Jeongjong of Joseon

Jeongjong of Joseon (1357–1419), born Yi Bang-gwa, whose changed name is Yi Gyeong, is the second king of Joseon (or Chosun) Dynasty (1399–1910).

Heis the second son of the founder and first king of the dynasty, King Taejo of Joseon.

Born in 1357 as Yi Bang-Gwa, he is a prudent, generous, brave, and able military officer.

During the latter days of the declining Goryeo Dynasty, Jeongjong follows his father, Yi Seonggye, to various battlefronts and fought at his side.

When his father becomes king in 1392, he becomes prince.

King Taejo has two wives—the first one, who gives birth to six of the king's sons including Jeongjong, dies before King Taejo is crowned.

Taejo’s second wife has had two sons from him.

The king favors his youngest son, whose mother is Taejo's second wife.

Prime Minister Jeong Dojeon also backshim as the successor to the throne, causing great disappointment to the other princes.

In 1398, King Taejo's fifth son, Yi Bang-won, who later will be King Taejong of Joseon, leads a coup along with many military officers and kills his two brothers, Prime Minister Jeong, and many of his faction.

Yi Bang-won first tries to show that he is not intending to take the throne, so he backs to his oldest surviving brother Jeongjong to be crown prince.

King Taejo is upset and abdicates in disgust, and Jeongjong becomes king in the following year, 1399.

The same year he moves the capital back to Gaegyeong, the old Goryeo capital.

In 1400, a conflict breaks out between Yi Bang-won and his older brother, Yi Bang-gan.

Yi Bang-won's force attacks and defeats that of Bang-gan's.

Bang-gan is then sent into exile along with his family.

General Bak Bo, who had persuaded Bang-gan to fight against Bangwon, is executed.

King Jeongjong, knowing the acting king of the kingdom is his younger brother Bangwon, appoints him as a crown prince, and abdicates a few days later.

He is an able, wise administrator even though his short reign is marked by bloodshed within the royal family.

He bans all kinds of private troops on the advice of Crown Prince Bangwon.

He dies in 1419, and is buried near Kaeseong.

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