 Despite having snatched the throne from his young nephew and killing many people in the process, he proved himself one of the most able rulers and administrators in Korean history.First, he strengthened the monarchy established by King Taejong by weakening the power of the prime minister and bringing staff directly under the king's control.He also strengthened the administrative system, which had also been introduced by Taejong, enabling the government to determine exact population numbers and to mobilize troops effectively.