Danjong of Joseon

Korean name
Hangul	단종
Hanja	端宗
Revised Romanization	Danjong
McCune–Reischauer	Tanjong
Birth name
Hangul	이홍위
Hanja	李弘暐
Revised Romanization	I Hongwi
McCune–Reischauer	Yi Hongwi

Names
	Yi Hong-wi (이홍위; 李弘暐)
Era name and dates
	Adopted the era name of the Ming dynasty: Gyeongtae (Jingtai) (경태; 景泰): 1452–1455;
Posthumous name
	Joseon: King Sunjeong Anjang Gyeongsun Donhyo the Great (순정안장경순돈효대왕; 純定安莊景順敦孝大王)
Temple name
	Danjong (단종; 端宗)

Danjong of Joseon
조선 단종
朝鮮端宗
Danjong of Joseon; 조선 단종; 朝鮮端宗
	Portrait of Danjong (c. 1927)
King Emeritus of Joseon
Tenure	4 July 1455 – 21 July 1457
Predecessor	Taejong
Successor	Sejo
King of Joseon
Reign	10 June 1452 – 4 July 1455
Enthronement	Geunjeongjeon Hall, Gyeongbok Palace, Hanseong
Predecessor	Munjong
Successor	Sejo
Born	18 August 1441; Jaseondang Hall, Gyeongbok Palace, Hanseong, Joseon
Died	17 November 1457 (aged 16); Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, Joseon
Burial	Jangneung Mausoleum, Yeongwol County, Gangwon Province, South Korea
Spouse(s)	Queen Jeongsun (m. 1454)
Names
Names
	Yi Hong-wi (이홍위; 李弘暐)
Era name and dates
	Adopted the era name of the Ming dynasty: Gyeongtae (Jingtai) (경태; 景泰): 1452–1455;
Posthumous name
	Joseon: King Sunjeong Anjang Gyeongsun Donhyo the Great (순정안장경순돈효대왕; 純定安莊景順敦孝大王)
Temple name
	Danjong (단종; 端宗)
Clan	Jeonju Yi
Dynasty	Yi
Father	Munjong of Joseon
Mother	Queen Hyeondeok
Religion	Korean Confucianism (Neo-Confucianism)

Danjong (Korean: 단종; Hanja: 端宗; 18 August 1441 – 17 November 1457),^[1] personal name Yi Hong-wi (이홍위; 李弘暐), was the sixth monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. He was forced to abdicate by his uncle, Grand Prince Suyang (the future King Sejo), and was put to death after being exiled to Yeongwol.^[2]

Biography

The future Danjong was born during the reign of his grandfather, King Sejong. His mother, Crown Princess Consort Gwon (posthumously honored as Queen Hyeondeok), didn’t recover after giving birth and died the next day. He had one older sister, Princess Gyeonghye, and one older half-sister, Princess Gyeongsuk.

In 1452, Yi Hong-wi succeeded his father, King Munjong, at the age of 12.^[3] Since he was too young to rule, the governing of the country fell to Chief State Councillor Hwangbo In, and Left State Councillor General Kim Jong-seo, along with Princess Gyeonghye acting as his guardian.^[4]

In 1453, this government was overthrown in a coup d'état led by his uncle, Grand Prince Suyang (posthumously called King Sejo), who persuaded a number of scholars and officials who had served in the court of Sejong the Great to support his claim to the throne. Hwangbo In and Kim Jong-seo were captured and killed in front of the gate of Gyeongbok Palace.

In late January 1454, the 14 years-old king married the 15 years-old daughter of Song Hyeon-su, Lady Song the Yeosan Song clan (later known as Queen Jeongsun). In 1455, he was forced to abdicate and became the King Emeritus of Joseon while his wife became Queen Dowager Uideok.

The following year, six court officials attempted to restore him to power, but their plot was discovered and they were immediately executed.^[3] Yi Hong-wi was later demoted to Prince Nosan (Nosan Gun; 노산군, 魯山君) and exiled to Yeongwol. His wife was also kicked out of the palace after losing her status as queen dowager and being demoted to Princess Consort Nosan (Nosan Gunbuin; 노산군부인).

