Princess Gyeongjeong

Princess Gyeongjeong (慶貞公主, 1387 – 29 June 1455 (6th day of the 6th lunar month)) was a princess of Joseon, the second daughter and second legitimate daughter of Taejong. Her mother was Queen Wongyeong.

Life

Birth and marriage

She was born the second daughter of Yi Seong-gye's fifth son, Yi Bang-won (Taejong), and his wife, Lady Min (Queen Wongyeong). No record remains of when she was born.

As a princess

In 1401 (the 1st year of Taejong's reign), she was enfeoffed as Princess Gyeongjeong (慶貞公主). The Veritable Records also record her as Princess Jeonggyeong (貞慶公主).

In September 1403 (the 3rd year of Taejong's reign), she married Jo Daerim (趙大臨), Pyeongyang-gun (平壤君), son of Jo Jun, a founding meritorious subject, and afterward they had one son and four daughters. At the time of the marriage, Jo Daerim had been in mourning for his mother for only four months, but because the Ming court was about to demand a marriage with a princess, Taejong hurriedly arranged the wedding.¹

In 1408 (the 8th year of Taejong's reign), her husband Jo Daerim was falsely accused by Mok Inhae of plotting treason and received 64 strokes of the rod.² After Jo Daerim's innocence was proven, Mok Inhae was sentenced to execution by dismemberment.

In 1418 (the 18th year of Taejong's reign), the Crown Prince (Grand Prince Yangnyeong) took a liking to Eoli (於里), a gisaeng who was the concubine of Gwak Seon, and secretly brought her into the palace, and he was expelled by Taejong for this. Afterward, when Eoli became pregnant and gave birth to the Crown Prince's child, Princess Gyeongjeong found a wet nurse and sent her to the Crown Prince's household.