Queen Wŏn'gyŏng

Early life

The future Queen Wŏn'gyŏng was born during the reign of King Gongmin of Goryeo, as the third daughter and child among four daughters and four sons. Her father was Min Che and her mother was a lady from the Yeosan Song clan. Her natal Yeoheung Min clan was one of the representative aristocratic families of the late Goryeo period.

Lady Min's youngest brother married a first cousin of Consort Gongxianxian.

One of her elder sisters married the second son of Grand Prince Wanp'ung.

Her younger sister married a nephew of Consort Sun; their son later married one of Queen Sohŏn's sisters.

Through her great-grandfather, she was a first cousin once removed of Consort Hui and a second cousin of her son, King Chungjeong of Goryeo, as well as a second cousin once removed of Concubine Myŏng (명빈; a consort of her husband, King Taejong), and a second cousin twice times removed of Deposed Crown Princess Kim.

Her grandfather's elder brother, Min Yu (민유), eventually became an ancestor of Queen Inhyeon, Princess Consort Yŏhŭng (여흥군부인; mother of Grand Internal Prince Heungseon), Grand Internal Princess Consort Sunmok, Empress Myeongseongtae, and Empress Sunmyeonghyo.

In 1382, at the age of 17, she married 15-year-old Yi Pangwŏn, the fifth son of Goryeo general Yi Sŏnggye (posthumously King Taejo of Joseon) and his first wife, Lady Han (posthumously Queen Sinui).

Involvement in politics

When Joseon was proclaimed and officially brought into existence, King Taejo raised the issue of which son would be his successor. Although Yi Pangwŏn had contributed most to his father's rise to power, he harbored a profound hatred against two of his father's key associates, Chŏng Tojŏn and Nam Ŭn. King Taejo's second wife, Queen Sindeok, then formed an alliance with Chŏng Tojŏn and had her youngest son, Yi Pangsŏk, appointed as crown prince.

In 1398, Chŏng Tojŏn, who was enjoying great power at the time, promulgated a law requiring that all private soldiers and weapons be surrendered to the state. However, Lady Min managed to hide weapons and private soldiers belonging to her family, then shortly after King Taejo fell ill, the Min clan took advantage of the opportunity to give the weaponry to their son-in-law.

Yi Pangwŏn then rose up with his elder brothers, Yi Pang'ŭi (이방의) and Yi Panggan, and two of his brother-in-laws, Min Mugu and Min Mujil, and immediately raided the palace, killing Chŏng Tojŏn and his followers, as well as his two half-brothers, Yi Pangbon (이방번) and Yi Pangsŏk.

This incident became known as the First Strife of the Princes (제1차 왕자의 난). Aghast at the fact that his sons were willing to kill each other for the throne, and psychologically exhausted from the death of his second wife, King Taejo abdicated in favor of his eldest surviving son, Yi Panggwa (posthumously King Jeongjong).

In early 1400, the Second Strife of the Princes (제2차 왕자의 난) took place when Yi Pangwŏn and Yi Panggan vied for the position of successor to King Jeongjong. Yi Panggan was defeated and exiled. Subsequently, King Jeongjong appointed Yi Pangwŏn as crown prince, and Lady Min became crown princess.

Later that year, King Jeongjong voluntarily abdicated in favor of Yi Pangwŏn (posthumously King Taejong), and Lady Min thus became queen.

Family downfall

In 1406, King Taejong brought up the topic of abdicating but later withdrew his statement. In the process, the elder two of Lady Min's brothers, Min Mugu and Min Mujil, voiced their gratification with the news; the two men were then exiled to Jeju Island, where they would be executed in 1410. Their father, Min Che, had a hard time coping with the exile of his sons and died in 1408.

Around this time, Lady Min's relationship with her husband had already worsened as Taejong began taking concubines from influential families — his concubines had previously been mostly former maids of Lady Min, so her standing was not diminished by their existence. The situation was exacerbated when she didn't inform Taejong of the birth of their fourth daughter, Princess Chŏngsŏn, in 1404. It was said that her jealousy and the frequent marital disputes caused Taejong to avoid Lady Min's quarters; he once threatened to depose her, but this was probably either a maneuver to keep her in check, or a remark blurted out in a fit of rage, as the deposition would have been an unwise political move and out of character for King Taejong.

In 1416, Lady Min's remaining brothers, Min Muhyul and Min Muhoe, stated that the crown prince, Yi Che, would take great care of their family as they shared a close familial bond. When word reached Taejong, he saw it as a threat; the two brothers were exiled and then executed.

Later life and death

In 1418, King Taejong abdicated in favor of their third son, Yi To (posthumously King Sejong), but continued to rule with an iron fist until his death.

Lady Min became queen dowager, but died less than two years later. She was buried within Heolleung (헌릉), today part of the Heonilleung burial ground in Seocho District, Seoul. King Taejong, who outlived Lady Min by two years, was later buried alongside her.

Lady Min has been described as a smart and ambitious woman with an astute political drive, who frequently intervened in state affairs.^{[1][page needed]}