| Royal Consort Ik-Bi Han 익비 한씨 | |
|---|---|
| Royal consort ofGoryeo | |
| Tenure | 1366–1374 |
| Coronation | 1366 |
| Predecessor | Royal Consort Hye |
| Successor | Royal Consort Jeong |
| Born | 1340 Goryeo |
| Spouse | |
| Issue | a daughter (illegitimate) |
| House | House of Wang (by birth) Han clan (by marriage) |
| Father | Wang Ui, Prince Deokpung |
| Royal Consort Ik of the Wang(Han) clan | |
| Hangul | 익비 왕(한)씨 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Ikbi Wang(Han)ssi |
| McCune–Reischauer | Ikpi Wang(Han)ssi |
Royal Consort Ik of the Gaeseong Wang (Han) clan (Korean: 익비 왕씨 (한씨);Hanja: 益妃 王氏(韓氏); 1340 – ?) was the 4th wife of her eleventh cousin,King Gongmin of Goryeo as they were same descents fromKing Hyeonjong andQueen Wonhye.[1]
In October 1366 (15th year reign of Gongmin), he took Wang as his Queen Consort since he didn't have any issue from his first marriage.[2] Then, in December, she becameIk-Bi (익비;益妃) and was given the new surnameHan (한씨;韓氏).[3] Later in May 1367, along withConsort Ahn, they went to Gorari (고라리;高羅里) and watched Gyeoggu Game (격구놀).
However, in 1373 (21st year reign of King Gongmin), his first wife,Princess Noguk died which reportedly mentally unbalanced him. He then ordered members of theJajewi ('Noble Youth Guards'), an elite group of young and handsome men, to have sex with his consorts to impregnate them.[4] At this time,Gracious Consort Yi,Consort Yeom andConsort Ahn refused the order. Ik-Bi also refused it, but Gongmin threatened her with a sword so she was forced to have relationships with Han Ahn (한안), Hong Ryun (홍륜), Gwon Jin (권진), Hong Gwan (홍관) and No Seon (노선) under Gongmin's watch. After this, the men often went to her chamber at night under the pretext of fulfilling the King's order.[5] However, Yun Ga-gwan (윤가관) along with two other self-defense committee members disobeyed the King's command and became delinquents for a while.[6]
It is written in theLife of Hong Ryoun (Hong Ryun) that in 1374, the eunuch Choi Man-Seng (최만생) reported to King Gongmin that Consort Ik was in her fifth month of pregnancy. The King was greatly pleased by this, and asked who was the father. When he learned that it was Hong Ryun, he told the eunuch that he would now have to kill him and the entire group ofJajewi men in order to keep the secret of her baby's paternity.[7] Choi reported this to Hong's group and later, on 22 September, they assassinated Gongmin in his sleep. Hong was eventually assassinated byYi In-im (이인임) related forces and then Ik-Bi gave birth to their daughter on 1 October (lunar calendar).
In 1390 (2nd year reign ofKing Gongyang), the former consort (Ik-Bi) was given land by the king after she raised his youngest daughter,Princess Gyeonghwa at her own mansion.[citation needed]