King Myeongjong of Joseon

Myeongjong, the youngest son of King Jungjong, ascended the throne as the 13th ruler of Joseon at a young age (reign 1545–1567). Because the king was still a child, his mother, Queen Munjeong, governed as regent from behind the screen; around the time of his accession a power struggle among royal in-laws erupted into the Eulsa Purge, which brought calamity upon many Confucian scholars. During his reign, amid widespread social unrest, a rebellion led by the outlaw Im Kkeokjeong broke out, revealing the turmoil of the age.