Queen Heonae

The future Queen Heonae was born in 964 as the 2nd (formally oldest) daughter of Wang Uk[3] and Lady Ryu.[4] She had three older brothers and one younger sister who would eventually became the biological mother of King Hyeonjong of Goryeo.[5] Since their parent were all died young, she and her siblings were all raised by their paternal grandmother, Queen Sinjeong. By then, for married their half first cousin, she and her younger sister then followed Queen Sinjeong's Hwangbo clan (Korean: 황보; Hanja: 皇甫).

Along with her younger sister, they then entered King Gyeongjong's palace not long after his ascension and she became his queen consort. Shortly after this, she became pregnant and Gyeongjong was said to be very happy at this time. Although he had several queens, but he had no heirs, so it was a concern and at the same time as she became pregnant, she became his favorite one. Finally, she gave birth into their oldest son (Wang Song), which made the King more delighted.

In 981, the King died and her older brother, Wang Chi (better known as Seongjong of Goryeo) then succeeded her husband in the throne over her son who was still 2 years old at that time,[5] the Queen then stayed outside the palace after leaving the palace. King Seongjong, who tried to make Confucianism became the state religion, emphasized purity and chastity to two of his younger sisters. Later on, Seongjong who had no son, honoured his nephew, Wang Song as "Prince Gaeryeong" (개령군) and took him to the palace, also raised him like his own son. Prince Gaeryeong then ascended the throne after his maternal uncle's death and made his mother became his regent. She then stayed in "Cheonchu Palace" (천추궁, 千秋宮) which she later known as Queen Mother Cheonchu (천추태후, 千秋太后).

When her son, Mokjong of Goryeo became King in 997, she became Regent. However, she contracted a marriage of consent with Kim Chi-yang, and gave birth to a Kim Chi-yang's son. Kim Chi-yang conspired to set his son on the throne.[6]

When Kim Chi-yang burned the Manwoldae, royal palace, to the ground, threatening to kill the King and take over, King Mokjong called General Gang Jo to the capital city of Kaesong. General Gang Jo immediately executed Kim Chi-Yang and his supporters.

Then, the scholar officials, enemies of Gang Jo, spread rumors and lies that the general was planning to take over the government for himself. These rumors reached the King, and he planned to kill Gang Jo. Gang Jo heard of the conspiracy and doubts of the King, and ordered his army to attack and kill all of his enemies, including the king. After assassinating King Mokjong, General Gang placed King Hyeonjong of Goryeo on the throne. Queen Cheonchu was exiled to Hwangju.

In the end, a coup occurred to her, which made Gim and their son lost their lives, also King Mokjong who was dethroned and exiled along with the Queen Mother. Meanwhile, Mokjong got assassinated by his subordinates in Jeokseong-myeon, Paju-si on the way to Chungju, their detention site. As a result, the Queen Mother was completely overthrown from Goryeo politics in 1009 and Gang Jo with others appointed her nephew, Wang Sun as the new King succeeded her son.

Sooner, she was released from exile and lived in Hwangju for 21 years, then returned to the royal palace on King Hyeonjong's 20th year reign (1029). Not long after this, she then died at 66 years old in her chamber, "Sungdeok Palace" (숭덕궁), Gaegyeong.[7] Beside that, there was a theory said that she didn't get back to the palace and instead died in "Myeongbok Palace" while lived in Hwangju. After her death, she then buried in Yureung tomb (유릉, 幽陵).[8]