Queen Hyojeong

Queen Hyojeong was born on 6 March 1831 into the Namyang Hong clan to Hong Jae-ryeong and Lady Yeonchang of the Juksan Ahn clan. After the first young queen consort, Queen Hyohyeon, had died, Lady Hong became Queen Consort of Joseon when she married King Heonjong in 1844, but her husband died in 1849 at the age of 22; leaving no heirs and making her Queen Dowager of Joseon at the age of 26. This led to a distant relative, Cheoljong of Joseon, to take the throne, but then the king also died in 1864 leaving the throne empty. The Heungseon Daewongun then approached the Queen Shinjeong, Cheoljong's cousin, as he was a distant relative of King Injo and the adoptive son of Prince Eunsin. The Heungseon Daewongun was ineligible to throne due to a law that dictated that any possible heir to the kingdom be part of the generation after the most recent incumbent of the throne, but his second son Yi Myeong-bok, was a possible successor to the throne. On 21 January 1864, Yi Myeong-bok was enthroned as King Gojong.

It was said that, to appease her own boredom as the king's wife, Queen Hyojeong had worked with Queen Cheorin to take care of the younger court ladies in the palace. Supposedly, Cheon Il-cheong (Hangul: 천일청, Hanja: 千一淸) was the last court maid in the Joseon Dynasty.[1]

Her mother was given the royal title of "Lady Yeonchang, Princess Consort to the Internal Prince" (Hangul: 연창부부인, Hanja: 延昌府夫人 竹山 安氏), and her father was given the royal title of "Internal Prince Ikpeong" (Hangul: 익풍부원군, Hanja: 益豊府院君).

Her tomb, Gyeongneung, is located in Donggureung, in the city of Guri, Gyeonggi Province, and is buried with her husband, Heonjong, and his first wife, Queen Hyohyeon.

• 6 March 1831 - 1844:

1. Lady Hong

2. Daughter of Hong Jae-ryeong

• 1844 - 25 July 1849:

1. Her Majesty, Queen Consort of Joseon

• 25 July 1849 - 1857:

1. Her Majesty, Queen Mother of Joseon

• 1857 - 13 October 1897:

1. Her Majesty, Queen Dowager of Joseon

• 13 October 1897 - 2 January 1904:

1. Her Majesty, Empress Dowager of Joseon

• Empress Dowager Myeongheon (posthumous title)

• Great-Grandfather
  • Hong Byeong-chae (홍병채, 洪秉寀)
• Grandfather
  • Hong Gi-seob (홍기섭, 洪耆燮) (1781 - 1866)
• Grandmother
  • Lady Jang of the Deoksu Jang clan (본관: 덕수 장씨, 德水 張氏) (1781 - 1824)
• Father
  • Hong Jae-ryeong (홍재룡, 洪在龍) (1794 - 1863)
• Mother
  • Lady Yeonchang of the Juksan Ahn clan (연창부부인 죽산 안씨, 延昌府夫人 竹山 安氏) (1814 - 1883)
    • Maternal Grandfather: Ahn Gwang-jik (안광직, 安光直) (1775 - 1861)
    • Maternal Grandmother: Lady Yun of the Munhwa Yun clan (증 정경부인 문화 유씨, 贈 貞敬夫人 文化 柳氏) (1777 - 1840); Ahn Gwang-jik's second wife
• Sister
  • Younger sister: Lady Hong (홍씨, 洪氏)
• Brothers
  • Younger brother: Hong Jong-seok (홍종석, 洪鍾奭) (1834 - 1870)
  • Younger brother: Hong Jong-seon (홍종선, 洪鍾譱) (1854 - ?)
• Husband
  • King Heonjeong of Joseon (8 September 1827 - 25 July 1849)[2]
    • Mother-in-law: Queen Shinjeong of the Pungyang Jo clan (신정익황후 조씨) (1808 - 1890)
    • Father-in-law: Crown Prince Hyomyeong (문조익황제) (1809 - 1830)
      • Adoptive brother-in-law: Emperor Gojong (고종태황제) (1852 - 1919)
      • Adoptive sister-in-law: Empress Myeongseong of the Yeoheung Min clan (명성태황후 민씨) (1851 - 1895)
        • Adoptive nephew: Emperor Sunjong (순종 효황제) (1874 - 1926)

A folding screen which was depicted all the pomp and ceremony of a royal wedding of Heonjong of Joseon and Queen Hyojeong

• 효정왕후 (in Korean). Doosan Encyclopedia.