Yelu clan
Encyclopedia
The Yelü clan of the Khitan people
assumed leadership of the Khitan nation in 907 when Abaoji became khan
of the Khitan nation. The clan, written "i.ra.u.ud" in the Khitan language
, maintained that leadership through the fall of the Liao Dynasty
in the 1120s. Even following this fall, members of the clan appear in history, most notably during the Mongols
era of conquest in the thirteenth century.
In 901, Abaoji was elected chieftain of the Yila tribe and in 905 forged relations with Li Keyong
of the Shatuo Turks. In 907, he was chosen leader of the Khitan, the first outside the Yaolian lineage to be chosen in more than a century and a half. From this, Abaoji and his successors developed the Liao Dynasty, which would conquer all of Manchuria
, the northern fringe of China
known as the Sixteen Prefectures
and adjacent areas of northern Korea
, eastern Mongolia
and parts of far-eastern Russia
.
was of the Yelu clan, which adopted the surname sometime in the 930s, after the death of Abaoji. The clan directly governed the southern half of the empire while the Xiao consort clan
governed the north. The Southern Chancellory was charged with governing the sedentary population of the empire, mostly Chinese
and residents of the conquered kingdom of Balhae
. As such, there is evidence of at least limited sinification on the part of the Yelu clan.
Even as late as 1074, a proposal was brought before the Yelu khans to adopt surnames throughout the empire. This was rejected as an idea that would disrupt the Khitan order.
The dynasty fell to the Jurchen Jin Dynasty in the 1110s, but the clan survived to lead another kingdom further to the west known as Kara Khitai, also known as the Western Liao in Chinese sources.
Khitan people
thumb|250px|Khitans [[Eagle hunting|using eagles to hunt]], painted during the Chinese [[Song Dynasty]].The Khitan people , or Khitai, Kitan, or Kidan, were a nomadic Mongolic people, originally located at Mongolia and Manchuria from the 4th century...
assumed leadership of the Khitan nation in 907 when Abaoji became khan
Khan (title)
Khan is an originally Altaic and subsequently Central Asian title for a sovereign or military ruler, widely used by medieval nomadic Turko-Mongol tribes living to the north of China. 'Khan' is also seen as a title in the Xianbei confederation for their chief between 283 and 289...
of the Khitan nation. The clan, written "i.ra.u.ud" in the Khitan language
Khitan language
The Khitan language is a now-extinct language once spoken by the Khitan people . Khitan is generally deemed to be genetically linked to the Mongolic languages. It was written using two mutually exclusive writing systems known as the Khitan large script and the Khitan small script...
, maintained that leadership through the fall of the Liao Dynasty
Liao Dynasty
The Liao Dynasty , also known as the Khitan Empire was an empire in East Asia that ruled over the regions of Manchuria, Mongolia, and parts of northern China proper between 9071125...
in the 1120s. Even following this fall, members of the clan appear in history, most notably during the Mongols
Mongols
Mongols ) are a Central-East Asian ethnic group that lives mainly in the countries of Mongolia, China, and Russia. In China, ethnic Mongols can be found mainly in the central north region of China such as Inner Mongolia...
era of conquest in the thirteenth century.
Rise to power
Abaoji, born in 872, was the son of the chieftain of the Yila tribe. At this time, the Yaolian clan had led the Khitan people since the mid-eighth century, and were the only Khitan family to have adopted a surname at this point as this was seen as a mark of Chinese culture and not befitting of peoples of the steppe.In 901, Abaoji was elected chieftain of the Yila tribe and in 905 forged relations with Li Keyong
Li Keyong
Li Keyong was a Shatuo military governor during the late Tang Dynasty and was key to developing a base of power for the Shatuo in what is today Shanxi Province in China...
of the Shatuo Turks. In 907, he was chosen leader of the Khitan, the first outside the Yaolian lineage to be chosen in more than a century and a half. From this, Abaoji and his successors developed the Liao Dynasty, which would conquer all of Manchuria
Manchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
, the northern fringe of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
known as the Sixteen Prefectures
Sixteen Prefectures
The Sixteen Prefectures are a region in northern China stretching from present-day Beijing westward to Datong. In most areas, it is approximately seventy to one hundred miles in width...
