Danjong of Joseon

Danjong of Joseon (9 August 1441 – 24 December 1457, reigned 1452–1455) was the sixth king of the Joseon Dynasty. He was forced to abdicate by his uncle, who became Sejo of Joseon, and exiled to Yeongwol County, where he was later put to death and his remains are buried.

The day after his birth, his mother, Queen Hyeondeok (1418 ~ 1441), died in childbirth.

King Danjong succeeded his father, Munjong of Joseon, at the age of 12. Since he was too young to rule, the government of the kingdom fell to the premier, Hwangbo In, and his vice-premier, General Kim Jong-seo, with his sister, Princess Gyeonghye acting as his guardian.

In 1453, this government was overthrown in a coup led by the king's uncle, Sejo of Joseon, who persuaded a number of scholars and officials who had served in the court of Sejong the Great to support his claim to the throne. Hwangbo In and Kim Jong-seo were seized and murdered in front of the gate of Gyeongbokgung; in 1455 Danjong was forced to abdicate and exiled to Yeongwol County.

The following year, six officials of the court attempted to restore him to power, but their plot was discovered and they were immediately executed. Perceiving that he would present a continuing threat to his rule, Sejo then accepted the advice of the court and ordered that Danjong be disposed of. In 1457, he was put to death at his place of exile.

Danjong had been stripped of his title at the time he was exiled, and was afterwards referred to as "Prince Nosan" (노산군). In the reign of King Sukjong, scholars at his court proposed that his title be restored, and in 1698, the demoted Prince Nosan was posthumously restored, receiving the posthumous name of "Danjong", and thereafter was referred to as King Danjong.

• Father: King Munjong of Joseon (15 November 1414 – 1 June 1452) (조선 문종)
  • Grandfather: King Sejong of Joseon (15 May 1397 – 8 April 1450) (세종)
  • Grandmother: Queen Soheon of the Cheongsong Shim clan (12 October 1395 – 19 April 1446) (소헌왕후 심씨)
• Mother: Queen Hyeondeok of the Andong Kwon clan (17 April 1418 – 10 August 1441) (현덕왕후 권씨)
  • Grandfather: Kwon Jeon (1371 – 18 November 1441) (권전)
  • Grandmother: Lady Choi of the Haeju Choi clan (? – 1456) (해주 최씨)
• Sister: Princess Gyeonghye (1436 – 30 December 1473) (경혜공주)
• Consorts and their Respective Issue(s):

1. Queen Jeongsun of the Yeosan Song clan (1440 – 7 July 1521) (정순왕후 송씨)
2. Consort Suk-Ui of the Sangsan Kim clan (1440 – February 1525) (숙의 김씨)
3. Consort Suk-Ui of the Andong Kwon clan (? – 1519) (숙의 권씨)

• King Danjong Gongeui Onmun Sunjeong Anjang Gyungsun Donhyo the Great of Korea
• 단종공의온문순정안장경순돈효대왕
• 端宗恭懿溫文純定安莊景順敦孝大王

• Portrayed by Lee Min-woo in the 1983 MBC TV series 500 Years of Joseon: Tree with Deep roots.
• Portrayed by Jung Tae-woo in the 1998-2000 KBS TV series King and Queen.
• Portrayed by Noh Tae-yeob in the 2011 KBS2 TV series The Princess' Man.
• Portrayed by Chae Sang-woo in the 2011 JTBC TV series Insu, The Queen Mother and the 2013 film The Face Reader.
• Portrayed by Choi Dong-ah in the 2016 KBS1 TV series Jang Yeong-sil.