1. Overview
Princess Gyeongan (경안궁주Gyeongan-gungjuKorean), also known as Grand Princess Gyeongan (경안장공주Gyeongan Jang-gongjuKorean), was a royal princess of the Goryeo dynasty. She was the elder daughter of King Wonjong, the 24th monarch of Goryeo, and his second consort, Princess Gyeongchang. Her exact birth and death years remain unknown. In 1260, she was formally invested with the title Princess Gyeongan and subsequently married Wang Suk, who was initially known as Count Je'an (제안백Je'an-baekKorean) and later honored as Duke Je'an (제안공Je'an-gongKorean). Her life was marked by significant court events, including her royal investiture and marriage ceremonies that incurred substantial expenses, as well as the political turmoil that led to the accusation and exile of her mother and a full brother in 1277.
2. Biography
Princess Gyeongan's life is primarily documented through her lineage, royal investiture, marriage, and the political events that affected her immediate family.
2.1. Birth and Family Background
The precise year of Princess Gyeongan's birth is not recorded in historical documents. She was born to King Wonjong and Princess Gyeongchang, making her the eldest daughter of this union. Her royal surname was Wang (왕WangKorean), and her clan seat was Gaeseong. She had full siblings, including Siyang-hu Wang Yi (시양후 왕이Siyang-hu Wang YiKorean) and Sunan-gong Wang Jong (순안공 왕종Sunan-gong Wang JongKorean), as well as a younger sister, Hamnyeong-gungju (함녕궁주Hamnyeong-gungjuKorean). She was also a half-sister to King Chungnyeol, who later ascended the Goryeo throne.
Her mother, Princess Gyeongchang, was the daughter of Sinan-gong Wang Jeon (신안공 왕전Sinan-gong Wang JeonKorean), who was a seventh-generation descendant of Pyeongyang-gong Wang Gi (평양공 왕기Pyeongyang-gong Wang GiKorean), a son of King Hyeonjong. Princess Gyeongchang's mother was Gasun-gungju (가순궁주Gasun-gungjuKorean), a daughter of King Huijong and Seongpyeong Wanghu. Notably, Princess Gyeongan's paternal grandmother, Anhyewanghu (안혜왕후AnhyewanghuKorean), was also a daughter of King Huijong and Seongpyeong Wanghu. This meant that Princess Gyeongan's paternal grandmother and maternal grandmother were full sisters, creating a close familial connection between her paternal and maternal lines. Princess Gyeongchang's surname, Yu (유YuKorean), was adopted from her maternal family.
2.2. Royal Investiture and Marriage
On the 27th day of the 10th month of the lunar calendar in 1260, the first year of King Wonjong's reign, Princess Gyeongan was formally invested with the royal title of Princess Gyeongan (경안궁주Gyeongan-gungjuKorean). To commemorate this occasion, King Wonjong hosted a grand feast for his ministers at the court. Later that same year, on the 7th day of the 12th month, Princess Gyeongan was married to Wang Suk, a member of the royal family who held the title of Count Je'an (제안백Je'an-baekKorean). He was later elevated to Duke Je'an (제안공Je'an-gongKorean).
The year 1260 was a period of significant royal celebrations, with four investiture ceremonies and two marriage ceremonies held within the palace. These events led to immense expenditures. Historical records indicate that approximately 1,000 geun of gold and silver were consumed, along with about 3,000 seok of rice and other grains. The consumption of fabrics, such as hemp cloth, was so extensive that its quantity could not be accurately counted.
2.3. Key Life Events
Detailed records of Princess Gyeongan's life after her marriage are limited. However, her family faced significant political upheaval in 1277, the third year of King Chungnyeol's reign, following his ascension to the throne. Her mother, Princess Gyeongchang, and her full brother, Sunan-gong Wang Jong, were accused of plotting treason. As a result of these accusations, Princess Gyeongchang was stripped of her royal status and reduced to a commoner, while Sunan-gong Wang Jong was exiled to a remote island.
