Deokheung Daewongun

Deokheung Daewongun (2 April 1530 – 14 June 1559; lit. 'Grand Internal Prince Deokheung'), known before as Prince Deokheung before becoming Daewongun, personal name Yi Cho  was a royal family member of the Joseon period and the first Daewongun in Korean. He was the second son of Jungjong of Joseon and Royal Noble Consort Chang of the Ansan An clan, also the biological father of Seonjo of Joseon.

Early life
The future Grand Internal Prince Deokheung was born on 2 April 1530 as the 9th son of Jungjong of Joseon and his second son with Royal Noble Consort Chang of the Ansan An clan, the daughter of An Tan-Dae who was the member of Uijeongbu. He was firstly named Yi Hwan-su and later was changed into Yi Cho. Then, on 1538 (33rd year reign of his father), he honoured as Prince Deokheung.

Marriage and later life
In 1542, the grandson of Jeong In-Ji, Jeong Se-Ho 's daughter, Lady of the Hadong Jeong clan (the future Hadong Budaebuin) went to his house in Dojeong Palace, Sajik-dong, Hanseong-bu and then they were married. Later, in March 1554, both of his house and his father in-law's house were impeached by some of Ministers, but his half younger brother, King Myeongjong defeated them. Deokheung and his wife had 3 sons and 1 daughter. He also had one concubine named Sun-Dan and with her, he had one daughter whom named Yi Hye-Ok.

Seonjo's ascension to the throne
During his lifetime, based on Myeongjong's Annals, he was criticized for being ignorant. In 1567, his third son, Yi Yeon, Prince Haseong succeeded Myeongjong who died without any royal heir as the 14th King of Joseon. Meanwhile, those servants who were negative about Myeongjong did not object to the success of Yi-Yeon and immediately agreed.

In 1 November 1569 (2nd year reign of his son), he and his wife, as the biological parents of the King were given royal title from Prince Deokheung become Grand Internal Prince Deokheung and from Princess Consort Hadong become Grand Internal Princess Consort Hadong. After that, the family shrine was established in Dojeong Palace and under the support from Jamjeo.

Deokheung later died on 14 June 1559 and was buried in San 5–13, Deoksong-ri, Byeolnae-myeon, Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea (Surak Mountain?).

Family
Consort and their respective issue(s):
 * Father: Jungjong of Joseon (16 April 1488 – 29 November 1544)
 * Grandfather: Seongjong of Joseon (19 August 1457 – 20 January 1494)
 * Grandmother: Queen Jeonghyeon of the Papyeong Yun clan (21 July 1462 – 13 September 1530)
 * Mother:
 * Biological: Royal Noble Consort Chang of the Ansan An clan (2 September 1499 – 7 November 1549)
 * Grandfather: Ahn Tan-Dae
 * Grandmother: Lady Hwang
 * Legal adoptive: Queen Janggyeong of the Papyeong Yun clan (10 August 1491 – 16 March 1515)
 * Grandfather: Yun Yeo-Pil, Internal Prince Pawon (1466–1555)
 * Grandmother: Grand Princess Consort Suncheon of the Suncheon Bak clan
 * Legal adoptive: Queen Munjeong of the Papyeong Yun clan (2 December 1501 – 5 May 1565)
 * Grandfather: Yun Ji-Im, Internal Prince Pasan (1475 – 14 April 1534)
 * Grandmother: Grand Princess Consort Jeonseong of the Jeonui Yi clan (1475–1511)
 * 1) Grand Internal Princess Consort Hadong of the Hadong Jeong clan (23 September 1522 – 24 June 1567)
 * 2) Yi Jeong, Prince Hawon (1545–1597)
 * 3) Yi Myeong-Sun (1548–?)
 * 4) Yi In, Prince Hareung (1546–1592)
 * 5) Yi Yeon, Prince Haseong (26 November 1552 – 16 March 1608)
 * 6) Sun-Dan
 * 7) Yi Hye-Ok (?–1599)

Others

 * After the death of Crown Prince Sunhoe, the only son of King Myeongjong, he decided to choose a successor for the throne and the chosen was among the sons of Deokheung Daewongun. Myeongjong also selected Han Yun-Myeong and Jeong Ji-Yeon  as the teachers for Deokheung's sons. In the other hand, Yun Won-hyeong  expected a successor from among his sons and forced him to marry his daughter with the son of Deokheung. At first, Deokheung accepted it, but Myeongjong objected and eventually collapsed.