남이흥 南以興
Jinmu merit subject who helped put down Yi Gwal's rebellion; died defending Anju in the 1627 invasion; posthumous title Chungjang
| Life | 1576 ~ 1627 |
| Era | 조선 중기 |
| Clan | 의령 남씨 |
Life & career
Nam I-heung (1576-1627) was a mid-Joseon military officer of Uiryeong, with courtesy name Saho, pen name Seongeun and posthumous title Chungjang. His father Nam Yu is said to have died at the naval battle of Noryang. After passing the military examination he served as royal guard officer, deputy commander, police chief, army commander of Chungcheong and Gyeongsang, and magistrate of Guseong and Anju. Impeached after the 1623 Restoration, he was spared through the defence of Field Marshal Jang Man.
In the 1624 rebellion of Yi Gwal he served under Jang Man, was made magistrate of Yeonan, named a first-class Jinmu merit subject and enfeoffed as Lord Uichun. He later became Army Commander of Pyeongan and magistrate of Yeongbyeon.
In the 1627 Later Jin invasion he held Anju until weapons ran out and the walls were about to fall, then lit the powder magazine and died with Kim Eon-su and others. He was posthumously made Chief State Councillor and Prince, and enshrined at Chungminsa in Anju. His tomb complex at Doi-ri, Daehoji-myeon, Dangjin, is South Chungcheong Monument No. 52 (designated 1984), beside his father's tomb, with the shrine Chungjangsa and the Namssi yangse chungsin memorial gate in front.
Yi Gwal's Rebellion
For helping put down the rebellion under Field Marshal Jang Man he was made a first-class Jinmu merit subject and enfeoffed as Lord Uichun.
Death at Anju
The account says he defended Anju in the 1627 invasion and died by lighting the powder magazine. His death was honored as a symbol of loyalty into the late Joseon period.
Sites and Relics
The tomb complex at Daehoji-myeon, Dangjin, is South Chungcheong Monument No. 52. His family relics were designated an Important Folklore Material in 1970 and renamed "Relics of General Nam I-heung's Family" in 2004. His birth year is written differently in some sources, so check them.
Grave
His tomb is at Doi-ri, Daehoji-myeon, Dangjin, beside his father Nam Yu's; it was moved in 1971 from the former Gwangju area (now Seongnam) during Seongnam's development.
Descendants
He is introduced as the founder of the Chungjang-gong branch of the Uiryeong Nam.