Marriage and Palace life

In October 1366 (15th year reign of Gongmin), he took Ahn as his Queen Consort as he didn't have any issue from his first marriage. Then, in December, she became Jeong-Bi (정비, 定妃).^[2]

At this time, Lady Ahn's father, Ahn Geuk-in (안극인) who was a comrade-in-chief, suggested to King Gongmin to suspend the construction of Princess Noguk's Yeongjeon (영전, 影殿), but Ahn Geuk-in was removed from the office. Meanwhile, after her re-entry to the Palace, the King continued to commit misdeeds,^[3] such as forcing her to have sex with some of the young men from Jajewi (자제위, 子弟衛), but she adamantly refused.^[4] In May 1367, she and Consort Han went to Gorari (고라리, 高羅里) and watched Gyeoggu Game (격구놀).

In October 1372 (21st year of King Gongmin), he selected some young and handsome men then, ordered Han Ahn (한안) and Hong Ryun (홍륜) from the Self-Defense Committee to rape his concubines. In this way, when a son was born from them, Gongmin will make that son become his. After this, Lady Ahn, Royal Consort Ik-Bi and others couldn't refuse this order and actually became pregnant.^[4] In 1374, King Gongmin was assassinated and King U ascended the throne.

During King U's reign

Lady Ahn then went out from the Palace and became a nun, then King U make her younger brother, Ahn Suk-ro (안숙로)^[5]'s daughter, Lady Ahn became his consort with the title Hyeon-Bi (현비, 賢妃).^[6] Even after King Gongmin's death, the court under King U's command still respect them and continued to provide their daily necessities, also the new King gave "Jahye Mansion" (자혜부, 慈惠府) as Ahn's palace to lived.

After King U's ascension to the throne succeed his father, it was said that U always taunted and harassed the Dowager Consort Ahn by saying:

"Among my consorts, How can they have no one like you, Mother?"
"나의 후궁들은 어찌 모씨(母氏)와 같은 이가 없는가?"

Also, he often visited her mansion for two or three times a day, sometimes he went there again at night. Because of this, there were a rumor that Ahn was harassed by King U for attempted rape and strange rumors circulated. One day, while King U went to her palace again, Lady Ahn fell ill and didn't comb her hair, so they cancelled to meet and he instead meet her niece. Seeing this, people said:

"The Dowager Consort is trying to hide herself because she is in fear of ridicule from others."
"정비가 남의 비웃음을 두려워하여 스스로 감추려 하는 것이다."

Beside this, there was an interpretation that King U, who was an orphan with no one to depend on, craved maternal love from his stepmother, Consort Ahn.

During King Chang and King Gongyang's reign

In 1388, Yi Seong-gye (이성계) deposed King U from his position and as the oldest member in the palace, Ahn agree this permission and choose the new candidate to succeed him, King Chang.^[7] Then, in December, all of palace maids was stopped to provide Ahn's daily necessities.

One years later, Yi and Jeong Mong-ju (정몽주) once deposed King Chang^[8] and forced her to made King Gongyang to be crowned as the new one, she then dethroned King Chang and proclaimed a letter again stating that King Gongyang was crowned.^[9] Under King Gongyang's command, An then moved to "Gyeongsin Hall" (경신전, 敬愼殿) and honoured as Royal Grand Consort Jeongsuk-seonmyeong-gyeongsin-ikseong-yuhye (정숙선명경신익성유혜왕대비, 貞淑宣明敬信翼成柔惠王大妃).

In 1392, Yi and his allies forced the King Gongyang's dethronement and threatened Ahn by forced her with a memorandum to allow the establishment of a new dynasty and handed over the national seal to him.^[10] As a result, the Goryeo dynasty who was overthrown for almost of 475 years fallen and the new Joseon dynasty was established.

Later life, death and funeral

Lady Ahn had lived a long life until the end of Goryeo dynasty and the early Joseon dynasty that established by Yi Seong-gye (이성계). Later, on 7 August 1392 (4th year reign of King Taejo), she was honoured as Princess Uihwa (의화궁주, 義和宮主)^[11] which she commonly known with that name during the Joseon dynasty. Later, on 14 May 1428 (1th year reign of King Sejong), she died and this was 36th years after Goryeo's abolishment.^[12]

In Joseon Sillok, it was recorded that Ahn was prone to drink alcohol after being "Princess Uihwa" and she also spent most of her later life drinking after the fall of Goryeo dynasty.^[13] 6 days after her death, King Sejong prayed and took care of her funeral with the old system and used the Queen consort's rites manners (dressed her like the real queen). But, her tomb's location was unknown as there were no records about it.

Ancestry