Queen Sinjeong facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Queen Sinjeong신정왕후 神貞王后 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||||
| Queen Regent of Joseon | |||||
| Regency | 8 December 1863 – 13 February 1873 with Grand Prince Heungseon |
||||
| Predecessor | Queen Sunwon | ||||
| Successor | Empress Myeongseong | ||||
| Monarch | King Gojong of Joseon | ||||
| Grand Queen Dowager of Joseon | |||||
| Reign | 10 August 1857 – 17 April 1890 | ||||
| Predecessor | Queen Sunwon | ||||
| Successor | None | ||||
| Queen Dowager of Joseon | |||||
| Reign | 19 November 1834 – 10 August 1857 | ||||
| Predecessor | Queen Sunwon | ||||
| Successor | Queen Hyojeong | ||||
| Crown Princess consort of Joseon | |||||
| Reign | 11 October 1819 – 6 May 1830 | ||||
| Predecessor | Crown Princess Hong | ||||
| Successor | Crown Princess Min | ||||
| Born | 21 January 1809 Ssanghojeong, Dupo, Dumobang, Kingdom of Joseon |
||||
| Died | 4 June 1890 (aged 81) Heungbok Hall, Gyeongbok Palace Kingdom of Joseon |
||||
| Burial | Sureung | ||||
| Spouse | Crown Prince Hyomyeong | ||||
| Issue | Heonjong of Joseon | ||||
|
|||||
| House | Pungyang Jo | ||||
| Father | Jo Man-yeong | ||||
| Mother | Internal Princess Consort Deokan of the Eunjin Song clan | ||||
Queen Sinjeong (born January 21, 1809 – died June 4, 1890) was an important queen in Korean history. She was from the Pungyang Jo clan. She was the only wife of Crown Prince Hyomyeong and the mother of Heonjong of Joseon. She also had a special role as a regent for King Gojong when he was young. A regent is someone who rules for a king or queen who is too young or sick to rule themselves. Even though she was the official regent, she let King Gojong's father, Heungseon Daewongun, handle most of the actual ruling.
Contents
Early Life and Royal Marriage
Queen Sinjeong was born on January 21, 1809. Her family was the Pungyang Jo clan. Her father was Jo Man-yeong, and her mother was Lady Song.
In 1819, when she was 10 years old, she became the Crown Princess Consort. This happened when she married Crown Prince Hyomyeong. He was the son of the king.
On September 8, 1827, she gave birth to a son. This son would later become King Heonjong.
Her parents were given special royal titles. Her mother was called “Internal Princess Consort Deokan.” Her father was called “Internal Prince Pungeun.”
A Time of Change
From 1827, her husband, Crown Prince Hyomyeong, helped his father rule. The king was sick. But sadly, her husband died in 1830 when he was only 20 years old.
In 1834, King Sunjo, her father-in-law, also passed away.
Her son, Heonjong of Joseon, became king in 1834. However, he died in 1849 without any children. After her son's death, she was given the title Grand Royal Dowager Queen Sinjeong. A "Dowager Queen" is the widow of a king.
Choosing the Next King
In January 1864, King Cheoljong died. He also did not have any children to take his place. This meant a new king had to be chosen.
The important job of choosing the next king was in the hands of three royal women. They were Queen Sinjeong, who was the oldest. There was also Queen Dowager Myeongheon, who was King Heonjong’s wife. And Queen Cheorin, who was King Cheoljong's wife.
Traditionally, the oldest queen dowager had the power to choose the new king. This meant Queen Sinjeong had the most say.
A New Opportunity
Queen Sinjeong saw this as a chance for her family, the Pungyang Jo clan, to become more powerful. Her clan was a big rival to another powerful family, the Andong Kim clan.
As King Cheoljong became sicker, a man named Yi Ha-eung approached Queen Sinjeong. He was a distant relative of a past king. His family had managed to stay out of political fights.
Yi Ha-eung had a son named Yi Myeong-bok. This son was only twelve years old. He was a possible choice for the next king.
The Pungyang Jo clan thought they could easily guide Yi Ha-eung. He would be ruling for his young son.
The Royal Seal
When King Cheoljong died, Yi Ha-eung and the Pungyang Jo clan quickly took the royal seal. This seal was very important. It was needed for a new king to be officially recognized.
Because Queen Sinjeong had the seal, she had the power to choose the next king. The Andong Kim clan could not do anything about it.
There is a story that Queen Cheorin sent someone to find Yi Myeong-bok. He was supposedly flying a kite in a palace garden. He was brought to the palace. Queen Sinjeong then called him her son. This made him the new king, King Gojong. This story might not be completely true.
What is known for sure is this:
- On January 16, 1864, Queen Sinjeong named Yi Myeong-bok as the Prince of Ikseong.
- The next day, his father was given the title Heungseon Daewongun.
- On January 21, Yi Myeong-bok became King Gojong.
- Queen Sinjeong then began her role as regent.
King Gojong was very young. So, Queen Sinjeong asked the Daewongun to help his son rule. In 1866, she mostly gave up her power as regent. She kept the title, but the Daewongun was the real ruler.
Queen Sinjeong passed away on June 4, 1890. Years later, she was given the special title of "Empress Shinjeongik." Her husband, Crown Prince Hyomyeong, was also given the title "Emperor Munjoik."
Family Connections
Queen Sinjeong had an important family. Here are some of her closest relatives:
- Father: Jo Man-yeong (1776 - 1846)
- Mother: Internal Princess Consort Deokan of the Eunjin Song clan (1776 - 1834)
- Husband: Yi Yeong, Crown Prince Hyomyeong (1809 - 1830)
- Father-in-law: Yi Gong, King Sunjo (1790 - 1834)
- Mother-in-law: Queen Sunwon of the Andong Kim clan (1789 - 1857)
- Son: Yi Hwan, King Heonjong of Joseon (1827 - 1849)
- Daughter-in-law: Queen Hyohyeon of the Andong Kim clan (1828 - 1843)
- Daughter-in-law: Queen Hyojeong of the Namyang Hong clan (1831 - 1904)
- Adoptive Son: Yi Hui, Emperor Gojong of Korea (1852 - 1919)
- Adoptive Daughter-in-law: Min Ja-yeong, Empress Myeongseong of the Yeoheung Min clan (1851 - 1895)
