DAEWON-GUN

The 'Daewon-gun', or formally 'Heungseon Heonui Daewon-wang' also known to the western diplomats as 'Prince Kung', (1820–1898) was the title of 'Yi Ha-eung', who was the regent of Joseon during much of the later 19th century. ''Daewon-gun'' literally translates as "prince of the great court", a title customarily granted to the father of the reigning monarch when that father did not reign himself. While there have been three other Daewon-gun in Joseon Dynasty, so dominant a place did Lee Ha-eung have in the history of the late Joseon dynasty that the term Daewon-gun usually refers specifically to him.
The Daewon-gun was the father of the penultimate Joseon monarch Gojong, and for many years during Gojong's minority, and even afterward, he effectively wielded royal power.
He was engaged in recurrent power struggles with Empress Myeongseong, the wife of the king. She had him sent into exile in 1882, but he returned four years later and was able briefly to regain power in 1895 with Japanese aid.
In 1908, he was raised to the rank of Imperial Prince by his grandson, Emperor Sunjong, with the title of ''Heungseon Heoneu Daewon-wang''.

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See also

See also

★ History of Korea

★ Rulers of Korea

★ List of Korea-related topics