Queen Hyeondeok

Queen Heondeok of the Kwon Clan
현덕왕후 권씨
Crown Princess of Joseon
Tenure 1436 - 1441
Predecessor Crown Princess Sun
Successor Crown Princess Song
Born (1418-04-17)April 17, 1418
Kingdom of Joseon
Died August 10, 1441(1441-08-10) (aged 23)
Hanseong
Spouse King Munjong of Joseon
Issue Princess Gyeonghye
Danjong of Joseon
House Andong Kwon
Father Kwon Jeon (권전)
Mother Lady Haeryeongbu of the Haeju Choi Clan (해령부부인 해주 최씨)

Queen Hyeondeok of the Andong Kwon 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.

Biography

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

On 9 August, 1441, Royal Noble Consort Kwon gave birth to a son named Hong-wi, which was much celebrated, as he was the crown prince's only son. However, Kwon 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 Kwon 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: Kwon Jeon (d.1441) (권전)[10]
  • Mother: Lady Haeryeongbu of the Haeju Choi Clan (해령부부인 해주 최씨)
    • Brother: Kwon Ja-sin (d.1457) (권자신)

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Veritable Records of Sejong, volume 51.
  2. ↑ Veritable Records of Sejong, volume 59.
  3. 1 2 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 Classical Chinese/Korean). 1469.
  • 文宗實錄 [Veritable Records of Munjong] (in Classical Chinese/Korean). 1455.
  • 世祖實錄 [Veritable Records of Sejo] (in Classical Chinese/Korean). 1471.
  • 世宗實錄 [Veritable Records of Sejong] (in Classical Chinese/Korean). 1454.
  • 成宗實錄 [Veritable Records of Seongjong] (in Classical Chinese/Korean). 1499.

Inscription on King Munjong's Tomb at Hyeonreung

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