Prince Gyeongchang (慶昌君, 12 November 1596 (23rd day of the 9th lunar month) – 23 February 1644 (16th day of the 1st lunar month)) was a member of the royal family in mid-Joseon Korea. He was the ninth son of King Seonjo by a secondary consort, and his mother was Royal Consort Jeong of the Hong clan. He was registered as First Class of the Jeongun Wonjong Merit Subjects (定運功臣一等).
Life
Family background
He was the ninth son of King Seonjo, the 14th king of Joseon, and his mother was the royal concubine Royal Consort Jeong of the Hong clan. He was born on the 23rd day of the 9th lunar month of 1596 (the 29th year of Seonjo's reign), while the Imjin War was raging.1 His family name was Yi and his given name was Chu (珘). He was the full younger brother of Princess Jeongjeong, and a half-brother of Gwanghaegun, Prince Imhae, and Prince Jeongwon, as well as a half-elder brother of Prince Yeongchang. His clan seat was Jeonju.
His birth mother, Royal Consort Jeong, was the daughter of Hong Yeogyeom of the Namyang Hong clan.2 In 1580 (the 13th year of Seonjo's reign) she was invested as Sook-ui, a Senior Second Rank palace woman, and entered the palace.3 She later rose to the Senior First Rank of Bin, and died during the reign of Injo.4
Royal prince period
At the age of eight, in 1603 (the 36th year of Seonjo's reign), he was enfeoffed as Prince Gyeongchang (慶昌君).5 In 1608 (the accession year of Gwanghaegun), immediately after the purge of Yu Yeong-gyeong, he was registered as First Class of the Jeongun Wonjong Merit Subjects.6 At the age of 15, in 1610 (the 2nd year of Gwanghaegun), he held his wedding ceremony, which was presided over by Prince Jeongwon (later King Wonjong).6 Later, in the 11th lunar month of 1617 (the 9th year of Gwanghaegun), when a proposal to depose Queen Inmok, Seonjo's second queen, arose, he expressed support for her deposition.7
After Injo took the throne, in 1625 (the 3rd year of Injo), he took part as the chief attendant (主人) at the capping ceremony of Crown Prince Sohyeon on the 21st day of the 1st lunar month, and for this service he received one saddled horse (安具馬).8910 In 1628 (the 6th year of Injo) he requested punishment of Prince Inseong, who had been charged with plotting treason.11 In 1631 (the 9th year of Injo), however, he himself became the target of impeachment on grounds that he had caused abuses together with Yi Gwi and Kim Ja-jeom.12
On the 16th day of the 10th lunar month of 1632 (the 10th year of Injo), his son Prince Yangnyeong became entangled in a treason case after a memorial from Prince Hoeeun. At that time, Prince Yangnyeong had been adopted by Prince Gyeongchang's half-brother Prince Imhae (the elder brother of Gwanghaegun), and the accusation claimed that Prince Gyeongchang had secretly plotted treason on Prince Yangnyeong's behalf. A royal interrogation court was even convened, but when the treason accusation was proven false, Prince Gyeongchang was spared.13 Meanwhile, in 1636 (the 14th year of Injo), he bought up chopi fur14 at low prices and engaged in hoarding and price manipulation, which led to another impeachment by the Saheonbu. Injo, however, let the matter pass without any particular punishment.15
Death and descendants
He died on the 16th day of the 1st lunar month of 1644 (the 22nd year of Injo's reign) at the age of 49.16 His epitaph records that he died on the 17th day of the 1st month. Unlike many of his relatives who suffered political persecution during the reigns of Gwanghaegun and Injo, he was not politically victimized and enjoyed a long life. In 1871 (the 8th year of Gojong), on the 16th day of the 3rd lunar month, he received the posthumous name Hyohon (孝獻) from Gojong.
Prince Gyeongchang married a daughter of Jo Myeong-uk of the Changnyeong Jo clan, and had four sons and three daughters with her, and two sons and two daughters with secondary consorts. Lady Jo was graceful, but died in 1639 (the 17th year of Injo), five years before Prince Gyeongchang.1 Her eldest son, Prince Changwon, and second son, Prince Yangnyeong, were each adopted into the household of Prince Imhae, but both died young. Her third son, Prince Pyeongun, was adopted by Prince Sinseong and was appointed Sureunggwan in 1659 (the accession year of Hyeonjong).17 The fourth son was Prince Changseong. The eldest daughter married Yi Hugeol, the second daughter married Ryu Yeon, and the third daughter married Sim Yakha. Meanwhile, the two sons of his secondary consorts were Prince Changnim and Prince Changheung.2
In 1864 (the 1st year of Gojong), his descendants were respectively selected as adopted heirs of Prince Heungwan and Prince Yeongpyeong, and continued his line.1819
Family
- Father: King Seonjo (宣祖, 1552 – 1608, r. 1567 – 1608), the 14th king of Joseon
- Mother: Royal Consort Jeong of the Hong clan (貞嬪 洪氏, 1563 – 1638)
- Father-in-law: Magistrate (府使) posthumously Left State Councillor (贈 左議政) Jo Myeong-uk (曺明勗)
Notes
Explanatory notes
Reference notes
Footnotes