Lady Mishil

Lady Mishil of Silla (hanja: ; c. 546/548 - c. 612) is a historical figure in the Korean dynasty of Silla.

According to the Hwarang Segi, an ancient historical record of the hwarang of Silla, Mishil was the daughter of Lord Mijinbu and Lady Myodo and sister of Queen Mother Sado, the consort of Jinheung of Silla. Her paternal grandmother was Princess Samyeop, daughter of King Beopheung. Due to her lineage, Mishil became a jingol (hanja: ), a collateral noble within the bone rank system. She is a disputed figure among historians, as she is not mentioned in two surviving ancient histories: the Samguk Sagi, the oldest extant chronicle of ancient Korean history, and the Samgungnyusa, a collection of legends, folktales, and historical accounts relating to the Three Kingdoms of Korea.

She rose to power as a result of her relationships with prominent rulers, kings of Silla, and various pungwoljus (hanja: senior hwarangs). She was the wife of Lord Sejong (the sixth Pungwolju), the lover of General Seolwon (the seventh pungwolju) and the older sister of Lord Misaeng (the tenth Pungwolju). She was concubine to three successive Silla kings: King Jinheung, King Jinji, and King Jinpyeong. Legend states that she was in love with Crown Prince Dongnyeon. Her sons became the 11th and 16th pungwoljus, Bojong (through Seolwon) and Hajong (through Sejong), respectively.

Lady Mishil demonstrated her influence when she persuaded several noblemen to remove King Jinji. Her claim was that he had stolen the throne from King Jinheung's true chosen successor, Prince Baekjeong (later King Jinpyeong), the son of Jinheung's eldest son, Dongryeon. Jinji's removal resulted in the installation of his nephew, King Jinpyeong, to the throne. Ironically, Jinji's own grandson, Kim Chunchu, would later succeed to the throne as King Muyeol.

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