Gojong of Korea
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Gojong, the Gwangmu Emperor (Korean hangul: 고종 광무제; hanja: 高宗光武帝; revised: Gojong Gwangmuje; McCune-Reischauer: Kojong Kwangmuje) (8 September 1852–21 January 1919) was the twenty-sixth king and first emperor of the Korean Joseon Dynasty.
Gojong took the throne in 1863 when he was still a child. His father, Regent Heungseon (Daewon-gun), ruled for him until Gojong reached adulthood and ruled the country directly. It was during Daeweon-gun's reign that the main palace at Gyeongbokgung was restored as the seat of the royalty.
Following the invasion of Korea by Chinese, Japanese, and Russian forces during the Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895) and Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905), and the subsequent Japanese victories in both wars, Gojong was pressured to accept pro-Japanese advisors to the royal court by the Meiji Emperor of Japan. His domestic and foreign policies, however, proved to be successful in the face of the Japanese threat. Gojong used Russian and Chinese interests in Korea to defend Korea from Japanese domination. His domestic policies were also successful in industrializing Korea.
Gojong proclaimed the Korean Empire in 1897 in order to defend Korea against Japanese aggression. Following the Protectorate Treaty of 1905 between Korea and Japan, which stripped Korea of its rights as an independent nation, he sent representatives to the Hague Peace Convention of 1907 in order to tell the world of the crimes of Japanese imperialism in Korea. Although the Korean representatives were blocked by the Japanese delegates, they did not give up, and later held interviews with newspapers. As a result, an enraged Meiji forced Gojong to abdicate in favour of Gojong's son, Sunjong.
Children
- Yi Seon (Wan-hwa Gun or Wan Chinwang), first son with his partner, Lady Yeong-bo, (16 April 1868–12 January 1880)
- Yi Cheok (Hwang Tae-ja), fourth son with his first wife, Empress Myeongseong. He was married to Miss Min, a daughter of Min Tae-ho – a leader of the Yeoheung-Min clan – known posthumously as Empress Sunmyeong; however, she died before her husband's enthronement. Cheok married again Miss Yun, a daughter of Yun Taek-yeong, who became known as the Empress Sunjeong.
- Yi Gang (Ui-hwa Gun or Ui Chinwang), fifth son with his partner, Lady Jang, (30 March 1877–August 1955); He married Kim Su-deok, who became Princess Duk-in; a daughter of Kim Sa-jun.
- Yi Eun (Yeong Chinwang), seventh son with his second wife, Princess Consort Sunheon, (20 October 1897–1 May 1970), (see Crown Prince Eun); He married Princess Masako Nashimoto of Japan, a daughter of Prince Morimasa Nashimoto of Japan.
- Yi U, ninth son with his partner, Lady Bohyeon; unfortunately, he died in infancy.
- Princess Deokhye (Deokhye Ongju), fourth daughter with his partner, Lady Bongnyeong, (25 May 1912–11 April 1989); she married Count Takeyuki Sou, a Japanese nobleman of Tsushima.
Titles
- Lord Yi Myeong-bok (Jaehwang) (李命福 이명복 I Myeong-bok), the second son of Prince Heungseon, a great-great-grandson of Yeongjo (1852–1863)
- His Majesty King Gojong of Korea (1863–1897)
- His Imperial Majesty Emperor Gwangmu of Korea (大韓帝國光武太皇帝陛下 dae han je guk gwang mu tae hwang je pye ha) (1897–1907)
- His Imperial Majesty the ex-Emperor of Korea (大韓帝國太皇帝陛下 dae han je guk tae hwang je pye ha) (1907–1910), after his abdication by force of Japanese government
- * His Majesty the ex-King Yi of Korea (德壽宮李太王殿下 deok su gung i tae wang jeon ha) (1910–1919), a demoted title by the Japanese government on the annexation of Korea
His full posthumous name
- His Imperial Majesty Emperor Gojong Tongcheon Yungwun Jogeuk Donyun Jeongseong Gwangeui Myeonggong Daedeok Yojun Sunhwi Umo Tanggyeong Eungmyeong Ripgi Jihwa Sinryeol Oehun Hongeop Gyegi Sunryeok Geonhaeng Gonjeong Yeongeui Honghyu Sugang Munheon Mujang Inik Jeonghyo of Korea (대한제국고종통천융운조극돈윤정성광의명공대덕요준순휘우모탕경응명립기지화신렬외훈홍업계기선력건행곤정영의홍휴수강문헌무장인익정효황제폐하)(大韓帝國高宗統天隆運肇極敦倫正聖光義明功大德堯峻舜徽禹謨湯敬應命立紀至化神烈巍勳洪業啓基宣曆乾行坤定英毅弘休壽康文憲武章仁翼貞孝皇帝陛下)
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