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The Liao Dynasty (), 907-1125, also known as the Khitan Empire, was an empire in northern China that ruled over the regions of Manchuria, Mongolia, and parts of northern China proper. It was founded by the Yelü (耶律 Yēlǜ) family of the Qidan or Khitan people in the final years of the Tang Dynasty, even though its first ruler, Yelü Abaoji, did not declare an era name until 916.
Originally known as the Empire of the Khitan, Emperor Yelü Ruan officially adopted the name "Liao" (formally "Great Liao") in 947 (938?). The name "Liao" was dropped in 983, and readopted in 1066.
It was annihilated by the Jin Dynasty in 1125. However, remnants led by Yelü Dashi established Xi (Western) Liao Dynasty 1125-1220, also known as Kara-Khitan Khanate, which survived until the arrival of Genghis Khan's Mongolian cavalry.
History
The Khitan tribes were originally under the domain of the Tang Dynasty. Its demise in 907 allowed Yelü Abaoji to become the head of the Khitan tribes. In 916, he created the Khitan state, naming himself Khan. In 918 he built the imperial capital, Huangdu (located at Bolo, in modern Bairin Left Banner, Inner Mongolia, China). In 920 he promulgated the Khitan large script, used to write the Khitan language. In 922 he made Yelü Deguang commander of the Khitan military. In 926, Yelü Abaoji fell ill on the way back from a military expedition, and Empress Shulü became regent. In 927, Yelü Deguang succeeded the throne.
In 936, Shi Jingtang, the new emperor of the Later Jin Dynasty in northern China, ceded 16 prefectures in the Youyun area (modern northern Hebei; Beijing) to the Khitans. In 946 the Khitans sacked Kaifeng, the capital of Later Jin. In 947, Yelü Ruan proclaimed himself emperor. He created a system of two "Palace Secretariats" (樞密院, 枢密院), one for Khitan lands in the north and one for Han lands in the south. He also established the title of the empire as "Liao" Dynasty. In 1007 the imperial capital was moved to Zhongjing, Dading Prefecture (in modern Ningcheng County, Inner Mongolia. In 1125 Liao was destroyed by the emergent Jin Dynasty, established by the Jurchens.
After the destruction of Liao, Liao aristocrat Yelü Dashi established a refugee regime in what is now Xinjiang in 1132, called Western Liao or Kara-Khitan Khanate.
Extent
The Liao controlled Inner and Outer Manchuria, most of Mongolia, and the northernmost part of China proper.
Liao Dynasty 907-1125
| Temple Names ( Miao Hao 廟號 miàohào) | Posthumous Names ( Shi Hao 諡號 shìhào) | Born Names | Period of Reigns | Era Names (Nian Hao 年號 niánhào) and their according range of years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Convention: "Liao" + temple name except Liao Tianzuodi who is referred using "Liao" + posthumous name | ||||
| Taizu (太祖 Tàizǔ) | Shen Tian Huangdi | Yelü Abaoji (耶律阿保機 Yēlǜ Ābǎojī) | 907-926 | Shence (神冊 Shéncè) 916-922 Tianzan (天贊 Tiānzàn) 922-926 Tianxian (天顯 Tiānxiǎn) 926 |
| Taizong (太宗 Tàizōng) | Xiao Wu Huangdi | Yelü Deguang (耶律德光 Yēlǜ Déguāng) | 926-947 | Tianxian (天顯 Tiānxiǎn) 927-938 Huitong (會同 Huìtóng) 938-947 Datong (大同 Dàtóng) 947 |
| Shizong (世宗 Shìzōng) | Tian Shou Huangdi | Yelü Ruan (耶律阮 Yēlǜ Ruǎn) | 947-951 | Tianlu (天祿 Tiānlù) 947-951 |
| Muzong (穆宗 Mùzōng) | Yelü Jing (耶律璟 Yēlǜ Jǐng) | 951-969 | Yingli (應曆 Yìnglì) 951-969 |
|
| Jingzong (景宗 Jǐngzōng) | Yelü Xian (耶律賢 Yēlǜ Xián) | 969-982 | Baoning (保寧 Bǎoníng) 969-979 Qianheng (乾亨 Qiánhēng) 979-982 |
|
| Shengzong (聖宗 Shèngzōng) | Wen Wu Da Xiao Xuan Huangdi | Yelü Longxu (耶律隆緒 Yēlǜ Lóngxù) | 982-1031 | Qianheng (乾亨 Qiánhēng) 982 Tonghe (統和 Tǒnghé) 983-1012 Kaitai (開泰 Kāitài) 1012-1021 Taiping (太平 Tàipíng) 1021-1031 |
| Xingzong (興宗 Xīngzōng) | Xiao Zheng Huangdi | Yelü Zongzhen (耶律宗真 Yēlǜ Zōngzhēn) | 1031-1055 | Jingfu (景福 Jǐngfú) 1031-1032 Chongxi (重熙 Chóngxī) 1032-1054 |
| Daozong (道宗 Dàozōng) | Yelü Hongji (耶律洪基 Yēlǜ Hóngjī) | 1055-1101 | Qingning (清寧 Qīngníng) 1055-1064 Xianyong (咸雍 Xiányōng) 1065-1074 Taikang (太康 Tàikāng) or Dakang (大康 Dàkāng) 1075-1084 Da'an (大安 Dà'ān) 1085-1094 Shouchang (壽昌 Shòuchāng) or Shoulong (壽隆 Shòulóng) 1095-1101 |
|
| Tianzuodi (天祚帝 Tiānzuòdì) | Yelü Yanxi (耶律延禧 Yēlǜ Yánxǐ) | 1101-1125 | Qiantong (乾統 Qiántǒng) 1101-1110 Tianqing (天慶 Tiānqìng) 1111-1120 Baoda (保大 Bǎodà) 1121-1125 |
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See also
Chinese history, Chinese sovereign, Song Dynasty, Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, Tang Dynasty, Jin Dynasty, Mongols
History of China | History of Manchuria | Khitan history | 907 establishments | 1125 disestablishments
Liao-Dynastie | Dinastía Liao | Dynastie Liao | 요나라 | Dinasti Liao | 遼 | Liao-dynastiet | Liao-dynastia | Nhà Liêu | 辽朝
"Liao Dynasty"