Queen Gongye

2.1. Birth and Background

The future Queen Gongye was born on 7 September 1109 (lunisolar calendar, equivalent to 2 October 1109 Gregorian) in Dangdong village, Okdang-ri, Gwansan-eup, Jangheung County, South Jeolla Province. She was the eldest child and daughter of Im Won-hu (임원후_{Im Won-hu}^Korean), a prominent official who served as Jungseoryeong (중서령), and his first wife, Lady Yi of the Bupyeong Yi clan. Her maternal grandfather was Yi Wi (이위_{Yi Wi}^Korean), who held the position of Munhasi Jung.

A significant birth legend surrounds Queen Gongye. On the night of her birth, her maternal grandfather, Yi Wi, dreamt of a large yellow flag's tail encircling the Seongyeongjeon (선경전), a royal hall. Based on this dream, Yi Wi prophesied that his granddaughter was destined to "play in Seongyeongjeon," implying she would become queen. This prophecy became widely known.

2.2. Youth and Marriage

At the age of 15 in 1123, Lady Im was betrothed to Kim Ch'i-hyo (김지효_{Kim Ch'i-hyo}^Korean), the son of Kim In-gyu (김인규_{Kim In-gyu}^Korean) from the Gyeongju Kim clan. However, when Kim Ch'i-hyo arrived at her family's home for the marriage, he suddenly fell gravely ill, nearing death. Im Won-hu, believing this to be an ill omen, cancelled the marriage. He then consulted a fortune teller, who reiterated the prophecy that his daughter was destined to become queen.

News of this prophecy reached Yi Cha-gyŏm (이자겸_{Yi Cha-gyŏm}^Korean), the powerful military leader of Goryeo. Yi Cha-gyŏm had already married his third and fourth daughters to King Injong, making them the king's consorts (and his maternal aunts). Fearing that Im Won-hu's daughter becoming the new queen would signify the downfall of his influential Inju Yi clan, Yi Cha-gyŏm used his power to demote Im Won-hu to Kaesong Ambassador. However, in 1126, Yi Cha-gyŏm's rebellion failed, leading to the expulsion of his two daughters from the palace and the collapse of his family's power.

In the same year, a selection was held to choose the next queen. Lady Im was chosen, fulfilling the fortune teller's prophecy. She formally married King Injong on 20 June 1126, at the age of 18, and became the new Queen Consort of Goryeo. On 10 May 1129, King Injong bestowed upon her Singyeong Mansion (선경부_Seongyeongbu^Korean) in Hudeok Hall (후덕전_Hudeokjeon^Korean), part of "Yeondeok Palace" (연덕궁_Yeondeokgung^Korean), and honored her with the title Princess Yeondeok (연덕궁주_{Yeondeokgungju}^Korean).

2.3. Palace Life and Reign

As Queen Consort, Queen Gongye enjoyed a favored position within the Goryeo palace. King Injong held deep affection for her, demonstrating his love by elevating her birthplace, Jangheung-bu (장흥부_Jangheungbu^Korean), to Jijangheung-busa (지장흥부사_{Jijangheungbusa}^Korean). Her mother, Lady Yi, was also formally honored with the title "Grand Lady of the Jinhan State" (진한국대부인_{Jinhan Gukdaebuin}^Korean).

Queen Gongye bore King Injong a total of ten children: five sons and five daughters. Their eldest son, Prince Wang Hyŏn (later King Uijong), was born on 11 April 1127. Subsequent sons included Prince Wang Kyŏng (later Marquess Daeryeong), born in 1131; Prince Wang Ho (later King Myeongjong), born in 1132; Prince Wang T'ak (later King Sinjong), born in 1144; and their youngest son, Prince Ch'ung-hŭi (Wang Ch'ung-hŭi), born in 1148. Their daughters were Princess Deoknyeong, Princess Seunggyeong, Princess Changrak, Princess Yeonghwa, and Princess Wang of the Kaeseong Wang clan.

2.4. Queen Mother and Political Influence

Following King Injong's death on 10 April 1146, their eldest son, Wang Hyŏn, ascended the throne as King Uijong. Queen Gongye thus became Queen Mother, residing in Hudeok Hall. King Uijong also had Seongyeong Mansion built for her.

However, King Uijong's reign was marked by his frequent intoxication and disrespect towards military officials, which deeply angered the warrior class. Observing her eldest son's behavior and skeptical of his qualifications, Queen Mother Gongye began to favor her second son, Marquess Wang Kyŏng, intending to replace Uijong with him. This preference led to a strained relationship between the Queen Mother and Uijong, culminating in a rebellion incident in 1151 involving those who conspired with Marquess Wang Kyŏng.

To protect her favored son, Queen Mother Gongye persuaded Uijong to ensure his younger brother's safety. When Uijong expressed his disappointment over past events, she reportedly left the palace in her socks, looked up to the sky, and swore an oath to plead her injustice. It is said that thunder and lightning immediately struck, leading Uijong to repent his mistakes. Despite this, the ongoing discrimination against military officials by Uijong eventually led to a major military revolt in the autumn of 1170. The rebelling officials, including Chŏng Chung-bu (정중부_{Jeong Jung-bu}^Korean), Yi Ŭi-bang (이의방_{Yi Ŭi-bang}^Korean), and Yi Ko (이고_{Yi Go}^Korean), murdered civil officials, deposed Uijong, and appointed her third son, Wang Ho, as King Myeongjong.

