I U (Hae Soo) and Lee Joon Gi (Wang So / Emperor Gwangjong)
WANG MU
(912 – 23 October 945)
(33 years)
KING HYEJONG
2ND MONARCH OF GORYEO
(Reign: 943 – 945)
(2 years)
Hyejong (Wang Mu) was the second king of Goryeo. He was preceded by King Taejo (Wang Geon) and succeeded by King Jeongjong (Wang Yo).
EARLY LIFE
Hyejong was born to King Taejo and his second wife, Janghwa of the Oh clan. She was the daughter of the Magistrate of Naju, Oh Daryeon.
Taejo met and married her while serving in Naju as a general of Taebong under Gung Ye.
In 921, Hyejong was proclaimed Crown Prince with the support of General Bak Sul-Hui.
Almost immediately after being named Crown Prince, Hyejong followed his father Taejo into battle against Later Baekje and played a major role in numerous victories.
(* 9 years old (?) according to Wikipedia) |
HOW DID WANG MU BECOME
THE CROWN PRINCE?
It is known that Taejo consolidated his power by marrying women from more than 30 families. He had begun doing so even before he became the king.
POLITICAL MARRIAGES
Taejo had been making political marriages for 20 years. Those marriages were a double-edged sword. They were useful in helping him to consolidate power but it caused conflicts among his numerous relatives who constantly vied for power.
Those fighting for power were divided into 2 main camps: the economically powerful merchant families (low rank) and the politically powerful aristocratic families (high rank).
MERCHANT FAMILIES
His marriages with the daughters of merchants secured him the support of those who traded with Japan and China. He gave them protection to do their trade uninterrupted by the conflicts. But, merchants were low in rank.
THE LANDED ARISTOCRACY
As Wang Geon became more successful, he married women from the landed aristocracy. And as his power increased, he married women from the higher classes.
POWER STRUGGLES
The old merchant families feared that they would be pushed out of power. They put pressure on Taejo (Wang Geon) to decide on a suitable heir from among them. Taejo postponed the decision for some time. Finally, Hyejong (Wang Mu), whose mother was from the politically marginalised Oh clan, was designated as the Crown Prince.
The top aristocratic families were against the appointment. But, Taejo had the support of Bak Sul Hui, an aristocrat who compelled the other aristocrats into accepting Hyejong as Taejo’s successor.
The aristocrats were waiting for the right moment to strike. They were waiting to revolt after Taejo’s death. However, those who were rebellious were sent to Pyongyang where they were kept out of Gaeseong.
Taejo arranged marriages for Hyejong with women from different backgrounds.
When Taejo died, it was a chaotic time when both groups struggled for power.
|
HYEJONG’S TWO-YEAR REIGN
(943 - 945)
In 943, Hyejong (Wang Mu) ascended the throne upon his father’s death. Hyejong’s two year reign was marked by conspiracy and power struggles among his relatives.
Hyejong had been trained for 20 years to succeed his father. He had impressed people with his intelligence and martial arts abilities.
Although Hyejong was capable, his social background was unacceptable to some quarters of Goryeo society. The nobility’s acceptance of Hyejong was only a façade as they could not make peace with his low birth.
CONSPIRACIES AGAINST HYEJONG
1. Prince Wang Yo (Jeongjong) and
Prince Wang So (Gwangjong)
Soon after Hyejong ascended the throne, his father-in-law, Wang Gyu, warned him of the conspiracy of his half-brothers, Wang Yo and Wang So, to remove him. Both were born of a blue-blooded mother, Taejo’s third consort, Queen Sinmyeongsunseong from the Yoo family, who possessed considerable political influence.
Wang Gyu urged Hyejong to act against the princes but he did nothing to stop their conspiracies.
2. Wang Gyu
When Hyejong refused to take action against the two princes, Wang Gyu plotted to put his grandson on the throne
Hyejong fell sick and shut himself up. Wang Yo and Wang So’s uncle brought in his army and there was a clash resulting in bloodshed.
Wang Yo and Wang So emerged as the biggest winners in the conflict.
DEATH
Hyejong died at the age of 33 in 945, during the second year of his reign. His death could have been caused by stress and disease but he could have been murdered.
He was succeeded by his brother, Wang Yo or Jeongjong, the 3rd King of Goryeo.
|
|
