Hyejong of Goryeo　惠宗　 (r. 943–945) was the second monarch

Monarch

A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...

 of the Goryeo

Goryeo

The Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which came to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...

 dynasty of Korea

Korea

Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...

. He was preceded by Emperor Taejo

Taejo of Goryeo

Taejo of Goryeo was the founder of the Goryeo Dynasty, which ruled Korea from the 10th to the 14th century. Taejo ruled from 918 to 943.-Background:...

 and succeeded by Jeongjong I of Goryeo

Jeongjong I of Goryeo

Jeonjong of Goryeo was the third monarch of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea. He was the second son of Emperor Taejo, the founder of the kingdom, and was born more than a decade before Goryeo was formally established...

.

Early life

Hyejong was born to Emperor Taejo

Taejo of Goryeo

Taejo of Goryeo was the founder of the Goryeo Dynasty, which ruled Korea from the 10th to the 14th century. Taejo ruled from 918 to 943.-Background:...

 and his second wife, Queen Janghwa, whom he married while serving in Na-Ju as a general of Later Goguryeo under Gung Ye

Gung Ye

Gung Ye was the king of the short-lived Hugoguryeo on the Korean peninsula. Although he was a member of the Silla royal family, he became a victim of the power struggle among the royal family members during the late 9th century...

. Hyejong lacked strong political support as his mother’s family was politically insignificant and had little power. In 921, Hyejong was proclaimed Crown Prince and Royal Successor with support from 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. In 943, Hyejong rose to the throne upon his father’s death.

Reign

Hyejong’s reign was marked with conspiracy and power struggles among Taejo’s sons. The first of these conspiracies was led by Princes Wang Yo

Jeongjong I of Goryeo

Jeonjong of Goryeo was the third monarch of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea. He was the second son of Emperor Taejo, the founder of the kingdom, and was born more than a decade before Goryeo was formally established...

 and Wang So

Gwangjong of Goryeo

Gwangjong was the fourth emperor of Goryeo.Goryeo met the time of change by ascending of Gwangjong. At his early stage as ruler, he maintained a passive attitude to nobles. However, he became more and more drastic. Choi Seung-Ro said that his regime can be divided into three parts. First is the...

, sons of Taejo and his third consort, Queen Sinmyeongsunseong of the Chungju

Chungju

Chungju is a city in North Chungcheong province, South Korea. Namsan is a mountain located on the outskirts of the city.The city is famous for the annual martial arts festival held in October. Also of note, UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon grew up here....

 Yu clan, which possessed considerable political influence. Upon realizing the conspiracy by the two princes, Wang Gyu warned Hyejong of the conspiracy, but plotted to put his grandson on the throne when Hyejong did nothing to stop the conspiracy of the two princes.

Death

Under a lot of stress, Hyejong died in 945, during the second year of his reign. Hyejong's death was said to have been caused by disease, but many historians have come to the conclusion that he may have died at the hands of his half-brothers So and Yo due to the fact that Prince Yo rose to the throne through election by the scholar-officials and not through Hyejong's will.

Family

• Father: Emperor Taejo
  Taejo of Goryeo
  Taejo of Goryeo was the founder of the Goryeo Dynasty, which ruled Korea from the 10th to the 14th century. Taejo ruled from 918 to 943.-Background:...
  
  
• Mother: Empress Janghhwa
• Consorts:

1. Empress Euihwa
2. Lady Later Gwangjuwon
3. Lady Chengjuwon
4. Court Lady Lee Ae-Joo
   • Children:
5. Prince Heunghwa
6. Lady Gyeonghwaone
7. Princess Jeongheon
8. Crown Prince Je
9. Lady Myeonghye