Crown Prince Sado (13 February 1735 - 12 July 1762) was born as the second son of the Korean King Yeongjo of Joseon, as well as being born the royal heir as a result of the early and youthful death of his older brother, Prince Hyojang, in 1728; however, Sado was not given an opportunity to reign and was executed by starvation. History indicates Sado suffered from mental illness; accused of randomly killing people in the palace and being a serial rapist. By court rules King Yeongjo could not kill his son by his own hands. As a result, Yeongjo, with the consent of Sados mother, Lady Yi, issued a royal decree that ordered Sado climb into and be sealed within a large wooden rice chest on a hot July day in 1762. After eight days, Sado died of suffocation. During the 19th century, there were rumors that Prince Sado had not been mentally ill, but had been framed; however, these rumors are contradicted by his wife, Lady Hyegyeong, in The Memoirs of Lady Hyegyeong. Sados death remains an issue of debate as to whether his death was a retribution for his actual misconduct or if he was the victim of a conspiracy by his political opponents. Crown Prince Sado was buried on Mt BaebongSan in Yangju. In 1789, his body was moved by his son King Jeongjo, to its current location, then called Hyeollyungwon near Suwon, 30 kilometers south of Seoul. Hwaseong Fortress, as it is now known, was built from 1794-1796 by King Jeongjo, specifically to memorialize and honor his fathers tomb.[2] In 1816, Lady Hyegyeong died and was buried with her husband. In 1899, Prince Sado and Lady Hyegyeong were posthumously elevated in status and given the titles Emperor Yangjo and Empress Heonyeong. Their tomb was upgraded accordingly and renamed Yungneung.
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 05:03:39 +0000
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