Hyejong of Goryeo

2nd King of Goryeo (r. 943–945)
Hyejong of Goryeo
고려 혜종
高麗 惠宗
King of Goryeo
Reign943–945
Coronation943
Gaegyeong, Goryeo
PredecessorTaejo of Goryeo
SuccessorJeongjong of Goryeo
BornWang Mu
912
Queen Janghwa's manor, Mokpo, Naju, State of Taebong
Died23 October 945(945-10-23) (aged 32–33)
Junggwang Hall, Gaegyeong, Goryeo
Burial
Sulleung (순릉; 順陵)
Queen ConsortQueen Uihwa
ConsortLady Hugwangjuwon
Lady Cheongjuwon
Palace Lady Aeiju
Issue
Posthumous name
  • Great King Indeok Myeonghyo Seonhyeon Uigong
    (인덕명효선현의공대왕, 仁德明孝宣顯義恭大王; original)
  • Great King Gyeongheon Gopyeong Seonhyeon Myeonghyo Uigong
    (견헌고평선현명효의공대왕, 景憲高平宣顯明孝義恭大王; final)
Temple name
Hyejong (혜종, 惠宗)
HouseWang
DynastyGoryeo
FatherTaejo of Goryeo
MotherQueen Janghwa
Korean name
Hangul
혜종
Hanja
恵宗
Revised RomanizationHyejong
McCune–ReischauerHyejong
Birth name
Hangul
왕무
Hanja
王武
Revised RomanizationWang Mu
McCune–ReischauerWang Mu
Courtesy name
Hangul
승건
Hanja
承乾
Revised RomanizationSeunggeon
McCune–ReischauerSŭnggŏn
Posthumous name
Hangul
의공대왕
Hanja
義恭大王
Revised RomanizationUigong Daewang
McCune–ReischauerŬigong Taewang

Hyejong of Goryeo (912 – 23 October 945), personal name Wang Mu, was the second king of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea. He was preceded by King Taejo and succeeded by King Jeongjong.

Monarchs of Korea
Goryeo
  1. Taejo 918–943
  2. Hyejong 943–945
  3. Jeongjong (定宗) 945–949
  4. Gwangjong 949–975
  5. Gyeongjong 975–981
  6. Seongjong 981–997
  7. Mokjong 997–1009
  8. Hyeonjong 1009–1031
  9. Deokjong 1031–1034
  10. Jeongjong (靖宗) 1034–1046
  11. Munjong 1046–1083
  12. Sunjong 1083
  13. Seonjong 1083–1094
  14. Heonjong 1094–1095
  15. Sukjong 1095–1105
  16. Yejong 1105–1122
  17. Injong 1122–1146
  18. Uijong 1146–1170
  19. Myeongjong 1170–1197
  20. Sinjong 1197–1204
  21. Huijong 1204–1211
  22. Gangjong 1211–1213
  23. Gojong 1213–1259
  24. Wonjong 1259–1274
  25. Chungnyeol 1274–1308
  26. Chungseon 1308–1313
  27. Chungsuk 1313–1330; 1332–1339
  28. Chunghye 1330–1332; 1339–1344
  29. Chungmok 1344–1348
  30. Chungjeong 1348–1351
  31. Gongmin 1351–1374
  32. U 1374–1388
  33. Chang 1388–1389
  34. Gongyang 1389–1392
  • v
  • t
  • e

Early life

Hyejong was born to King Taejo and his second wife, Janghwa of the "Oh" clan. She was the daughter of the Magistrate of Naju, O Ta-ryŏn. Taejo met and married her while serving in Naju as a general of Taebong under Gung Ye.[1]

In 921, Hyejong was proclaimed Crown Prince and Royal Successor with support from General Bak Sul-Hui. Almost immediately after being named Crown Prince, Hyejong followed his father Taejo into battle against Later Baekje and played a major role in numerous victories. In 943, Hyejong rose to the throne upon his father's death.

Reign

Hyejong's reign was marked with conspiracy and power struggles among Taejo's sons. The first of these conspiracies was led by Princes Wang Yo and Wang So, sons of Taejo and his third consort, Queen Sinmyeongsunseong of the Chungju Yu clan, which possessed considerable political influence.[2] Upon realizing the conspiracy by the two princes, Wang Gyu [ko] warned Hyejong of the conspiracy, but plotted to put his grandson, one of Hyejong's younger half-brothers, on the throne when Hyejong did nothing to stop the conspiracy of the two princes.

Death

Hyejong died in 945, during the second year of his reign from mercury poisoning in his bath water. He had eczema, which caused red itchy patches on his skin and difficulty breathing. Although he had a son who was named crown prince, he was succeeded by his third brother Wang Yo, who claimed the throne by force with the backing of their fourth brother Wang So and subsequently crowned as Jeongjong.

Family

  1. Queen Uihwa, of the Jincheon Im clan
    1. Prince Heunghwa, 1st son
    2. Lady Gyeonghwa, 1st daughter
    3. Princess Jeongheon, 2nd daughter
  2. Lady Hugwangjuwon, of the Gangneung Wang clan– No issue.
  3. Lady Cheongjuwon of the Cheongju Kim clan (청주원부인 김씨) – No issue.
  4. Palace Lady Aeiju, of the Yeon clan
    1. Wang Je, 2nd son
    2. Lady Myeonghye, 3rd daughter

In popular culture

  • Portrayed by Ahn Jung-hoon and Seo Hyun-suk in the 2000–2002 KBS1 TV series Taejo Wang Geon.
  • Portrayed by No Young-gook in the 2002–2003 KBS1 TV series The Dawn of the Empire.
  • Portrayed by Kim San-ho in the 2016 SBS TV series Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo.

References

  1. ^ "고려시대 - "고려왕실을 지키는 최후의 보루"". Naju. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  2. ^ Kang, H.W. (May 1977). "The First Succession Struggle of Koryŏ, in 945: A Reinterpretation". The Journal of Asian Studies. 36 (3). Retrieved 20 January 2024.

혜종 (in Korean). Doosan Encyclopedia.

Hyejong of Goryeo
Born: 912 Died: 23 October 945
Regnal titles
Preceded by King of Goryeo
943–945 		Succeeded by