For the 10th Korean monarch during the Goryeo Dynasty, see Jeongjong, 10th Monarch of Goryeo.

Jeongjong of Goryeo (923 – 13 April 949), personal name Wang Yo, was the third king of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea. He was the third son of King Taejo, the dynastic founder.

Reign

Jeongjong rose to the throne after his half-brother King Hyejong died, and set to reducing the power of various royal in-laws, including Wang Gyu and Pak Sul-hui. However, lacking the support of the Gaegyeong elites, he was unable to substantially strengthen the throne.

In 946, he spent 70,000 sacks of grain from the royal storehouses to support Buddhism in the country. In 947, he had the fortress of Pyongyang constructed as the country's Western Capital. He sought to move the capital from Gaegyeong to Pyongyang like his father had desired, as Jeongjong believed that in order to restore Goguryeo's old territories, the capital should be moved further north.[1] However, Jeongjong was not successful in his attempts due to opposition from the nobility based in Gaegyeong.[2]

Jeongjong became paranoid however that people inside the palace were conspiring to kill him and he then started to go insane. After four years of his reign, he died just after he signed a royal decree to make his brother, the fourth prince Wang So (known as Gwangjong), king instead of his son.

Monarchs of Korea
Goryeo
  1. Taejo 918–943
  2. Hyejong 943–945
  3. Jeongjong (定宗) 945–949
  4. Gwangjong 949–975
  5. Gyeongjong 975–981
  6. Seongjong 981–997
  7. Mokjong 997–1009
  8. Hyeonjong 1009–1031
  9. Deokjong 1031–1034
  10. Jeongjong (靖宗) 1034–1046
  11. Munjong 1046–1083
  12. Sunjong 1083
  13. Seonjong 1083–1094
  14. Heonjong 1094–1095
  15. Sukjong 1095–1105
  16. Yejong 1105–1122
  17. Injong 1122–1146
  18. Uijong 1146–1170
  19. Myeongjong 1170–1197
  20. Sinjong 1197–1204
  21. Huijong 1204–1211
  22. Gangjong 1211–1213
  23. Gojong 1213–1259
  24. Wonjong 1259–1274
  25. Chungnyeol 1274–1308
  26. Chungseon 1308–1313
  27. Chungsuk 1313–1330; 1332–1339
  28. Chunghye 1330–1332; 1339–1344
  29. Chungmok 1344–1348
  30. Chungjeong 1348–1351
  31. Gongmin 1351–1374
  32. U 1374–1388
  33. Chang 1388–1389
  34. Gongyang 1389–1392

Family

  1. Queen Mungong of the Suncheon Pak clan – No issue.
  2. Queen Munseong of the Suncheon Pak clan
    1. Prince Gyeongchunwon, 1st son
    2. Princess Wang (공주 왕씨), 2nd daughter
  3. Lady Cheongjunamwon of the Cheongju Kim clan – No issue.

In popular culture

See also

References

  1. ^ "고려 정종과 서경 천도". KBS World. November 15, 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  2. ^ "고려 정종과 서경 천도". KBS World. November 15, 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
Jeongjong, 3rd monarch of Goryeo
Born: 923 Died: 13 April 949
Regnal titles
Preceded by King of Goryeo
945–949 		Succeeded by