Queen Jeongsun (Danjong)

Queen Jeongsun (Hangul:정순왕후 송씨, Hanja:定順王后 宋氏) (1440 – 7 July 1521), of the Yeosan Song clan, was a posthumous name bestowed to the wife and queen consort of Yi Hong-wi, King Danjong, the 6th Joseon monarch. She was Queen consort of Joseon from 1454 until her husband's abdication in 1455, after which she was honoured as Queen Dowager Uideok (의덕왕대비) until her deposition in 1457.

Queen Jeongsun 정순왕후
Queen dowager of Joseon
Tenure	1455 – 1457
Queen consort of Joseon
Tenure	1454 – 1455
Born	1440 Kingdom of Joseon
Died	7 July 1521 (aged 80–81) Kingdom of Joseon
Spouse	Yi Hong-wi, King Danjong
Issue	None
Posthumous name 단량제경정순왕후
House	Yeosan Song
Father	Song Hyeon-Su
Mother	Lady of the Yeoheung Min clan

Life

She was born in Jeongeup. When she was young, she followed her father Song Hyeon-Su and moved to Hanseongbu.

Her character was described as polite and modest. On February 19, 1454 (January 22), she married to Hong-wi (temple name: Danjong), the 6th Joseon monarch who was one year younger, when she was fifteen. As the king's primary consort, she was appointed as queen consort. Danjong was too young to rule the kingdom, and all political processes were controlled by the Chief State Councillor Hwangbo In and General Kim Jongseo, who was Left State Councillor. As Kim Jongseo and his faction used the chance to extend the power of court officials against many royal family members, the tension between Kim and Grand Prince Suyang (King Sejong's son and King Danjong's uncle) greatly increased; not only Suyang himself, but his younger brother, Grand Prince Anpyeong, also sought an opportunity to take control of the kingdom.

In 1455, Suyang forced his powerless king to abdicated, declaring himself seventh king of the Joseon dynasty (temple name: Sejo. As wife of the King Emeritus, the Queen received title wangdaebi (왕대비), usually translated in English as 'queen dowager', with honorary name Uideok.

The following year, six officials of the court or sayuksin attempted to restore Hong-wi to power, but their plot was discovered and they were immediately executed. The King Emeritus later demoted to Prince Nosan (노산군, 魯山君) and exiled to Yeongwol County. His wife also lost her status as queen dowager, demoted to princess consort rank and kicked out of the palace. She had difficult life and helping the palace maids to dyeing business to survive.

Perceiving that Prince Nosan would present a continuing threat to the King's rule, the King then accepted the advice of the court and ordered that Prince Nosan be disposed of. In 1457, he was put to death at his place of exile. Yeongdo-gyo (永渡橋) in Cheonggyecheon is said to be the last place where Prince Nosan and his wife, who are going back home, separated. After hearing of her husband's death, Lady Song climbed a large rock every morning and evening, wailing toward Yeongwol, praying for the blessing of his husband. Afterwards, the King ordered Lady Song to "be a slave, but not allow her to serve as a slave," and sent her to Jeongeobwon (정업원) so that no one could commit it. Jeongeobwon was the place where concubines who lost their spouse went out and spent the rest of their lives.

In the reign of King Sukjong, scholars at his court proposed that his title be restored, and in 1698, the demoted Prince Nosan was posthumously restored, receiving the temple name of "Danjong" and his wife was given the posthumous name Queen Jeongsun.

Family

Parent

• Father − Song Hyeon-Su (1417 – 21 October 1457) (송현수, 宋玹壽)
  • a) Grandfather − Song Bok-Won (1390 – 1454) (송복원)
    • b) Great-Grandfather − Song Gye-seong (송계성, 宋繼性) (1369 - 1438)
      • c) Great-Great-Grandfather − Song Hui (송희, 宋禧) (1342 - 1425)
      • c) Great-Great-Grandmother − Lady of the Uiseong Kim clan (의성 김씨, 義城 金氏)
    • b) Great-Grandmother − Lady of the Sangju Kim clan (증 숙부인 상주 김씨, 贈 叔夫人 尙州 金氏)
  • a) Grandmother − Lady of the Suncheon Kim clan (증 정부인 순천 김씨, 贈 貞夫人 順天 金氏)
  • Uncle − Song Kang-su (송강수, 宋玒壽)
  • Uncle − Song Jeong-su (송정수, 宋玎壽). Wife: Lady Park (박씨, 朴氏)
    • Cousin − Song Yeong (송영, 宋瑛) (? - 1495)
  • Aunt − Princess Consort Daebang (대방부부인 송씨, 帶方府夫人 宋氏) (? - 1507); Prince Yeongeung’s second wife. Husband: Prince Yeongeung (영응대군 이염, 永膺大君 李琰) (23 May 1434 - 2 February 1467)[1][2]
    • Cousin − Yi Yeok-cheon, Princess Gilan (길안현주 이억천, 吉安縣主 李億千). Husband: Gu Soo-yeong (구수영, 具壽永)[3][4]
• Mother − Lady Yeoheung of the Yeoheung Min clan (1418 – 1498) (여흥부부인 여흥 민씨, 驪興府大夫人 驪興 閔氏)[5]
  • Grandfather − Min So-Saeng (민소생, 閔紹生)[6]
  • Grandmother − Lady of the Neungseong Gu clan (증 정부인 능성 구씨, 贈 貞夫人 綾城具氏)

Sibling

• Younger brother − Song Geo (송거, 宋琚) (1449 - 1541)

Husband

• King Danjong of Joseon (9 August 1441 – 7 November 1457) (조선 단종)
  • Father-in-law: King Munjong (문종, 文宗) (1414 - 1452)
  • Mother-in-law: Queen Hyeondeok of the Andong Kwon clan (현덕왕후 권씨, 顯德王后 權氏) (1418 - 1441)
  • Sister-in-law: Princess Gyeonghye (경혜공주, 敬惠公主) (1437 - 1473). Husband: Jeong Jong (정종, 鄭悰) (? - 1461) of the Haeju Jeong clan (해주 정씨, 海州 鄭氏)[7]
    • Nephew: Jeong Mi-su (정미수, 鄭眉壽) (1456 - 1512)

References

1. Prince Yeongeung’s first wife, Lady Chunseong of the Haeju Jeong clan (춘성부부인 정씨, 春城府夫人 海州 鄭氏), is the older sister of Princess Gyeonghye’s husband.
2. He is the 8th son of Queen Soheon and King Sejong
3. Princess Gilan’s and Gu Soo-yeong’s son eventually married Princess Hwishin, a daughter of Queen Shin and King Yeosangun.
4. Through his eldest daughter Gu Soon-bok (구순복), his granddaughter, Lady Im of the Pungcheon Im clan, eventually married Queen Shin’s nephew, Shin Hong-jo (신홍조, 愼弘祚)
5. Lady Min is a cousin of Queen Gonghye’s mother
6. He is the maternal uncle of Queen Gonghye
7. His older sister, Princess Consort Chunseong of the Haeju Jeong clan (춘성부부인 정씨, 春城府夫人 海州 鄭氏), married Prince Yeonggeung

External links

• Thetalkingcupboard.com − Queen Jeongsun of the Yeosan Song clan