Cho (1809–1890)

views updated

Cho (1809–1890)

Queen dowager and regent of Korea. Name variations: Lady Cho. Born Jan 21, 1809; died at the Ghagyong-jon, Kyongbok Palace, June 4, 1890, in Seoul, Korea; dau. of H.E. Cho Man-yong, Prince P'ungyang; m. Crown Prince Hyomong (b. 1809), 1817 (died 1830), posthumously raised to the rank of king as Ik-jong; children: Prince Yi Hwan (b. 1827) who came to the throne as Hon-jong or Honjong, 24th king of the Chosun dynasty (r. 1834–49).

Powerful Queen Dowager of Chosun who, on the death of King Sun-jo (1834), was raised to the rank of Great Queen Regent for her son Honjong (he died in 1849); made Senior Great Queen Regent (1857), during the reignof Chol-jong; following Chol-jong's death, adopted Kwang-mu to be the son of her late husband and served as his regent (Jan 16, 1864-Mar 29, 1866); purged the Western faction from power during her reign.