Born: 6 August 1594, Korea
Died: 16 January 1636
Country most active: Korea
Also known as: Lady Han, 인열왕후 한씨, 仁烈王后 韓氏
The following bio was written by Emma Rosen, author of On This Day She Made History: 366 Days With Women Who Shaped the World and This Day In Human Ingenuity & Discovery: 366 Days of Scientific Milestones with Women in the Spotlight, and has been republished with permission.
The future Queen Inyeol was born as Lady Han into the Cheongju Han clan in 1594.
In 1610, she married Prince Neungyang (능양군), Injo of Joseon, when she was 17. She was called “Princess Consort Cheongseong” (청성군부인, 淸城郡夫人). They had children: Crown Prince Sohyeon in 1612, Grand Prince Bongrim (later known as King Hyojong) in 1619, and Grand Prince Inpyeong in 1622.
She became queen consort on April 24, 1623, after her husband’s crowning. She had more children: Prince Yongseong in 1624, her first daughter in 1626, and another son in 1629, but they died as babies.
On January 12, 1636, she gave birth to her sixth son, who died four days later on January 16, 1636. On the same day, she died at 41 due to postpartum illness.
Initially, King Injo wanted to name her posthumously Myeongheon (명헌, 明憲), but it was changed to Inyeol (인열), which means “Benevolent Pillar.”