Initially, Sejo was hesitant to execute Danjong and showed mercy despite the attempted coup. However, he began perceiving that Danjong would present a continuing threat to his rule, Sejo accepted the advice of the court and ordered that his nephew be disposed of. In November 1457, he was put to death.^[3]

There was an attempt to honor the late king and queen during Jungjong’s reign, but he rejected the proposal. During the reign of King Sukjong scholars once again proposed the restoration of the titles. After 200 years, in 1698, the demoted Prince Nosan and his wife were finally restored, receiving the temple name "Danjong", and posthumous name “Queen Jeongsun”.

Family

Father: King Munjong of Joseon (조선 문종; 15 November 1414 – 1 June 1452)
- Grandfather: King Sejong of Joseon (조선 세종; 15 May 1397 – 8 April 1450)
- Grandmother: Queen Soheon of the Cheongsong Shim clan (소헌왕후 심씨; 12 October 1395 – 19 April 1446)
Mother: Queen Hyeondeok of the Andong Gwon clan (현덕왕후 권씨; 17 April 1418 – 10 August 1441)
- Grandfather: Gwon Jeon (권전; 1371 – 18 November 1441)
- Grandmother: Lady Choe of the Haeju Choe clan (해주 최씨; ? – 1456)

Consort(s) and their respective issue

Queen Jeongsun of the Yeosan Song clan (정순왕후 송씨; 1440 – 7 July 1521)
Royal Consort Suk-ui of the Sangsan Kim clan (숙의 김씨; 1440–1525)
Royal Consort Suk-ui of the Andong Gwon clan (숙의 권씨; 1440–1519)

Ancestry

Ancestors of Danjong of Joseon

16. King Taejo of Joseon
(조선 태조)

8. King Taejong of Joseon
(조선 태종)

17. Queen Sinui of the Cheongju Han clan
(신의왕후 한씨)

4. King Sejong of Joseon
(조선 세종)

18. Min Je, Internal Prince Yeoheung & Duke Mundo
(여흥부원군 문도공 민제)

9. Queen Wongyeong of the Yeoheung Min clan
(원경왕후 민씨)

19. Lady Song of the Yeosan Song clan
(여산 송씨)

2. King Munjong of Joseon
(조선 문종)

20. Shim Deok-bu
(심덕부)

10. Shim On, Internal Prince Cheongcheon & Duke Anhyo
(청천부원군 안효공 심온)

21. Lady Mun of the Incheon Mun clan
(인천 문씨)

5. Queen Soheon of the Cheongsong Shim clan
(소헌왕후 심씨)

22. Ahn Cheon-bo
(안천보)

11. Lady Ahn of the Sunheung Ahn clan
(순흥 안씨)

23. Lady Kim of the Yeongju Kim clan
(영주 김씨)

1. Danjong of Joseon

24. Gwon Jeong-jung
(권정중)

12. Gwon Baek-jong
(권백종)

6. Gwon Jeon
(권전)

13. Lady Gwon
(권씨)

3. Queen Hyeondeok of the Andong Gwon clan
(현덕왕후 권씨)

14. Choe Yong
(최용)

7. Lady Choe of the Haeju Choe clan
(해주 최씨)

15. Lady Ji of the Chungju Ji clan
(충주 지씨)

In popular culture

Portrayed by Lee Min-woo in the 1983 MBC TV series 500 Years of Joseon: Tree with Deep roots.
Portrayed by Jung Tae-woo in the 1998–2000 KBS TV series King and Queen.
Portrayed by Noh Tae-yeob in the 2011 KBS2 TV series The Princess' Man.
Portrayed by Chae Sang-woo in the 2011 JTBC TV series Insu, The Queen Mother and the 2013 film The Face Reader
Portrayed by Choi Dong-ah in the 2016 KBS1 TV series Jang Yeong-sil.

Notes

^ According to the Gregorian Calendar.
^ Lee, Jeong-bong (1 June 2011). "A hamlet rich in history and art". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ ^a ^b ^c Neff, Robert (16 November 2019). "Murder, misery and mercy: Boy-king's life brutally cut short". The Korea Times. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
^ An, Seung-jun (4 April 2014). "Forgotten story of Princess Gyeonghye". The Korea Times. Retrieved 22 February 2018.

Regnal titles
Danjong of Joseon House of Yi Born: 18 August 1441 Died: 17 November 1457
Preceded by Munjong	King of Joseon 10 June 1452 – 4 July 1455	Succeeded by Sejo