Scholars of Korean medieval history have long studied the reasons why the Choi military dictator during the middle period of the Goryeo dynasty was able to possess substantial power surpassing that of the Goryeo King, while maintaining the existing dynastic system, as well as the specific ways in which this power was exercised. The general trend of the research has mostly focused on the violent seizure of power, the maximization of private power, and the hollowing out of traditional state authority. However, in recent years, there has been a shift toward a more balanced assessment of both continuity and change. In line with this shift in perspective, this paper aims to reveal how the status and privileges of the Choi military dictator were legitimized through the traditional system of titles and ranks in the Goryeo dynasty.
In 1206, Choi Chung-heon underwent a grand investiture ceremony reminiscent of a royal coronation and was granted the title of Jinkanghou, along with privileges such as arrangement of feudal administration office and bureaucratic positions. This event cannot easily be seen as a violation of traditional principles of title conferral. This paper argues that, since the appearance of Yi Ja-gyeom in the 12th century, Goryeo had officially institutionalized individuals with authority and power comparable to that of the royal family within the political structure with the Goryeo King at the top as utilizing the investiture system of ‘feudal lords with different family names (異姓諸王)’. The investiture of 1206 was, therefore, part of this ongoing process.
The investiture of 1206 was not a one-time event. Successors of Choi Chung-heon enjoyed similar status and privileges. Furthermore, this investiture system was not only applied to military dictators but also extended to their family members. Through this system, some women within the Choi family began to be bestowed the ‘ju’ titles, such as Gungju (宮主) and Taekju (宅主), which had previously been monopolized by royal women. As a result, the Choi family became the ‘kings’ family (諸王家)’ and was able to erode the royal family’s power base within the legitimate framework of royal privileges.