The Liao Dynasty (T: 遼朝 S: 辽朝 pinyin: Liáo Cháo), 907-1125, sometimes also known as the Kingdom or Empire of the Khitan, was founded by the Yelü (耶律 Yēlǜ) family of the Khitan tribes in the final years of the Tang Dynasty, although 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 Great Liao or Liao Dynasty in 947.
The name of the empire was Khitan between 907 (at its founding) and 947 (938?), and again between 983 and 1066.
It was anniliated by the Jin Dynasty in 1125. However, remnants led by Yelü Dashi (耶律大石 pinyin: Yēlǜ Dàshí, Wade-Giles: Yeh-lü Ta-Shih) established Xi (Western) Liao Dynasty 1125-1220, also known as Kara-Khitan Khanate, which survived until the arrival of Genghis Khan's Mongolian cavalry.
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) |
Too tedious thus not used when referring to this sovereign |
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) |
Too tedious thus not used when referring to this sovereign |
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) |
Too tedious thus not used when referring to this sovereign |
Yelü Ruan|耶律阮 Yēlǜ Ruǎn |
947-951 |
Tianlu (天祿 Tiānlù) 947-951
|
| Muzong (穆宗 Mùzōng) |
Too tedious thus not used when referring to this sovereign |
Yelü Jing|耶律璟 Yēlǜ Jǐng |
951-969 |
Yingli (應曆 Yìnglì) 951-969
|
| Jingzong (景宗 Jǐngzōng) |
Too tedious thus not used when referring to this sovereign |
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) |
Too tedious thus not used when referring to this sovereign |
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) |
Too tedious thus not used when referring to this sovereign |
Yelü Zongzhen|耶律宗真 Yēlǜ Zōngzhēn |
1031-1055 |
Jingfu (景福 Jǐngfú) 1031-1032
Chongxi (重熙 Chóngxī) 1032-1055
|
| Daozong (道宗 Dàozōng) |
Too tedious thus not used when referring to this sovereign |
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
|
| Did not exist |
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
|
See also: Chinese history, Chinese sovereign, Song Dynasty, Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, Tang Dynasty, Jin Dynasty, Mongols