Although Queen Mother Gongye had desired her second son, Marquess Wang Kyŏng, to succeed Uijong, he was assassinated by Chŏng Chung-bu, who feared that Wang Kyŏng might become a threat to his own power. Chŏng Chung-bu then chose the seemingly weaker Wang Ho, believing that the military leaders would remain the true rulers.

2.5. Later Life and Death

During King Myeongjong's reign, Queen Mother Gongye fell ill. King Myeongjong called his younger brother, Wang Ch'ung-hŭi, to care for her. However, Wang Ch'ung-hŭi, her beloved fifth son, died in 1182. The Queen Mother was deeply shocked and grieved, believing she had angered the gods and the souls of those killed by Ch'ung-hŭi. This profound sorrow exacerbated her illness.

Later, her fourth son, Wang T'ak (later King Sinjong, then Duke Pyeongnyang), suffered from hemorrhoids and was unable to greet his mother for a long time. She worried that he, too, was suffering divine retribution like his older brother, Ch'ung-hŭi. A year later, Wang T'ak recovered and, by Myeongjong's order, visited his mother to comfort her.

On 2 December 1183 (lunisolar calendar: 22 November 1183), Queen Mother Gongye died at the age of 74 due to her prolonged illness. She was given her posthumous name, Gongye, and was buried in Sunreung Tomb (순릉_Sunreung^Korean). In 1184, the Jin Dynasty under Emperor Shizong sent tributes to Goryeo to express his condolences.

3.1. Parents

3.2. Siblings

Queen Gongye was the eldest of seven children, having one younger sister and five younger brothers.

3.3. Spouse

3.4. Children

Queen Gongye and King Injong had five sons and five daughters.

3.5. Grandchildren and Marriages

The grandchildren of King Injong and Queen Gongye frequently engaged in cousin marriages, a common practice within the Goryeo royal family that exemplified endogamy. This pattern helped consolidate power and lineage within the ruling elite.

Notable examples of these intermarriages include:

• Hyoryeong Taeja (효령태자 (孝靈太子)_{Hyoryeong Taeja}^Korean), the son of King Uijong, married a daughter of Princess Deoknyeong.
• Princess Hwasun (화순궁주 (和順宮主)_{Hwasun Gungju}^Korean), the third daughter of King Uijong, married Wang Myeon (왕면 (王沔)_{Wang Myeon}^Korean), Duke Gwangneung (광릉공 (廣陵公)_{Gwangneung Gong}^Korean), who was the son of Princess Seunggyeong.
• King Gangjong (강종 (康宗)_Gangjong^Korean), the son of King Myeongjong, married Wonduk Wanghu (원덕왕후 (元德王后)_{Wonduk Wanghu}^Korean), who was the daughter of Princess Changrak. They became the parents of King Gojong.
• Princess Yeonhui (연희궁주 (延禧宮主)_{Yeonhui Gungju}^Korean), the eldest daughter of King Myeongjong, married Wang Jin (왕진 (王稹)_{Wang Jin}^Korean), Marquess Yeongin (영인후 (寧仁侯)_{Yeongin Hu}^Korean), who was the son of Princess Changrak. Their daughter, Queen Seongpyeong (성평왕후_{Seongpyeong Wanghu}^Korean), later became the queen consort of King Huijong (희종 (熙宗)_Huijong^Korean), son of King Sinjong.
• Princess Suan (수안궁주 (壽安宮主)_{Suan Gungju}^Korean), the second daughter of King Myeongjong, married Wang U (왕우 (王祐)_{Wang U}^Korean), Marquess Changhwa (창화후 (昌化侯)_{Changhwa Hu}^Korean), who was the son of Princess Yeonghwa. Their daughter was initially the crown princess of King Huijong but was later deposed by Choe Chung-su (최충수_{Choe Chung-su}^Korean), who wished to marry his own daughter to the Crown Prince.

The following table summarizes some of the key grandchildren and their familial connections:

4.1. Role in Royal Succession

Queen Gongye's direct influence on royal succession became evident after the death of King Injong. Her eldest son, Uijong, ascended the throne, but his behavior and strained relationship with the military officials caused her great concern. Dissatisfied with Uijong's qualifications, she openly favored her second son, Marquess Daeryeong, as a potential successor. This preference created deep divisions within the royal family and contributed to the political instability that characterized Uijong's reign.

Her attempts to influence the succession, though not immediately successful in placing Marquess Daeryeong on the throne, highlighted her significant political weight as Queen Mother. The subsequent military revolt of 1170, which deposed Uijong, directly led to the ascension of her third son, Myeongjong. While the military leaders, particularly Chŏng Chung-bu, ultimately chose Myeongjong for their own strategic reasons (believing him to be weaker and more controllable), Queen Gongye's earlier disapproval of Uijong and her desire for a more suitable heir likely contributed to the environment ripe for such a change. The tragic assassination of Marquess Daeryeong by Chŏng Chung-bu further underscores the high stakes of royal succession and the brutal realities of power struggles during this period, even as it eliminated her favored candidate.

Upon Myeongjong's ascension, Queen Gongye continued to hold influence as Queen Mother. Her later illness and death, triggered by the loss of her beloved son Wang Ch'ung-hŭi, illustrate the personal toll of these political upheavals on her. Ultimately, her fourth son, Sinjong, also ascended to the throne, further cementing her legacy as the mother of three Goryeo kings and a central figure in the dynasty's lineage.