Injo of Joseon facts for kids

Injo (Hangul: 인조; Hanja: 仁祖; 7 December 1595 – 17 June 1649), whose personal name was Yi Jong (Hangul: 이종; Hanja: 李倧), was the 16th king of the Joseon dynasty in Korea. He was the grandson of King Seonjo and the oldest son of Prince Jeongwon. Injo became king after leading a coup d'état (a sudden, forceful takeover of government) against his uncle, Gwanghaegun, in 1623. Many historians today see Injo as a weak and ineffective ruler. During his time as king, Joseon faced several major challenges. These included a large rebellion, two invasions from the Manchu people (who later formed the Qing dynasty), and a struggling economy. The government during his reign was also known for being corrupt and not working well.

Life and Reign of King Injo

Early Life and Family Background

King Injo was born in 1595. His father was Prince Jeongwon, who was a son of the ruling king, King Seonjo. In 1607, Injo was given the title Lord Neungyang, and later Prince Neungyang. He lived as a member of the royal family but did not have strong support from the political groups of the time.

In 1608, King Seonjo died, and his son, Gwanghaegun, became the new king. At this time, the government was divided into different political groups, called factions. The Eastern faction had become very powerful after the Japanese invasions because they had fought bravely. This Eastern faction later split into the Northern and Southern factions. The Northern faction, which supported King Gwanghaegun, became the most powerful group in the royal court. Meanwhile, the Western faction, which was more conservative, remained a smaller group. However, they were always looking for a chance to gain power.

The Coup of 1623: Injo Becomes King

King Gwanghaegun was a skilled leader and good at diplomacy. However, many politicians and nobles did not fully support him. This was because he was not the first-born son and his mother was a concubine, not the queen. The powerful Northern faction tried to silence anyone who disagreed with Gwanghaegun. They even killed some royal princes.

These actions made King Gwanghaegun unpopular, especially among wealthy nobles. In 1623, members of the Western faction, including Kim Ja-jeom, Kim Ryu, Yi Gwi, and Yi Gwal, launched a coup. They removed Gwanghaegun from the throne and sent him away to Jeju Island. The Western faction then became the main political group. They brought Prince Neungyang to the palace and crowned him as the new King Injo. Even though Injo was king, the Western faction held most of the real power.

Yi Gwal's Rebellion: A Challenge to the New King

Yi Gwal, one of the leaders of the coup, felt he had not been rewarded enough for his help. In 1624, he was sent to the northern border as a military commander. Other coup leaders received important positions in the king's court. Feeling unfairly treated, Yi Gwal started a rebellion against King Injo.

He led 12,000 soldiers, including 100 Japanese fighters, towards the capital city, Hanseong. Yi Gwal's forces defeated the royal army and surrounded Hanseong. King Injo had to flee to Gongju for safety. Hanseong then fell into the hands of the rebels. Yi Gwal even tried to put another prince on the throne. However, the royal army soon returned and defeated Yi Gwal's forces. Yi Gwal was killed by his own bodyguard, ending the rebellion.

Even though Injo kept his throne, this rebellion showed how weak the king's power was. It also showed that the nobles, who helped fight the rebellion, had become even more powerful. The country's economy, which was just starting to recover, was damaged again. Korea would face economic difficulties for a long time after this event.

Wars with Later Jin and Qing Dynasties

King Gwanghaegun had tried to stay neutral between the powerful Ming dynasty (Joseon's traditional ally) and the rising Jurchen people (who later formed the Later Jin and Qing dynasties). However, after Injo became king, the conservative Western faction took a strong stance against the Jurchens. They decided to keep Joseon's alliance with the Ming dynasty. This made the Later Jin, who had been friendly with Joseon, see Joseon as an enemy.

In 1627, about 30,000 Manchu cavalry (soldiers on horseback) from the Later Jin dynasty invaded Joseon. They demanded that King Gwanghaegun be put back on the throne. King Injo once again had to flee, this time to Ganghwa Island. The Later Jin eventually decided to withdraw, as they needed to prepare for war against the Ming dynasty. A peace agreement was made, declaring the Later Jin and Joseon as "brother nations."

However, most of the Western faction leaders still held a strong anti-Jurchen view. When Hong Taiji became the new ruler of the Later Jin, he looked for another chance to invade. King Injo had given shelter to a Ming general who fled from the Later Jin. This action angered the Later Jin and led to another invasion.

In 1636, Hong Taiji renamed his dynasty the Qing dynasty and personally led a massive invasion of Joseon. The Qing army, with 128,000 soldiers, marched directly to Hanseong. King Injo could not escape to Ganghwa Island this time. He was forced to take refuge in the Namhan Mountain Fortress. After running out of food and supplies, King Injo finally surrendered to the Qing dynasty. He performed a ceremony of submission to Hong Taiji and agreed to the Treaty of Samjeondo. This treaty forced Injo's first and second sons to be taken to China as captives. Joseon then became a tributary state to the Qing dynasty, meaning it had to pay tribute and acknowledge Qing's power.

