondeok's brother and his mother-in-law 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 and her remains were moved to Hyeonreung to be buried alongside Munjong of Joseon.[9]

Her full posthumous name
  • Queen Inhyo Sunhye Hyeondeok
  • 인효순혜현덕왕후
  • 仁孝順惠顯德王后

Family
  • Father: Gwon Jeon (d.1441) (권전)[10]
  • Mother: Lady Haeryeongbu of the Haeju Choi Clan (해령부부인 해주 최씨)
    • Brother: Gwon Ja-sin (d.1457) (권자신)

References

Notes
  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 (경혜). Veritable Records of Sejong, volume 94.

Works cited
  • 端宗實錄 [Veritable Records of Danjong] (in Literary Chinese and Korean). 1469.
  • 文宗實錄 [Veritable Records of Munjong] (in Literary Chinese and Korean). 1455.
  • 世祖實錄 [Veritable Records of Sejo] (in Literary Chinese and Korean). 1471.
  • 世宗實錄 [Veritable Records of Sejong] (in Literary Chinese and Korean). 1454.
  • 成宗實錄 [Veritable Records of Seongjong] (in Literary Chinese and Korean). 1499.
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