Prince Deokheung

Deokheung Daewongun (; 2 April 1530 – 14 June 1559; ), known before as Prince Deokheung before becoming Daewongun, personal name Yi Cho was a royal family member of the Joseon period and the first Daewongun in Korean. He was the second son of Jungjong of Joseon and Royal Noble Consort Chang of the Ansan An clan, also the biological father of Seonjo of Joseon.

Biography Early life The future Grand Internal Prince Deokheung was born on 2 April 1530 as the 9th son of Jungjong of Joseon and his second son with Royal Noble Consort Chang of the Ansan An clan, the daughter of An Tan-Dae who was the member of Uijeongbu . He was firstly named Yi Hwan-su and later was changed into Yi Cho . Then, on 1538 (33rd year reign of his father), he honoured as Prince Deokheung .

Marriage and later life In 1542, the grandson of Jeong In-Ji , Jeong Se-Ho 's daughter, Lady of the Hadong Jeong clan (the future Hadong Budaebuin) went to his house in Dojeong Palace, Sajik-dong, Hanseong-bu and then they were married. Later, in March 1554, both of his house and his father in-law's house were impeached by some of Ministers, but his half younger brother, King Myeongjong defeated them. Deokheung and his wife had 3 sons and 1 daughter. He also had one concubine named Sun-Dan and with her, he had one daughter whom named Yi Hye-Ok .

Seonjo's ascension to the throne During his lifetime, based on Myeongjong's Annals, he was criticized for being ignorant. In 1567, his third son, Yi Yeon, Prince Haseong succeeded Myeongjong who died without any royal heir as the 14th King of Joseon.

Family Father: Jungjong of Joseon (; 16 April 1488 – 29 November 1544) Grandfather: Seongjong of Joseon (; 19 August 1457 – 20 January 1494) Grandmother: Queen Jeonghyeon of the Papyeong Yun clan (; 21 July 1462 – 13 September 1530) Mother: Biological: Concubine Chang of the Ansan An clan (; 2 September 1499 – 7 November 1549) Grandfather: Ahn Tan-Dae Grandmother: Lady Hwang Legal: Queen Munjeong of the Papyeong Yun clan (; 2 December 1501 – 5 May 1565) Grandfather: Yun Ji-Im, Internal Prince Pasan (; 1475 – 14 April 1534) Grandmother: Internal Princess Consort Jeonseong of the Jeonui Yi clan (; 1475–1511) Consort(s) and their respective issue Grand Internal Princess Consort Hadong of the Hadong Jeong clan (; 23 September 1522 – 24 June 1567) Yi Jeong, Prince Hawon (; 1545–1597) Yi Myeong-sun (; 1548–?) Yi In, Prince Hareung (; 1546–1592) Yi Yeon, Prince Haseong (; 26 November 1552 – 16 March 1608) Sun-dan Yi Hye-ok (?–1599)

Others After the death of Crown Prince Sunhoe, the only son of King Myeongjong, he decided to choose a successor for the throne and the chosen was among the sons of Deokheung Daewongun. Myeongjong also selected Han Yun-Myeong and Jeong Ji-Yeon as the teachers for Deokheung's sons. In the other hand, Yun Wŏnhyŏng expected a successor from among his sons and forced him to marry his daughter with the son of Deokheung. At first, Deokheung accepted it, but Myeongjong objected and eventually collapsed.