Queen of Goryeo King Injong and mother of Kings Uijong, Myeongjong and Sinjong
| Life | 1109 ~ 1183 |
| Era | 고려 |
| Clan | 장흥 임씨 |
Queen Gongye Im (1109-1183) was the consort of Goryeo King Injong, of the Jangheung Im clan; her honorific was Queen Dowager Gongye and her palace title Yeondeok Gungju. Her father was Im Won-hu, her mother Lady Yi, and her maternal grandfather Chief Minister Yi Wi. She is recorded as born at Dangdong village, Okdang-ri, Gwansan-eup, Jangheung, and her tomb name is Sunneung.
She was originally betrothed to Kim Ji-hyo but the engagement broke off, and a story says a fortune-teller predicted she would be queen. She entered the palace after the failure of Yi Ja-gyeom's rebellion in 1126 and was invested as queen in 1129. She is said to have been favored by Injong and had five sons - Uijong, Prince Daeryeong, Myeongjong, the royal preceptor Wongyeong (Chunghui) and Sinjong - and four daughters.
After Injong died she became queen dowager when her son Uijong took the throne. After the military coup of 1170 she lived in constant anxiety, and when her fourth son died in 1182 she took it as the work of the military men, fell ill and died the next year. The Wikipedia article describes no political achievements, and notes that marriages between cousins among her grandchildren illustrate Goryeo endogamy. Her role as mother of three kings is often cited as the symbol of the Jangheung Im clan's central place in royal marriages of mid-Goryeo.
She entered the palace after the 1126 rebellion failed and was invested as queen in 1129, with the title Yeondeok Gungju.
Uijong, Myeongjong and Sinjong were all her sons. See also her father Im Won-hu and eldest brother Im Geuk-chung.
Her tomb name is Sunneung; its exact location was not confirmed.
She had five sons and four daughters; Uijong, Myeongjong and Sinjong became kings.