이휴복 李休復
Militia fighter in the Imjin War, merit subject for quelling Yi Gwal's rebellion, and inspector-general who gathered relief forces in the 1636 war; title Prince of Inwon
| Life | 1568 ~ 1637 |
| Era | 조선 중기 |
| Clan | 인천 이씨 |
Life & career
Yi Hyu-bok (李休復, 1568-1637) was a mid-Joseon official and military man from Incheon, courtesy name Sajang, pen name Yangjeoljeong. The second son of Yi In and a Gyeongju Bak, he was an eighth-generation descendant of Yi Mun-hwa (Gongdo-gong), early Joseon minister and chief scholar. He was 25 at the outbreak of the Imjin War, and his parents and elder brother's family were killed when Japanese troops plundered Haman. He raised a militia in the right-hand Gyeongsang region and under Gwak Jae-u fought at Hwawangsanseong in 1597, for which he is said to have been named a first-class Seonmu original merit subject.
He passed the military examination in 1606, served as magistrate of Cheongha (1607) and Cheongdo (1610), and in 1611 was provisionally made magistrate of Jinju to hold off Japanese raiders. He later held key posts as Chief Censor and Minister of War, but resigned citing illness in 1622, had his rank stripped and was exiled after the 1623 coup, and was released in 1624. After suppressing Yi Gwal's rebellion he became a commander at the Chongyungcheong on General Jang Man's recommendation, was named Jinmu merit subject and ennobled as Prince of Inwon. The merit citation is said to be kept today at Docheonjae.
He then served as Commander of the Chongyungcheong, in senior posts in Works and War, and as governor of Gangwon and Hamgyeong provinces, strengthening the border against the Later Jin; in 1635 he travelled to Nanjing as special envoy. When the 1636 war broke out he petitioned to take the field, became inspector-general, and went to Gangwon to gather relief forces for the capital, retreating after the battle of Geomdansan, and died of illness on 10 February 1637. He was posthumously made Third State Councillor; sources differ on whether his title was Muyeol or Jeongmu. Some details in the Korean Wikipedia account are doubtful, so please check the timeline against the Annals and clan records.
Militia in the Imjin and Jeongyu Wars
After losing family he raised a militia and is said to have been named a first-class Seonmu original merit subject for the 1597 Hwawangsanseong battle.
Yi Gwal's Rebellion
After the 1624 rebellion was quelled he was named a Jinmu merit subject and ennobled as Prince of Inwon.
The 1636 War and His Death
As inspector-general he tried to gather Gangwon relief forces but retreated after Geomdansan and died of illness in February 1637.
Grave
His tomb was not confirmed.
Descendants
His father was Yi In; he is said to have had a wife née Kang of Jinju and five sons and two daughters (Wikipedia).