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Yi Chagyŏm
Yi Chagyŏm (died on 19 January 1127) was a politician, soldier, regent, and poet in twelfth-century Goryeo. Born into a noble family, Yi rose to power through strategic marriages and political maneuvering, becoming a pivotal figure in the royal court. His career was marked by ambitious political schemes and alliances, including marriages of his daughters to kings, which further consolidated his authority. Goryeosa, where notable traitors throughout Goryeo history are cataloged, dedicates a biography to Yi's service and corruption in the royal court.
At the height of his power, Yi Cha-gyŏm wielded significant influence and raised private armies. His corruption and arrogance strained relations with the king, and climaxed in disturbances which saw the main royal palace building set ablaze, though Yi emerged victorious against the king with the help of the powerful military general, Ch'ŏk Chun-gyŏng. Yet, Yi's repeated attempts to poison the king widened the rift with Ch'ŏk, eventually resulting in Ch'ŏk's betrayal and Yi's capture and exile. Yi died in exile in Yeonggwang.
Yi Cha-gyŏm was born in Kaegyŏng, the grandson of Yi Cha-yŏn, who was the father-in-law of Munjong, and the son of Yi Ho. Yi Cha-gyŏm, being related to the king, entered court service through Eumseo (Korean: 음서; Hanja: 蔭敍), a pathway reserved for nobles that exempted them from the civil service examination. Yi Cha-gyŏm's father, Yi Ho, solidified his family ties to royalty by marrying his second daughter to Sunjong of Goryeo. Just by virtue of being a brother of a queen consort, Yi Cha-gyŏm was appointed to high office. But Sunjong died within three years of ascending to the throne, and Yi soon after lost office as a result of Yi Cha-gyŏm's sister, the queen consort, being found having an inappropriate romantic relationship with a slave after the king's death.
After the impeachment, Yi struggled to re-enter government for a while until he married his second daughter to Yejong of Goryeo (r. 1105–1122) in 1107. The union was Yejong's effort to appease the court officials who protested his military campaign against the Jurchens, since Yi Cha-gyŏm's father-in-law, Ch'oe Sa-chu, wielded significance political influence in Goryeo and Yi's brother-in-law, Kim In-jon, was a prominent figure in Goryeo's court and vehemently against the war with the Jurchens. In 1109, Yi Cha-gyŏm's daughter bore a son, who would later ascend as Goryeo's 17th monarch, Injong of Goryeo (r. 1122–1146).
In 1122, after Yejong died of cancer, Yi Cha-gyŏm installed his young grandson as the next king of Goryeo. Subsequently, Yi Cha-gyŏm enjoyed near-absolute power as the regent over the young king, eliminating political rivals, including former allies who opposed enthroning his own grandson and unsuccessfully conspired to usurp the throne and oust Yi. In 1122, Yi bestowed upon himself the title of Duke of Hanyang (한양공; 漢陽公) and in 1124, discontented with his title, he elevated himself to the Duke of Joseon (조선국공; 朝鮮國公).
Yi's already considerable power expanded significantly after marrying his two daughters to Injong, which fueled his descent into corruption. His sons built mansions side by side in Goryeo's capital, and Yi established for himself a court office (숭덕부; 崇德府) traditionally reserved for princes or the queen, thereby positioning himself as equivalent to the crown prince or queen. Corruption and bribery pervaded Goryeo's capital. One day, Yi Cha-gyŏm dispatched a private envoy to the Song dynasty, seeking appointment as the king's regent (지군국사; 知軍國事), without consulting Injong. Later, Yi demanded ex post facto that Injong recognize him as such. Enraged, Injong refused and resolved to remove Yi Cha-gyŏm from power.
In 1126, several of Injong's trusted advisers devised a plan to eliminate Yi Cha-gyŏm. With Injong's consent, they intended to enlist support from military generals who harbored animosity toward Ch'ŏk Chun-gyŏng, a close ally and relative of Yi. Injong dispatched one of his eunuchs to seek counsel from Kim In-jon. Although Kim In-jon agreed in principle to eliminating Yi, he cautioned that it would be challenging due to Ch'ŏk's influence in the military. Nevertheless, Injong remained determined and ordered Yi's removal. Yi became aware of the covert plot and gathered his allies to seek a resolution, but their efforts proved futile, knowing that any retaliatory action would constitute a coup d'etat.
On February 25, 1126, Injong's forces stormed the palace and killed Ch'ŏk Chun-sin, Ch'ŏk's younger brother, and Ch'ŏk Sun, Ch'ŏk's son. Their bodies were left scattered outside the palace. Unaware of these casualties, Ch'ŏk led some 300 Buddhist warrior monks. Ch'ŏk broke the padlock on the first palace gate and entered, shouting at the palace guards to surrender. The guards retreated further, locking themselves behind the inner gate and avoiding engagement.
