Prince Yangnyeong


Grand Prince Yangnyeong was a Joseon dynasty politician and prince. The Grand Prince, first-born son of King Taejong of the Joseon dynasty and his consort Queen Wongyeong, elder brother of Sejong the Great, and ancestor of Syngman Rhee, Korean independence activist and first President of South Korea.

Biography

He was born as Yi Je in 1394. Originally his father appointed him as the Crown Prince but he eventually executed the Queen Wongyeong's brothers and in the 18th year of his reign replaced prince Yangnyeong with his third son prince Chungnyeong as his successor. Known for his literature and calligraphy skills, the former Crown Prince viewed himself as lacking in the requisite skills for kingship and believed that Sejong was destined to become king. Considering it his duty to make Sejong king, he purposely acted extremely rude in the court, lost his position as a prince, married a peasant and was eventually officially banished from Seoul in June 1418. Grand Prince Hyoryeong, Yangnyeong's second brother, had similar feelings about Sejong being king, and so became a monk in a Buddhist temple. Possibly King Tajong's willingness to execute troublesome family members helped encourage his first two sons to step aside and allow King Taejong's third and favorite son to become King Sejong.
This plot ultimately brought Sejong to the throne. Later, Yangnyeong became a wandering traveler and lived in the mountains.
After Sejong had taken the throne, the relationship between the brothers was strong, and Sejong often invited Yangnyeong to the palace.
Yangnyeong lived as a wanderer and died in 1462, almost living for 68 years.
The tomb of Prince Yangneong was reopened in 2018 to the public after 18 years of closure.

Family

  1. Lady Sooseong, Princess Consort, of the Gwangsan Kim clan
  2. # Yi Gae, the Prince Soonseong, 1st Son
  3. # Yi Po, the Prince Hamyang, 2nd Son
  4. # Yi Hye, the Prince Seosan, 3rd Son
  5. # Princess Jeon-ui, 1st Daughter; later married Lee Ja, created Jidonnyeong
  6. # Unnamed 2nd Daughter; later married Lee Beon, created Jungchubusa
  7. # Princess Yeongpyeong, 3rd Daughter; later married Kim Cheol-goo
  8. # Unnamed 4th Daughter, later married Park Soo-jong
  9. Unknown woman
  10. # Yi Gyeom
  11. # Yi Heun, Duck of Jangpyung
  12. # Yi Seong
  13. # Yi Soon
  14. # Yi Shim
  15. # Yi Gwang-seok
  16. # Yi Gwang-geun
  17. Unknown woman
  18. # Unnamed Daughter, later married Lee Jong-gyeong
  19. Unknown woman
  20. # Unnamed 1st Daughter, later married Kim Am
  21. # Unnamed 2nd Daughter, later married Kim Seung-gan
  22. # Unnamed 3rd Daughter, later married Kim Oh
  23. # Unnamed 4th Daughter, later married Kim Won
  24. # Unnamed 5th Daughter, later married Han Chi-yeong
  25. Unknown slave
  26. # Unnamed 1st Daughter, later married Kwon Chi-jung
  27. # Princess Yi Goo-ji, 2nd Daughter; later married Kwon Deok-yeong
  28. Unknown woman
  29. # Unnamed 1st Daughter, later married Seok-beon, clan unknown
  30. # Unnamed 2nd Daughter, later married Kim Ui
  31. # Unnamed 3rd Daughter, later married Im Jun
  32. # Princess Yi Geon-yi, 4th Daughter

    Popular culture

Today, his descendants form one of the biggest clans of the House of Yi. In addition, it is believed that the plaque on the Namdaemun was personally written by him.
He was an ancestor of Syngman Rhee, Korean independence activist and the first South Korean president.