Consort Yeong
| Royal Noble Consort Yeong of the Lee Clan 영빈 이씨 |
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|---|---|
| Royal Noble Consort | |
| Born | 15 August 1696 Kingdom of Joseon |
| Died | 23 August 1764 (aged 78) Changgyeong Palace, Hanseong |
| Spouse | Yeongjo of Joseon |
| Issue | Princess Hwapyeong Princess Hwahyeop Crown Prince Sado Princess Hwawan |
| Clan | Jeonui Lee 전의 이씨 |
| Father | Lee Yupen |
| Mother | Lady Jeongyeong |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | |
|---|---|
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Yeongbin Issi |
| McCune–Reischauer | Yŏngpin Issi |
Royal Noble Consort Yeong of the Jeonui Lee clan, alternatively known as Lady Seonhui, was consort to Yeongjo of Joseon and the mother of Crown Prince Sado. She is most well-known for advising Yeongjo to execute their son, as the latter suffered serious mental disorders.
Consort Yeong gave birth to the heir apparent in 1735. Crown Prince Sado was not the first male child to be born to Yeongjo, but the death of Crown Prince Hyojang nearly seven years earlier, meant that the court was particularly pleased to welcome another son. Yeongjo ordered Sado to be brought up in a palace quite far from the main residence, so Consort Yeong did not personally oversee his upbringing. The ladies-in-waiting in charge of looking after the prince apparently slighted Consort Yeong frequently, as they considered her to be of common birth.
Consort Yeong's daughter-in-law records that she was affectionate toward her children, but very strict and taught them, "as if she were not their mother." However, she tended to her children personally when they fell ill. When Lady Hyegyeong entered the court to marry Crown Prince Sado, Consort Yeong treated her as one of her own children, despite the fact that Lady Hyegyeong was expected to address Yeongjo's primary wife, Queen Jeongseong, as her mother-in-law. In 1748, Princess Hwapyeong died in childbirth and Consort Yeong is recorded as having grieved excessively.
After the death of his primary wife, Yeongjo married his second queen in 1759. Consort Yeong supported his decision to remarry and assisted in preparing the state celebrations.
Consort Yeong was aware that Yeongjo disliked the crown prince, an issue that Queen Jeongseong discussed frequently with her. She was also aware that Sado suffered serious mental illness and that he was killing ladies-in-waiting and eunuchs, as Lady Hyegyeong went to her for advice after Sado's first murder in 1757. Though initially Consort Yeong wanted to talk to Sado, Lady Hyegyeong persuaded her not to, as she feared the consequences if Sado found out she had spoken to his mother. In 1760, the crown prince lost his temper at a birthday celebration and cursed at his mother and children. When Sado began to threaten Princess Hwawan to gain more personal freedoms, Consort Yeong attended their meetings, as she feared for her daughter's safety. During one meeting in 1760, she witness Sado threaten to, "slash Princess Hwawan with [his] sword."
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Wikipedia