Gojong of Korea

Template:Koreanname Gojong, the Emperor Gwangmu (광무제 光武帝 gwang mu je) (8 September 1852–21 January 1919) was the twenty-sixth king and first emperor of the Korean Joseon Dynasty.

Gojong took the throne in 1863 when he was still a child. His father, Regent Heungseon (Daewon-gun), ruled for him until Gojong reached adulthood and ruled the country directly. It was during Daeweon-gun's reign that the main palace at Gyeongbokgung was restored as the seat of the royalty.

Following the invasion of Korea by Chinese, Japanese, and Russian forces during the Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895) and Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905), and the subsequent Japanese victories in both wars, Gojong was pressured to accept pro-Japanese advisors to the royal court by the Meiji Emperor of Japan. His domestic and foreign policies, however, proved to be successful in the face of the Japanese threat, mostly because they were cleverly directed by his brilliant wife, Queen Min, officially known as Empress Myeongseong. Myeongseong used Russian and Chinese interests in Korea to defend her country from Japanese domination. Her domestic policies were also successful in industrializing Korea. However, due to the shift in the balance of power, the Japanese assassinated her and effectively ended any chance of Korea's remaining independent.

Gojong continued his late wife's policies to the end of his reign. He proclaimed the Korean Empire in 1897 in order to defend Korea against Japanese aggression. Following the Protectorate Treaty of 1905 between Korea and Japan, which stripped Korea of its rights as an independent nation, he sent representatives to the Hague Peace Convention of 1907 in order to tell the world of the crimes of Japanese imperialism in Korea. Although the Korean representatives were blocked by the Japanese delegates, they did not give up, and later held interviews with newspapers. As a result, an enraged Meiji forced Gojong to abdicate in favour of Gojong's son, Sunjong.

Children

Prince Seon (Wan-hwa Gun or Wan Chinwang), first son with his partner, Lady Yeong-bo, (16 April 1868–12 January 1880)
Crown Prince Cheok (Hwang Tae-ja), fourth son with his first wife, Empress Myungsung, (March 25 1874–April 24 1926), (see Emperor Yunghui); He was married to Miss Min, a daughter of Min Tae-ho – a leader of the Yeoheung-Min clan – known posthumously as Empress Sunmyeong; however, she died before her husband's enthronement. Cheok married again Miss Yun, a daughter of Yun Taek-yeong, who became known as the Empress Sunjeong.
Prince Gang (Eui-hwa Gun or Eui Chinwang), fifth son with his partner, Lady Jang, (30 March 1877–August 1955); He married Kim Su-deok, who became Princess Duk-in; a daughter of Kim Sa-jun.
Prince Eun (Yeong Chinwang), seventh son with his second wife, Princess Consort Sunheon, (20 October 1897–1 May 1970), (see Crown Prince Eun); He married Princess Masako Nashimoto of Japan, a daughter of Prince Morimasa Nashimoto of Japan.
Prince Yuk, eighth son with his partner, Lady Gwang-hwa (1906–1908)
Prince Wu, ninth son with his partner, Lady Bohyun; unfortunately, he died in infancy.
Princess Dukhye (Dukhye Ong-ju), fourth daughter with his partner, Lady Bok-nyung, (25 May 1912–11 April 1989); she married Count Takeyuki Sou, a Japanese nobleman of Tsushima.

Titles

Lord Yi Myeongbok (Jaehwang) (李命福 이명복 i myeong bok), the second son of Prince Heungseon, a great-great-grandson of Yeongjo (1852–1863)
His Majesty King Gojong of Korea (1863–1897)
His Imperial Majesty Emperor Gwangmu of Korea (大韓帝國光武太皇帝陛下 dae han je guk gwang mu tae hwang je pye ha) (1897–1907)
His Imperial Majesty the ex-Emperor of Korea (大韓帝國太皇帝陛下 dae han je guk tae hwang je pye ha) (1907–1910), after his abdication by force of Japanese government
- His Maejsty the ex-King Yi of Korea (德壽宮李太王殿下 deok su gung i tae wang jeon ha) (1910–1919), a demoted title by the Japanese government on the annexation of Korea

His full posthumous name

His Imperial Majesty Emperor Gojong-Tongcheon-Yungwun-Jogeuk-Donyun-Jeongseong-Gwangeui-Myeonggong-Daedeok-Yojun-Sunhwi-Umo-Tanggyeong-Eungmyeong-Ripgi-Jihwa-Sinryeol-Oehun-Hongeop-Gyegi-Sunryeok-Geonhaeng-Gonjeong-Yeongeui-Honghyu-Sugang-Munheon-Mujang-Inik-Jeonghyo of Korea

(대한제국고종통천융운조극돈윤정성광의명공대덕요준순휘우모탕경응명립기지화신렬외훈홍업계기선력건행곤정영의홍휴수강문헌무장인익정효황제폐하)
(大韓帝國高宗統天隆運肇極敦倫正聖光義明功大德堯峻舜徽禹謨湯敬應命立紀至化神烈巍勳洪業啓基宣曆乾行坤定英毅弘休壽康文憲武章仁翼貞孝皇帝陛下)

Preceded by Cheol-jong	Monarchs of Korea 1863–1907	Succeeded by Sunjong