She has been spoken of as a tragic figure among the women of the Later Goryeo dynasty.[1]
Biography
Marriage and palace life
In October 1366 (15th year reign of Gongmin), he took Ahn as his Queen Consort as he didn't have any issue from his first marriage. Then, in December, she became Jeongbi (정비; 定妃).[2]
At this time, Lady Ahn's father, Ahn Geuk-in (안극인) who was a comrade-in-chief, suggested that King Gongmin suspend the construction of Princess Noguk's Yeongjeon (영전; 影殿), but Ahn Geuk-in was removed from the office. After her re-entry to the Palace, the King continued to commit misdeeds,[3] such as ordering her to have sex with some of the young men from Jajewi (자제위; 子弟衛), although she adamantly refused.[citation needed] In May 1367, she and Consort Han went to Gorari (고라리; 高羅里) and watched Gyeoggu Game (격구놀).
In October 1372 (21st year of King Gongmin), he ordered some young and handsome men from the Self-Defense Committee, Han Ahn (한안) and Hong Ryun (홍륜), to have sex with his concubines so that they would become pregnant and Gongmin could claim the son as his. Eventually, Lady Ahn, Royal Consort Ik-Bi and others couldn't refuse his order and actually became pregnant.[citation needed] In 1374, King Gongmin was assassinated and King U ascended the throne.
During King U's reign
Lady Ahn went out from the Palace and became a nun. Then, King U made her younger brother, Ahn Suk-ro (안숙로)'s[4] daughter his consort with the title Hyeon-Bi (현비; 賢妃).[5] Even after King Gongmin's death, the court under King U's command still respected all of the late King Gongmin's widowed consorts and continued to provide their daily necessities until it was stopped in 1388. The new King also gave "Jahye Mansion" (자혜부; 慈惠府) as Ahn's palace to live.
After King U's ascension to the throne, it was said that U always taunted and harassed the Dowager Consort Ahn by saying:
"Among my consorts, How can they have no one like you, Mother?" "나의 후궁들은 어찌 모씨(母氏)와 같은 이가 없는가?"
He often visited her mansion two or three times a day, sometimes going there again at night. Because of this, there was a rumor that Ahn was harassed by King U for attempted rape and strange rumors circulated. One day, while King U went to her palace again, Lady Ahn fell ill and didn't comb her hair, so they cancelled their meeting and he instead met with her niece. Seeing this, people said:
"The Dowager Consort is trying to hide herself because she is in fear of ridicule from others." "정비가 남의 비웃음을 두려워하여 스스로 감추려 하는 것이다."
Besides this, there was an interpretation that King U, who was an orphan with no one to depend on, craved maternal love from his stepmother, Consort Ahn.
During King Chang and King Gongyang's reign
In 1388, Yi Seong-gye (이성계) deposed King U from his position and as the oldest member in the palace, Ahn agreed to choose the new candidate to succeed him, King Chang.[citation needed]
One year later, Yi and Jeong Mong-ju (정몽주) deposed King Chang[6] and forced her to crown King Gongyang as the new one. So she then dethroned King Chang and proclaimed a letter stating that King Gongyang was crowned.[7] Under King Gongyang's command, Ahn then moved to "Gyeongsin Hall" (경신전; 敬愼殿) and was honoured as Royal Grand Consort Jeongsuk-seonmyeong-gyeongsin-ikseong-yuhye (정숙선명경신익성유혜왕대비; 貞淑宣明敬信翼成柔惠王大妃).
In 1392, Yi and his allies forced King Gongyang's dethronement and threatened Ahn by forcing her with a memorandum to allow the establishment of a new dynasty and handed over the national seal to him.[8] As a result, the Goryeo period fell after almost 475 years and the new Joseon was established.
Later life, death and funeral
Lady Ahn lived a long life through the late Goryeo and early Joseon periods. Joseon was established by Yi Seong-gye. Later, on 7 August 1392 (4th year reign of King Taejo), she was honoured as Princess Uihwa (의화궁주; 義和宮主)[9] which she was commonly known as during the Joseon dynasty. Later, on 14 May 1428 (1th year reign of King Sejong), she died, 36 years after Goryeo's abolishment.[10]
In Joseon Sillok, it was recorded that Ahn was prone to drink alcohol after being christened as "Princess Uihwa" and she also spent most of her later life drinking after the fall of Goryeo dynasty.[11] 6 days after her death, King Sejong prayed and took care of her funeral with the old system and used the Queen consort's rites manners (including dressing her like the real queen). But, her tomb's location is unknown as there were no records about it.
Ancestry
Ancestors of Royal Consort Jeongbi An
An Han-pyeong 안한평
An Sa-gyeong 안사경
An Geuk-in, Prince Jukseong 안극인 죽성군
Royal Consort Jeong-Bi An 정비 안씨
Yi Im-jong 이임종
Lady, of the Gari Yi clan 부인 가리 이씨
Family
Father - Ahn Geuk-in, Prince Jukseong (안극인 죽성군; 安克人 竹城君; 1296–1383)
Mother - Lady Yi of the Gari Yi clan (가리 이씨; 嘉利 李氏; 1296–?)