Meanwhile, her husband, Wang Suk, continued his career. After Princess Gyeongan's death (the date of which is not recorded), Wang Suk remarried Consort Jeongnyeong (정녕원비Jeongnyeong-wonbiKorean), who was a daughter of King Chungnyeol and his second consort, Jeongsin-buju. Wang Suk traveled to the Yuan Dynasty multiple times under royal command. Throughout his career, he was granted various prestigious titles, including Grand Prince (대군DaegunKorean), Great Prince (부원대군BuwondaegunKorean), and Three Grand Masters (삼중대광SamjungdaegwangKorean). He died at the age of 75 in 1312, during the fourth year of King Chungseon's reign.
3. Family Relations
Princess Gyeongan's family network was deeply intertwined with the Goryeo royal lineage.
- Husband:** Je'an-gong Wang Suk (제안공 왕숙Je'an-gong Wang SukKorean, 1238-1312). He was a descendant of Pyeongyang-gong Wang Gi, a son of King Hyeonjong. Initially known as Count Je'an (Je'an-baek), he was later promoted to Duke Je'an (Je'an-gong). After Princess Gyeongan's death, he remarried Consort Jeongnyeong, a daughter of King Chungnyeol and his second consort Jeongsin-buju. Wang Suk held various high-ranking titles, including Grand Prince (Je'an-daegun), Three Grand Masters (Samjungdaegwang), and Great Prince (Je'an-buwondaegun), and made several diplomatic visits to the Yuan Dynasty. He died in 1312 at the age of 75.
- Son:** Pyeongnyang-gong Wang Hyeon (평량공 왕현Pyeongnyang-gong Wang HyeonKorean, ?-1300). He was the son of Princess Gyeongan and Wang Suk. He married Lady Heo and died in 1300.
- Paternal Grandfather:** King Gojong (고종GojongKorean, 1192-1259, reigned 1213-1259), the 23rd monarch of Goryeo.
- Paternal Grandmother:** Anhyewanghu (안혜왕후AnhyewanghuKorean, ?-1232), daughter of King Huijong and Seongpyeong Wanghu. She was also the full sister of Princess Gyeongan's maternal grandmother, Gasun-gungju.
- Father:** King Wonjong (원종WonjongKorean, 1219-1274, reigned 1259-1274), the 24th monarch of Goryeo.
- Half-sibling:** King Chungnyeol (충렬왕ChungnyeolwangKorean, 1236-1308, reigned 1274-1298, 1298-1308), the 25th monarch of Goryeo.
- Maternal Grandfather:** Sinan-gong Wang Jeon (신안공 왕전Sinan-gong Wang JeonKorean, ?-1261).
- Maternal Grandmother:** Gasun-gungju (가순궁주Gasun-gungjuKorean, unknown birth/death).
- Mother:** Princess Gyeongchang (경창궁주Gyeongchang-gungjuKorean, unknown birth/death), King Wonjong's second consort.
- Full Siblings:**
- Siyang-hu Wang Yi (시양후 왕이Siyang-hu Wang YiKorean, ?-1266).
- Sunan-gong Wang Jong (순안공 왕종Sunan-gong Wang JongKorean, unknown birth/death).
- Hamnyeong-gungju (함녕궁주Hamnyeong-gungjuKorean, unknown birth/death).
- Father-in-law:** Sinyang-baek Wang Jeon (신양백 왕전Sinyang-baek Wang JeonKorean, ?-1256).
- Mother-in-law / Paternal Aunt:** Suheung-gungju (수흥궁주Suheung-gungjuKorean, unknown birth/death).
4. Assessment
Historical records regarding Princess Gyeongan's personal life and activities are notably sparse, primarily focusing on her lineage, royal investiture, and marriage. Most of the available information pertains to the significant events involving her immediate family members, such as the political accusations and exile of her mother and brother, and the later career and remarriage of her husband, Wang Suk. Due to this limited documentation, a comprehensive historical or social evaluation of Princess Gyeongan herself is not readily available.