Taejong of Joseon

Taejong (Korean: 태종; Hanja: 太宗; 16 May 1367 – 10 May 1422), personal name Yi Pangwŏn (이방원; 李芳遠), was the third monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea and the father of Sejong the Great. He was the fifth son of King Taejo, the founder of the dynasty. Before ascending to the throne, he was known as Grand Prince Jeongan (정안군; 靖安君).

Born in 1367 as the fifth son of Yi Sŏnggye and his first wife Lady Han, Yi Pangwŏn qualified as an official in 1382. He studied under Confucian scholars such as Wŏn Ch'ŏnsŏk. During his early years, he assisted his father in gathering the support of the commoners and of many influential figures in the government; Yi Pangwŏn also helped in the founding of Joseon by assassinating powerful officials who remained loyal to Goryeo, most prominently Chŏng Mong-ju.

After contributing heavily to the overthrowing of the previous dynasty and the establishment of Joseon, he expected to be appointed as successor to the throne. However, his father and Chief State Councillor Chŏng Tojŏn favored Taejo's eighth son and Yi Pangwŏn's youngest half-brother (second son of Queen Sindeok), Yi Pangsŏk. This conflict arose chiefly because Chŏng Tojŏn, as the principal architect of the ideological, institutional and legal foundations of the new dynasty, saw Joseon as a kingdom led by its ministers by virtue of the king's appointment. In contrast, Yi Pangwŏn sought direct rule through an absolute monarchy. These differences ultimately contributed to an environment of deep political tension.

King Taejo, possibly motivated by fondness for his second wife, had selected his youngest son by that wife, Grand Prince Ŭian, as his heir apparent. Chŏngan, frustrated that he and the other sons of Taejo's first wife had been passed over, began moving to eliminate his half-brothers from the line of succession. After Taejo fell ill, Chŏngan launched the First Strife of the Princes [ko], in which he had both children of Taejo's second wife, including the crown prince, murdered. He then declared his older brother and Taejo's second son, Grand Prince Yŏngan, crown prince. In the 9th month, Taejo abdicated the throne in favor of Yŏngan, who became King Jeongjong (r. 1398–1400). As Jeongjong did not have any sons, he intended to pass the throne onto Chŏngan after his death. However, in the 2nd month of 1400, their brother Grand Prince Hoean attempted to seize the throne in the Second Strife of the Princes [ko]. The coup was suppressed. Soon afterwards, Jeongjong abdicated the throne in favor of Yŏngan, who became King Taejong (r. 1400–1418).

One of Taejong's first acts as king was to abolish the privilege to maintain private armies which was enjoyed by the aristocracy and the upper echelons of the government. His revoking of the right to keep independent forces effectively severed the upper class' ability to muster large-scale revolts, and drastically increased the number of soldiers employed by the national army.

Taejong's next act was to revise the existing legislation concerning land taxation. With the discovery of previously hidden land, national wealth increased twofold.

In addition, Taejong created a strong central government. In 1400, before taking the throne, he had played a key role in eradicating the Dopyeong Assembly [ko], a branch of the old administration that had monopolized the executive power during the waning years of Goryeo, in favor of the Privy Council; during Taejong's reign, the Privy Council was replaced by the State Council. Taejong also issued a decree according to which all decisions passed by the State Council could only come into effect with the approval of the king. This ended the custom of court ministers making decisions through debate and negotiations among themselves, and thus brought the royal authority to new heights.

Shortly thereafter, Taejong installed a new department known as the Sinmun Office, to hear cases in which aggrieved subjects felt that they had been exploited or treated unjustly by officials or aristocrats.