Hyojong of Joseon
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| Hyojong of Joseon | |
|---|---|
| Hangul: | 효종 |
| Hanja: | 孝宗 |
| Revised Romanization: | Hyojong |
| McCune-Reischauer: | Hyojong |
| Birth name | |
| Hangul: | 이호 |
| Hanja: | 李淏 |
| Revised Romanization: | Yi Ho |
| McCune-Reischauer: | Yi Ho |
King Hyojong (1619-1659) was the seventeenth king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea from 1649-1659. He is best known for his plan for invading China and his campaigns against the Russian Empire by the request of Qing Dynasty. His plan for the northern invasion was never put into action since he died before the campaign started.
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[edit] Birth and Background
King Hyojong was born in 1619 as the second son of King Injo, while his father was still a prince. In 1623, when the Westerners faction (西人) launched the coup that removed then-ruling Gwanghaegun and crowned Injo, Hyojong was called to the palace along with his father and given the title Bongrimdaegun (Grand Prince Bongrim) in 1626.
[edit] Captive of the Qing Dynasty
In 1627, King Injo's hard-line diplomatic policy brought war between Korea and Manchus. Later, in 1636, Manchus (Qing Dynasty) defeated the Koreans and King Injo pledged his loyalty to the Qing emperor at Samjeondo, bowing down at Hong Taiji's feet eight times. There Injo and Hong Taiji signed a treaty, which included that Manchus would take Crown Prince Sohyeon, Injo's oldest son, and Hyojong to China as captive.
During his exile in China, Hyojong mostly tried to defend his older brother from the threats of Qing Dynasty. Hong Taici and his Manchu forces were still at war against the Chinese Ming Dynasty and also engaged in battle with Mongols and Chinese Muslims; and many times Qing emperor requested Prince Sohyeon to go to the battlefield and help commanding troops against Manchus' enemies. However, Hyojong was worried about his brother, since he was the official heir to the throne of Joseon Dynasty and he had no military experience. He went on to fight the Chinese in his brother's place, and he also followed Sohyeon to battles against Uyghurs and Muslims on western front.
Along with his brother, he made contact with Europeans while he was in China; and also he learned that Joseon needed to develop new technology and a stronger political and military system in order to protect itself from foreign powers. He also developed a grudge against Qing Dynasty which separated him from his home country and his family. It was during this period that he decided to make a massive plan for northern campaigns against Manchus, an act of vengeance on China for the war of 1636.
[edit] Enthronement
In 1645, Crown Prince Sohyeon returned to Korea alone, in order to succeed Injo to the throne and to help Injo to govern the nation. However, he often came into conflict with Injo, who disliked Soheyon's open view of European culture and diplomatic views of the Qing Dynasty. Soon he was found dead at King's room, and buried quickly after a short funeral. Injo also executed Sohyeon's wife who tried to find out the real reason for her husband's death. Legends say that Injo killed his own son with an ink slab which he brought from China.
The incident made Hyojong, the next-in-line, the new crown prince, and he was called back to Korea. When King Injo died in 1649, Hyojong inherited the throne, becoming the 17th monarch of Joseon Dynasty.
[edit] Northern campaigns
After coming to the throne, he began to reform and expand the military of Korea; first he removed Kim Ja-jeom from office, who had corrupted politics and had greater power than the king himself; he called Song Si Yeol and Kim Sang-heon to his court, who supported war against the Qing Dynasty. His military expansion was massive, and he also build several border fortresses along Yalu River where Joseon and Qing shared a border. When a band of Dutch sailors including Hendrick Hamel drifted on Jeju Island, Hyojong ordered them to build muskets for the army, providing muskets to the Koreans for the first time after Seven Year War.
However, the Qing Dynasty continued to thrive, expanding quickly into west after successfully conquering China in 1644, after putting an end to the Ming Dynasty. The campaign was unable to be put in action, since the Manchus assimilated the massive Chinese army into their own and the Korean military, although reformed and expanded, was no match against Chinese forces. Also the Qing Dynasty began to treat Joseon as its friend and closest ally, not as an enemy anymore.
The expanded military was first put into action in 1654, when the Qing Dynasty called for help to fight against invading Russians. 150 Korean musketeers, along with 3,000 Manchus, met Russian army at the Battle of Hutong, which was won by Manchu-Korean allied forces. Four years later, Hyojong sent troops once again to help Qing Dynasty against Russia; 260 Korean musketeers and cannoners sent to fight against Russians under command of Stepanov. Manchu-Korean forces met Russians at the Battle of Amur River, killing 270 Russians and driving them out of Manchu territory. The battles against Russia proved that Hyojong's reform had stabilized the Korean army, although they were never put into action again. Despite the campaigns, Russia and the Joseon Dynasty remained on good terms.
[edit] Other Accomplishments
During his reign, many books about farming were published to promote agriculture, which had been devastated during the Seven Year War. Hyojong also continued Gwanghaegun's reconstructions; he had a hard time restoring the economy at the same time as expanding the military. He also had to make more coins with metals which could have been used to make ammunitions, but had to give up them in order to rebuild his kingdom. He had too much stress dealing with numerous problems inside and outside of the country, and died at the early age of 41 in 1659. Although his plan for northern conquest was never put in action, many people regard him as brilliant and brave ruler who dedicated his life for his nation.
[edit] See also
| Preceded by Injo |
Emperor of Korea (Joseon Dynasty) 1649–1659 |
Succeeded by Hyeonjong |
