Grand Prince Yeongchang

Grand Prince Yeongchang (Korean영창대군; 12 April 1606 – 19 March 1614), personal name Yi Ui, was a Joseon royal prince as the only legitimate son of King Seonjo, from Queen Inmok[3] who was born when his father was already 55 years old.[4][unreliable source?] Due to this, Yeonguijeong Yu Yeong-gyeong (유영경) once tried to select Yeongchang as the Crown Prince (왕세자; 王世子) to replace his older half-brother, Crown Prince Yi Hon, which eventually caused him to be unjustly executed after Hon's ascension to the throne.[5][unreliable source?] People often said that his sad life and death is equivalent to Chang of Goryeo.[6]

Grand Prince Yeongchang
Grand Prince of Joseon
Reign1613–1614
Coronation1613
BornYi Ui
12 April 1606
Hanseong-bu, Joseon
Died19 March 1614 (aged 7)
Ganghwa-do, Gyeonggi Province, Joseon
Burial
IssueYi Pil, Prince Changseong (adopted)
HouseHouse of Yi
FatherYi Yeon, King Seonjo
MotherQueen Inmok of the Yeonan Kim clan
Korean name
Hangul
영창대군
Hanja
Revised RomanizationGyeongchang-daegun
McCune–ReischauerGyŏngch'ang-daegun
Birth name
Hangul
이의
Hanja
李㼁
Revised RomanizationYi Ui
McCune–ReischauerI Ŭi

Biography

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Crown Prince's throne

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He become Grand Prince Yeongchang (영창대군; 永昌大君) when he was 6 years old.[7] His father, Seonjo was aware with the fact that Gwanghae had already become the Crown Prince (왕세자; 王世子), then secretly discussed with Yu Yeong-Gyeong (유영경) and some of his servants about censure of the Prince. Seonjo also made plans to change the crown prince when he was born, but it was destroyed. Meanwhile, Seonjo with specifically asked 7 people, including Han Jun-Gyeom (한준겸) to follow the Prince in order to protect him.[5][unreliable source?] This was called Yugyochilsin (유교칠신; 遺敎七臣; lit. Confucian Chilsin). Later, when Yi Yi-Cheom (이이첨) and Jeong In-Hong (정인홍) saw this, both of them argued that he shouldn't change the crown prince, but in fact, they went home and spreading unfounded rumors. When Seonjo suddenly died on 16 March 1608, Gwanghae, the Crown Prince took over the throne and then recruited them again.[3]

Later, in 1613, Gyechukoksa (계축옥사) was made and Daebukpa (대북파) made a false confession to Bak Eung-Seo (박응서) and others of the conspiracy to elect the Prince and Kim Je-Nam (김제남), his maternal grandfather. The Prince was then abolished and exiled to Ganghwa-do. From July to November in the same year, Yang-sa (양사), Hongmungwan (홍문관; 弘文館)[8] and Seungjeongwon (승정원; 承政院)[9] alternately impeached them, but Gwanghae rejected they all.

In 1614, Yi Yi-Cheom's group ordered Ganghwabusa (강화부사; 江華府使) to Jeong-hang (정항; 鄭沆)[10][unreliable source?] and maliciously burned the Prince's room, also make him quit food.[4][unreliable source?] The young prince couldn't sit or lie on a hot floor day and night, grabbed a grate and cried.[11] After this, Yi Yi-Cheom and Jeong-hang reported if the Prince died because of illness.[12] At this time, he was still 7 years old.

Later life

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At this time, Samsa (삼사) and Seungjeongwon (승정원) continued to appeal the punishment of Yeongchang.[13]

But, some of Nam-in (남인; 南人), Il-bu (일부) and Seo-in (서인; 西人) opposed his punishment, also Sa-rim (사림) opposed his execution and claimed that although he and Gwanghae were a half brother because their mother was different, there was a righteousness between mother, child, and brothers. In addition, public opinion appeared in favor to him and asked if he would have intention to conspiring against him. However, due to the continued appeals from Daebukpa (대북파), the Prince died in his exile place on 19 March 1614.

After his death, his half big brother, Prince Gyeongchang (경창군)'s 4th son, Prince Changseong (창성군) become his adopted son for continuing the House of Yi Royal Family's line. Then, on 15 March 1623, due to his nephew, King Injo's new reign, he was restored and his title was given back to him.

After life

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The Prince's body was transported and buried in 1614 (6th year reign of his half big brother, Gwanghaegun of Joseon) under Namhansanseong in Gwangju-gun, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea and his tomb was located in Goeun-ri, Iljuk-myeon, Anseong, Gyeonggi Province firstly, but later relocated in 1993 to Alleyway 4911, Taepyeong 3–dong, Seongnam.[2] That tomb was also found damaged in five pieces during the plumbing of a city gas facility.[3]

Legacy

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His tomb, "Grand Prince Yeongchang's Mausoleum" (영창대군묘) was designated as the 75th Monument of Gyeonggi Province on 19 September 1983.[14][2]

Family

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Notes

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  1. ^ He was the 4th son of Yi-Ju, Prince Gyeongchang (경창군 이주; 1596–1644) and Lady Jo of the Changnyeong Jo clan (창녕 조씨; 1594–1648). Prince Gyeongchang was the son of King Seonjo and Royal Noble Consort Jeong of the Namyang Hong clan (정빈 홍씨; 1563–1638).

References

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  1. ^ "안성 영창대군 묘, 가장 참혹하게 생을 마감한 비극의 왕자". Naver (in Korean). Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "영창대군묘 - 경기문화재연구원". Gyeonggi Cultural Research Institute (in Korean). Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c [화정실록] 9세의 영창대군은 어떻게 증살(蒸殺)당했나. IMBC Yeonye (in Korean). Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  4. ^ a b 가장 참혹하게 죽음을 맞은 비극의 조선 왕자 영창대군. Naver Blog (in Korean). Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  5. ^ a b 영창대군 이야기. Naver (in Korean). Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  6. ^ 창왕과 영창대군이 죽은 강화 살창리마을. 지역N문화 (in Korean). Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  7. ^ 조선왕조실록. Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty (in Korean). Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  8. ^ 조선왕조실록. Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty (in Korean). Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  9. ^ 조선왕조실록. Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty (in Korean). Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  10. ^ 강화부사 정항이 영창대군을 살해하다.. Naver Blog (in Korean). Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  11. ^ 《조선왕조실록》 광해 75권, 6년(1614년) 2월 10일 2번째 기사
  12. ^ Lee Jong-ho (April 3, 2012). 조선을 뒤흔든 아버지와 아들 [A father and a son who rocked Joseon] (in Korean). South Korea. p. 120. ISBN 978-89-93119-06-0.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  13. ^ 조선왕조실록. Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty (in Korean). Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  14. ^ 경기도 기념물 제75호 영창대군묘 (永昌大君墓). Korean Culture Heritage (in Korean). Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  15. ^ '화정' 전진서, 역모 누명으로 귀향..'영창의 비극' 시작. Hankyoong Kyungje (in Korean). Retrieved 26 May 2021.
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