Jeongjong of Joseon (26 July 1357 – 24 October 1419), born Yi Bang-gwa (), whose changed name is Yi Gyeong (), was the second ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. He was the second son of King Taejo, the founder and first monarch of the dynasty. Before rising to power, he was known as Prince Yeongan (Korean: 영안군; Hanja: 永安君). Biography Born in 1357 as the second son of Yi Seong-gye and his first wife Lady Han, he was a prudent, generous, brave, and able military officer. During the latter days of the declining Goryeo dynasty, Jeongjong followed his father to various battlefronts and fought at his side. When his father became king in 1392, he became prince. King Taejo had two wives—the first one, who gave birth to six sons including Jeongjong, died before Taejo was crowned. The second wife was Lady Gang, with whom he had two sons. The king favored his youngest son, whose mother was Lady Gang. Chief State Councillor Jeong Do-jeon also backed him as the successor to the throne, causing much disappointment for the other princes. In 1398, King Taejo's fifth son, Yi Bang-won, who later would become King Taejong, led a coup along with many military officers and killed his two younger half-brothers, Jeong Do-jeon, and many of his faction. Yi Bang-won first tried to show that he was not interested in taking the throne, so he gave a push to his older brother Yi Bang-gwa (who was also the oldest by then), to be the crown prince. King Taejo was upset and abdicated in disgust, and Jeongjong became the second king of Joseon. The same year he moved the capital back to Gaegyeong, the old Goryeo capital. In 1400, a conflict broke out between Yi Bang-won and his older brother, Yi Bang-gan. Yi Bang-won's force attacked and defeated that of Bang-gan's, who was then sent into exile along with his family. General Park Bo, who persuaded Bang-gan into rebellion, was executed. King Jeongjong, knowing that he was a mere political figurehead for his younger brother Bang-won, appointed him as a crown prince, and abdicated months later. He was an able, wise administrator even though his short reign was marked by bloodshed within the royal family. He banned all kinds of private troops on the advice of Crown Prince Bang-won. He died in 1419, and was buried alongside his wife, Queen Jeongan.