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Yi Chagyŏm
Yi Chagyŏm (died on 19 January 1127) was a politician, soldier, regent, and poet in twelfth-century Goryeo. Born into a noble family, Yi rose to power through strategic marriages and political maneuvering, becoming a pivotal figure in the royal court. His career was marked by ambitious political schemes and alliances, including marriages of his daughters to kings, which further consolidated his authority. Goryeosa, where notable traitors throughout Goryeo history are cataloged, dedicates a biography to Yi's service and corruption in the royal court.
At the height of his power, Yi Cha-gyŏm wielded significant influence and raised private armies. His corruption and arrogance strained relations with the king, and climaxed in disturbances which saw the main royal palace building set ablaze, though Yi emerged victorious against the king with the help of the powerful military general, Ch'ŏk Chun-gyŏng. Yet, Yi's repeated attempts to poison the king widened the rift with Ch'ŏk, eventually resulting in Ch'ŏk's betrayal and Yi's capture and exile. Yi died in exile in Yeonggwang.
Yi Cha-gyŏm was born in Kaegyŏng, the grandson of Yi Cha-yŏn, who was the father-in-law of Munjong, and the son of Yi Ho. Yi Cha-gyŏm, being related to the king, entered court service through Eumseo (Korean: 음서; Hanja: 蔭敍), a pathway reserved for nobles that exempted them from the civil service examination. Yi Cha-gyŏm's father, Yi Ho, solidified his family ties to royalty by marrying his second daughter to Sunjong of Goryeo. Just by virtue of being a brother of a queen consort, Yi Cha-gyŏm was appointed to high office. But Sunjong died within three years of ascending to the throne, and Yi soon after lost office as a result of Yi Cha-gyŏm's sister, the queen consort, being found having an inappropriate romantic relationship with a slave after the king's death.
After the impeachment, Yi struggled to re-enter government for a while until he married his second daughter to Yejong of Goryeo (r. 1105–1122) in 1107. The union was Yejong's effort to appease the court officials who protested his military campaign against the Jurchens, since Yi Cha-gyŏm's father-in-law, Ch'oe Sa-chu, wielded significance political influence in Goryeo and Yi's brother-in-law, Kim In-jon, was a prominent figure in Goryeo's court and vehemently against the war with the Jurchens. In 1109, Yi Cha-gyŏm's daughter bore a son, who would later ascend as Goryeo's 17th monarch, Injong of Goryeo (r. 1122–1146).
In 1122, after Yejong died of cancer, Yi Cha-gyŏm installed his young grandson as the next king of Goryeo. Subsequently, Yi Cha-gyŏm enjoyed near-absolute power as the regent over the young king, eliminating political rivals, including former allies who opposed enthroning his own grandson and unsuccessfully conspired to usurp the throne and oust Yi. In 1122, Yi bestowed upon himself the title of Duke of Hanyang (한양공; 漢陽公) and in 1124, discontented with his title, he elevated himself to the Duke of Joseon (조선국공; 朝鮮國公).
Yi's already considerable power expanded significantly after marrying his two daughters to Injong, which fueled his descent into corruption. His sons built mansions side by side in Goryeo's capital, and Yi established for himself a court office (숭덕부; 崇德府) traditionally reserved for princes or the queen, thereby positioning himself as equivalent to the crown prince or queen. Corruption and bribery pervaded Goryeo's capital. One day, Yi Cha-gyŏm dispatched a private envoy to the Song dynasty, seeking appointment as the king's regent (지군국사; 知軍國事), without consulting Injong. Later, Yi demanded ex post facto that Injong recognize him as such. Enraged, Injong refused and resolved to remove Yi Cha-gyŏm from power.
In 1126, several of Injong's trusted advisers devised a plan to eliminate Yi Cha-gyŏm. With Injong's consent, they intended to enlist support from military generals who harbored animosity toward Ch'ŏk Chun-gyŏng, a close ally and relative of Yi. Injong dispatched one of his eunuchs to seek counsel from Kim In-jon. Although Kim In-jon agreed in principle to eliminating Yi, he cautioned that it would be challenging due to Ch'ŏk's influence in the military. Nevertheless, Injong remained determined and ordered Yi's removal. Yi became aware of the covert plot and gathered his allies to seek a resolution, but their efforts proved futile, knowing that any retaliatory action would constitute a coup d'etat.
On February 25, 1126, Injong's forces stormed the palace and killed Ch'ŏk Chun-sin, Ch'ŏk's younger brother, and Ch'ŏk Sun, Ch'ŏk's son. Their bodies were left scattered outside the palace. Unaware of these casualties, Ch'ŏk led some 300 Buddhist warrior monks. Ch'ŏk broke the padlock on the first palace gate and entered, shouting at the palace guards to surrender. The guards retreated further, locking themselves behind the inner gate and avoiding engagement.