Queen Hyeondeok (; 26 April 1417 – 19 August 1441), of the Andong Gwon clan, personal name Gwon Sun-im, was the third wife of Crown Prince Hyang (King Munjong), later the fifth monarch of Joseon, and the mother of the ill-fated King Danjong. She died due to complications following childbirth, and was posthumously elevated to the position of queen upon her husband's accession to the throne.

Biography Early life and lineage The future Queen Hyeondeok was born during the reign of King Taejong, as the third daughter and child among one son and seven daughters. Her father was Gwon Jeon () and her mother was his second wife, a lady from the Haeju Choe clan (). Her two elder sisters were born to her father's first wife, while two of her younger sisters were of concubine birth.

Life in the palace In 1431, around the age of 14, Lady Gwon entered the palace alongside two other girls, Lady Jeong (later known as Soyong Jeong) and Lady Hong. All were appointed as consorts of the crown prince of the junior fourth rank ().Veritable Records of Sejong, volume 51.

In 1432 or 1433, she became pregnant, which attracted the jealousy of the childless Crown Princess Bong, who feared she would be removed in favor of Lady Gwon if she gave birth to a son. Nevertheless, Lady Gwon's first child turned out to be a daughter who died in infancy.Veritable Records of Sejong, volume 59. In 1435, she gave birth to Princess Gyeonghye,Veritable Records of Sejong, volume 75. and was then promoted to the junior third rank ().

Soon after, Crown Princess Bong was deposed following a number of scandals, including a homosexual affair with her maid and a fake pregnancy. King Sejong initially considered selecting a new crown princess, but believed there was no guarantee she would be virtuous. While elevating a consort to the position of crown princess was akin to making a concubine a wife and was without precedent in Joseon, he decided it was better to choose from among the crown prince's consorts, as they had lived in the palace for years and their conduct had been verified. The final candidates were Lady Gwon and Lady Hong, who seemed to be the one favored by the crown prince. Nevertheless, Lady Gwon was older, held a higher rank, and above all, had given birth to the crown prince's only surviving child. In early 1437, she was invested as crown princess in a simplified ceremony.

Death and aftermath On 18 August 1441, Lady Gwon gave birth to the much awaited heir, Yi Hong-wi, but died a day later. She was granted the posthumous name Hyeondeok (),Veritable Records of Sejong, volume 93. and was buried within Soreung () in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province.Veritable Records of Danjong, volume 3.

When King Munjong acceded to the throne in 1450, Lady Gwon was posthumously elevated to the position of queen.Veritable Records of Munjong, volume 2. King Danjong later added Inhyo Sunhye () to the posthumous name of his mother.Veritable Records of Danjong, volume 11.

In 1456, shortly after her brother-in-law, King Sejo, had deposed her son, Lady Gwon's mother and brother were discovered to be instigating a movement to restore King Danjong to the throne and were executed on charges of treason. Consequently, Lady Gwon and her father were posthumously demoted to the commoner class.Veritable Records of Sejo, volume 8.

Lady Gwon's status was restored in 1513, during the reign of King Jungjong, and she was reburied alongside King Munjong within Hyeolleung (), today part of the Donggureung Cluster in Guri, Gyeonggi Province.Veritable Records of Seongjong, volume 122.

Titles

During the reign of King Taejong (): Lady, of the Andong Gwon clan (; from 26 April 1417) Gwon Jeon's daughter () Lady Gwon () During the reign of King Sejong (): Seunghwi (; from 5 May 1431), consort of the crown prince of the junior fourth rank Yangwon (; from 1436), consort of the crown prince of the junior third rank Crown Princess (; from 12 February 1437) Crown Princess Hyeondeok (; from 1441) During the reign of King Munjong (): Queen Hyeondeok (; from June 1450) During the reign of King Sejo (): Commoner (; from 17 July 1457) During the reign of King Jungjong (): Queen Hyeondeok (; from 1513)

Family Father: Gwon Jeon (), Internal Prince Hwasan (; 1371–1441) Stepmother: Lady, of the Andong Gwon clan () Mother: Internal Princess Consort Haeryeong (), of the Haeju Choe clan (; ?–1456), personal name A-ji () Sibling(s) Sister: Lady, of the Andong Gwon clan () Sister: Lady, of the Andong Gwon clan (} Sister: Lady, of the Andong Gwon clan (), personal name Lo-bi () Brother: Gwon Ja-sin (; ?–1456) Sister: Lady, of the Andong Gwon clan (), personal name Tab-yi () Sister: Lady, of the Andong Gwon clan () Sister: Lady, of the Andong Gwon clan () Husband: King Munjong (; 15 November 1414 – 10 June 1452) Father-in-law: King Sejong (; 15 May 1397 – 8 April 1450) Mother-in-law: Queen Soheon (), of the Cheongsong Shim clan (; 20 October 1395 – 28 April 1446) Issue Unnamed daughter (1433) Princess Gyeonghye (; 1435 – 27 January 1474) Yi Hong-wi (), King Danjong (; 18 August 1441 – 16 November 1457)

Ancestry

In popular culture Portrayed by Kang Hye-in in the 2008 KBS TV series The Great King, Sejong.

See also History of Korea Styles and titles in Joseon Six martyred ministers

Notes

References

Works cited

External links Inscription on King Munjong's Tomb at Hyeonreung