The Mysterious Death of Crown Prince Sohyeon

After the Qing conquered Beijing in 1644, King Injo's two sons, who had been taken to China, returned to Korea. His first son, Crown Prince Sohyeon, brought back many new ideas and products from the Western world, including information about Christianity. He urged King Injo to make reforms in Joseon. However, King Injo was very conservative and did not accept these new ideas. He was even harsh towards the Crown Prince for trying to introduce foreign ideas and Western science.

Crown Prince Sohyeon was later found dead in the king's room. The circumstances of his death were mysterious. Some stories suggest that King Injo himself killed his son. Other historians believe the Crown Prince was poisoned, noting that his body showed unusual signs after death. Many people, including the Crown Prince's wife, tried to find out what truly happened. However, King Injo ordered an immediate burial and greatly reduced the size and importance of the funeral. He even shortened the mourning period for his own son. Later, King Injo also had Sohyeon's wife executed, accusing her of treason.

King Injo then chose his second son, Grand Prince Bongrim, to be the new Crown Prince. Bongrim later became King Hyojong. Injo also ordered Crown Prince Sohyeon's three sons to be sent away to Jeju Island. Only the youngest son survived and returned to the mainland.

King Injo's Legacy

Today, King Injo is mostly remembered as a weak and uncertain ruler. He is often blamed for the major problems that happened during his reign. These include the Yi Gwal Rebellion, the two wars with the Qing dynasty, and the damage to the country's economy. Many people compare him negatively to his uncle, Gwanghaegun, who was removed from the throne. Injo is seen as a king who achieved very little.

Despite these criticisms, Injo is sometimes given credit for trying to improve the military and strengthen the nation's defenses. This was important because Joseon had faced several conflicts between 1592 and 1636. King Injo died in 1649. His tomb, called Jangneung, is located in Paju, Gyeonggi Province.

Family

• Father: Wonjong of Joseon (Hangul: 조선 원종; 2 August 1580 – 29 December 1619)
  • Grandfather: King Seonjo of Joseon (Hangul: 조선 선조; 26 November 1552 – 16 March 1608)
  • Grandmother: Royal Noble Consort In of the Suwon Kim clan (Hangul: 인빈 김씨; 1555 – 10 December 1613)
• Mother: Queen Inheon of the Neungseong Gu clan (Hangul: 인헌왕후 구씨; 17 April 1578 – 14 January 1626)

Consort(s) and their respective issue

• Queen Inyeol of the Cheongju Han clan (Hangul: 인렬왕후 한씨; 16 August 1594 – 16 January 1636)
  • Yi Wang, Crown Prince Sohyeon (Hangul: 소현세자 이왕; 5 February 1612 – 21 May 1645), first son
  • Yi Ho, Grand Prince Bongrim (Hangul: 봉림대군 이호; 3 July 1619 – 23 June 1659), second son
  • Yi Yo, Grand Prince Inpyeong (Hangul: 인평대군 이요; 10 December 1622 – 13 May 1658), third son
  • Yi Gon, Grand Prince Yongseong (Hangul: 용성대군 이곤; 24 October 1624 – 22 December 1629), fourth son
  • First daughter (1626–1626)
  • Fifth son (1629–1629)
  • Sixth son (12 January 1636 – 16 January 1636)
• Queen Jangnyeol of the Yangju Jo clan (Hangul: 장렬왕후 조씨; 16 December 1624 – 20 September 1688)
• Royal Consort Gwi-in of the Okcheon Jo clan (Hangul: 귀인 조씨; 1617 – 24 January 1652)
  • Princess Hyomyeong (Hangul: 효명옹주; 1637–1700), second daughter
  • Yi Jing, Prince Sungseon (Hangul: 숭선군 이징; 17 October 1639 – 6 January 1690), seventh son
  • Yi Suk, Prince Nakseon (Hangul: 낙선군 이숙; 9 December 1641 – 26 April 1695), eighth son
• Royal Consort Gwi-in of the Deoksu Jang clan (Hangul: 귀인 장씨; 1619–1671)
• Royal Consort Suk-ui of the Na clan (Hangul: 숙의 나씨)
• Royal Consort Suk-ui of the Park clan (Hangul: 숙의 박씨)
• Royal Consort Suk-won of the Jang clan (Hangul: 숙원 장씨)
• Court Lady Yi (Hangul: 상궁 이씨; ? – 1643)

See also

• History of Korea
• List of monarchs of Korea