Myeongjong of Goryeo
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| Myeongjong of Goryeo | |
|---|---|
| Hangul: | 명종 |
| Hanja: | 明宗 |
| Revised Romanization: | Myeongjong |
| McCune-Reischauer: | MyÅngjong |
| Birth name | |
| Hangul: | 왕호 |
| Hanja: | 王晧 |
| Revised Romanization: | Wang Ho |
| McCune-Reischauer: | Wang Ho |
King Myeongjong (1131-1202, r. 1170–1197) was monarch of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea. He was the third son of Emperor Injong.
Although it was intended that Injong's second son should succeed his father*, he was assassinated because Jeong Jung-bu feared that he might become a threat to him in the future. Myeongjong was a weak emperor, and was merely on the throne to show the general populace they still had an emperor, as the true rulers were the military leaders. His reign saw constant bloodshed as well as the deaths of the rebels Chung Jung-bu, Yi Ui-Bang, and Yi Ui-Min (not related to Yi Ui-Bang) but also the hero, Kyung Dae-Seung (Kyung was in fact the most loyal of the military leaders. Yet Myeongjong hated and mistrusted him because of his popularity with the populace).
After twenty-seven years on the throne, he was sent into exile by the military ruler of the time, Choe Chung-heon, and Injong's fifth son, Emperor Sinjong, was placed on the throne.
*It was said that when Injong was choosing an heir, he preferred his second son for his keen insight and wisdom; however, his older brother came to power, and banished him out of jeolousy.
