Grand Prince Yangnyeong was a Joseon Dynasty politician and prince.
Background
The Grand Prince, first-born son of King Taejong of the Joseon Dynasty and his consort Queen Wonkyeong, elder brother of Sejong the Great, and ancestor of Syngman Rhee, Korean independence activist and first President of South of Korea. He was born as Yi Je (李褆 in Hanja, 이제 in Hangul) in 1394.
Career
Known for his literature and calligraphy skills, he viewed himself as lacking in the requisite skills for kingship and believed that Sejong was destined to become king. Considering it his duty to make Sejong king, he purposely acted extremely rude in the court, lost his position as a prince, married a peasant and was eventually officially banished from Seoul in June 1418. This plot ultimately brought Sejong to the throne.
Later, Yangnyeong became a wandering traveler and lived in the mountains.
After Sejong has taken the throne, the relationship between the brothers was strong, and Sejong often invited Yangnyeong to the palace. Yangnyeong lived as a wanderer and died in 1462, almost living for 68 years.
Father: King Taejong (태종)
Mother: Queen Wongyeong of the Yeoheung Minister clan (원경왕후 민씨)
Consorts and their Respective Issue:
Lady Sooseong, Princess Consort, of the Gwangsan Kim clan (수성군부인 김씨)
Yi Gae, the Prince Soonseong (이개 순성군), 1st Son
Yi Po, the Prince Hamyang (이포 함양군), 2nd Son
Yi Hye, the Prince Seosan (이혜 서산군), 3rd Son
Princess Jeon-ui (전의군주), 1st Daughter. Later married Lee Ja (이자), created Jidonnyeong (지돈녕)
Unnamed 2nd Daughter.
Later married Lee Beon (이번), created Jungchubusa (중추부사)
Princess Yeongpyeong (영평군주), 3rd Daughter.
Later married Kim Cheol-goo (김철구)
Unnamed 4th Daughter, later married Park Soo-jong (박수종)
Unknown woman
Yi Gyeom (이겸)
Yi Heun, Duck of Jangpyung (이흔)
Yi Seong (이성)
Yi Soon (이순)
Yi Shim (이심)
Yi Gwang-seok (이광석)
Yi Gwang-geun (이광근)
Unknown woman
Unnamed Daughter, later married Lee Jong-gyeong (이종경)
Unknown woman
Unnamed 1st Daughter, later married Kim Am (김암)
Unnamed 2nd Daughter, later married Kim Seung-gan (김승간)
Unnamed 3rd Daughter, later married Kim Oh (김오)
Unnamed 5th Daughter, later married Han Chi-yeong (한치형)
Unknown slave
Unnamed 1st Daughter, later married Kwon Chi-jung (권치중)
Princess Yi Goo-ji (현주 이구지), 2nd Daughter. Later married Kwon Deok-yeong (권덕영)
Unknown woman
Unnamed 1st Daughter, later married Seok-beon (석번), clan unknown
Unnamed 2nd Daughter, later married Kim Ui (김의)
Unnamed 3rd Daughter, later married Im June (임중)
Princess Yi Geon-yi (현주 이건이), 4th Daughter
Today, his descendants form one of the biggest clans of the House of Yi. In addition, it is believed that the plaque on the Namdaemun was personally written by him.
He was an ancestor of Syngman Rhee, Korean independence activist and the first South Korean president