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The Liao Dynasty (simplified Chinese: 辽朝; traditional Chinese: 遼朝; pinyin: Liáo Cháo), 907-1125, also known as the Khitan Empire, was an nomadic tribes' empire in northern China that conquered Han Chinese by Khitan. The dynasty 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

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