Gojong of Goryeo
Gojong of Goryeo (3 February 1192 – 21 July 1259), sometimes spelled Ko-tjong, was the twenty-third ruler of Goryeo in present-day Korea from 1213–1259. Gojong's reign was marked by prolonged conflict with the Mongol Empire, which sought to conquer Goryeo, ending only to settle peace in 1259. During his reign actual power rested with the Choe family of military dictators.
| Gojong of Goryeo 고려 고종 高麗 高宗 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crown Prince of Goryeo | |||||||||
| Reign | 1212–1213 | ||||||||
| Coronation | 1212 | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Deposed Crown Prince Wang Ji | ||||||||
| Successor | Crown Prince Wang Jeon | ||||||||
| King of Goryeo | |||||||||
| Reign | 1213–1259 | ||||||||
| Coronation | 1213 Gang'an Hall, Gaegyeong | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Gangjong of Goryeo | ||||||||
| Successor | Wonjong of Goryeo | ||||||||
| Born | Wang Jil 3 February 1192 Gaegyeong, Kingdom of Goryeo | ||||||||
| Died | 21 July 1259 (aged 67) Yu-Gyeong's house, Ganghwa-gun, Kingdom of Goryeo | ||||||||
| Burial | |||||||||
| Spouse | |||||||||
| Issue | Wonjong of Goryeo Yeongjong of Goryeo Princess Suheung | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| House | House of Wang | ||||||||
| Father | Gangjong of Goryeo | ||||||||
| Mother | Queen Wondeok | ||||||||
| Religion | Buddhism | ||||||||
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | |
|---|---|
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Gojong |
| McCune–Reischauer | Kojong |
| Birth name | |
| Hangul | |
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Wang Jil, later Wang Cheol |
| McCune–Reischauer | Wang Ch'il, later Wang Ch'ŏl |
| Courtesy name | |
| Hangul | |
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Daemyeong or Cheonu |
| McCune–Reischauer | T'aemy'ŏng or Ch'ŏn'u |
| Posthumous name | |
| Hangul | |
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Anhyo Daewang |
| McCune–Reischauer | Anh'yo Taewang |
Biography
Although ascending to the throne in 1213, Gojong did not wield much power until powerful advisors were killed off. In 1216, the Khitan invaded but was defeated. In August 1232, Gojong moved the capital of Goryeo from Songdo to the island of Ganghwa and started the construction of significant defenses there, in order to better defend from the Mongol threat. Gojong resisted the Mongol invasion for nearly thirty years before the kingdom was forced to make peace with the Mongols in 1259; Gojong died soon after.
In 1251, the carving of the Tripitaka Koreana, a collection of Buddhist scriptures recorded on some 81,000 wooden blocks, was completed. The work was perhaps motivated by Gojong's hopes to change fortunes through the act of religious devotion; however the originals were later destroyed by the Mongols — the existing Tripitaka is a replica of Gojong's original, and was commissioned around one hundred years after the originals were lost.
Gojong was married to Queen Anhye, daughter of Huijong, the twenty-first king of Goryeo. His tomb is located near the city of Incheon.
Family
- Father: Gangjong of Goryeo (고려 강종)
- Grandfather: Myeongjong of Goryeo (고려 명종)
- Grandmother: Queen Uijeong (의정왕후)
- Mother: Queen Wondeok (원덕왕후)
- Grandfather: Wang-Seong, Marquess Sinan (왕성 신안후)
- Grandmother: Princess Changrak (창락궁주)
- Consorts and their Respective issue(s):
- Queen Anhye of the Yu clan (안혜왕후 유씨; d. 1232); second cousin.
- Crown Prince Wang Sik (태자 왕식)
- Wang Chang, Duke Angyeong (왕창 안경공)
- Princess Suheung (수흥궁주)
- Unknown
- Princess Wang (왕녀 왕씨)
In popular culture
- Portrayed by Oh Hyeon-cheol in the 2003-2004 KBS TV series Age of Warriors.
- Portrayed by Lee Seung-hyo in the 2012 MBC TV series God of War.
