Royal Consort Hwa of the Namyang Hong clan (Korean:화비 홍씨;Hanja:和妃 洪氏; lit.'Splendid Consort Hong') was a Korean royal consort and the third wife of King Chunghye of Goryeo.
Early life and relatives
The future Consort Hwa was born as the daughter of Hong-Tak, Internal Prince Ikseong (홍탁 익성부원군),[1] son of Hong-Seon (홍선) from the Namyang Hong clan and Lady Gwon (부인 권씨), daughter of Gwon-Jun, Internal Prince Gilchang (권준 길창부원군) from the Andong Gwon clan. She had:
1 older brother: Hong Sang-jae (홍상재)
3 younger brothers:
Hong Hye-chan (홍혜찬)
Hong Gae-do (홍개도)
Hong Chang-do (홍창도)
Her paternal great-great-grandfather was Hong Baek-su (홍백수), the younger brother of Hong Bok-won (홍복원) who was surrendered to Mongolian side during the long war between Korea and Mongolia. King Chungsuk's 5th wife, Consort Su was her maternal cousin.[2]
Marriage and Palace life
Firstly, her father, Hong-Tak was an ambassador from Gyeongsang Province (경상도진변사;慶尙道鎭邊使) and when King Chunghye heard her beauty, he then gave Hong-Tak clothes and alcohol, also bestowed Royal title Splendid Consort (화비;和妃) to Lady Hong in 1342.[3] At this time, the King's other consort, Lady Im who entered the palace two years earlier than Hong fell jealous and then the King appointed Im as Princess Euncheon (은천옹주;銀川翁主) to comforted her.
Rather than stayed in the palace, Hong instead lived in Prime Minister Yun-Chim (윤침;尹忱)'s manor, so Chunghye can travel easier when he wanted to met her.[4] However, his love and interest on her were grew tired and cut off within a few days. As a result, they didn't have any issue. According to Goryeosa, in 1343, Chunghye visited Hong's house again.