and adjacent areas of northern Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, eastern Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
and parts of far-eastern Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
Liao Dynasty
Every leader of the Liao DynastyLiao Dynasty
The Liao Dynasty , also known as the Khitan Empire was an empire in East Asia that ruled over the regions of Manchuria, Mongolia, and parts of northern China proper between 9071125...
was of the Yelu clan, which adopted the surname sometime in the 930s, after the death of Abaoji. The clan directly governed the southern half of the empire while the Xiao consort clan
Consort clan
The consort clan is the family, clan of or group related to an empress dowager or a spouse of a Chinese dynastic ruler or a warlord. The leading figure of the clan was either a sibling, cousin, or parent of the empress or consort.- Han Dynasty :...
governed the north. The Southern Chancellory was charged with governing the sedentary population of the empire, mostly Chinese
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
and residents of the conquered kingdom of Balhae
Balhae
Balhae was a Manchurian kingdom established after the fall of Goguryeo. After Goguryeo's capital and southern territories fell to Unified Silla, Dae Jo-yeong, a Mohe general, whose father was Dae Jung-sang, established Jin , later called Balhae.Balhae occupied southern parts of Manchuria and...
. As such, there is evidence of at least limited sinification on the part of the Yelu clan.
Even as late as 1074, a proposal was brought before the Yelu khans to adopt surnames throughout the empire. This was rejected as an idea that would disrupt the Khitan order.
The dynasty fell to the Jurchen Jin Dynasty in the 1110s, but the clan survived to lead another kingdom further to the west known as Kara Khitai, also known as the Western Liao in Chinese sources.
Liao Dynasty
| 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 Emperor Taizu of Liao The Emperor Taizu of Liao was the first emperor of the Liao Dynasty . His given name was Abaoji . Some sources also suggest that the surname Yelü was adopted during his lifetime, though there is no unanimity on this point.... (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 Emperor Taizong of Liao The Emperor Taizong of Liao , born as Yelü Deguang , was the second emperor of the Khitan Empire .-Succession to the Throne:... (太宗 Tàizōng) |
Too tedious thus not used when referring to this sovereign | 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 Emperor Shizong of Liao The Emperor Shizong of Liao , born as Yelü Ruan , also known as Wuyu, was the third emperor of Liao dynasty, reigning from 16 May 947 to 7 October 951. He is the son of Prince Bei, the eldest son of Abaoji, the founder of the Khitan Empire... (世宗 Shìzōng) |
Too tedious thus not used when referring to this sovereign | 耶律阮 Yēlǜ Ruǎn | 947-951 | Tianlu (天祿 Tiānlù) 947-951 |
| Muzong Emperor Muzong of Liao The Emperor Muzong of Liao ; born as Yelü Jing , was an emperor of the Liao Dynasty and reigned from 11 October 951 to 12 March 969... (穆宗 Mùzōng) |
Too tedious thus not used when referring to this sovereign | 耶律璟 Yēlǜ Jǐng | 951-969 | Yingli (應曆 Yìnglì) 951-969 |
| Jingzong Emperor Jingzong of Liao The Emperor Jingzong of Liao , born as Yelü Xian , was an emperor of the Liao Dynasty and reigned from 13 March 969 to 13 October 982.... (景宗 Jǐngzōng) |
Too tedious thus not used when referring to this sovereign | 耶律賢 Yēlǜ Xián | 969-982 | Baoning (保寧 Bǎoníng) 969-979 Qianheng (乾亨 Qiánhēng) 979-982 |
| Shengzong Emperor Shengzong of Liao Emperor Shengzong of Liao , born as Yelü Longxu , succeeded Emperor Jingzong as Emperor of the Liao Dynasty at the age of 12 in 982. As he was too young to actually rule, his mother, Empress Dowager Xiao, effectively ruled the kingdom... (聖宗 Shèngzōng) |
Too tedious thus not used when referring to this sovereign | 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 Emperor Xingzong of Liao Emperor Xingzong of Liao , born Yelü Zongzhen , was an emperor of the Liao Dynasty. He reigned from 25 June 1031 to 28 August 1055.... (興宗 Xīngzōng) |
Too tedious thus not used when referring to this sovereign | 耶律宗真 Yēlǜ Zōngzhēn | 1031-1055 | Jingfu (景福 Jǐngfú) 1031-1032 Chongxi (重熙 Chóngxī) 1032-1055 |
| Daozong Emperor Daozong of Liao Emperor Daozong of Liao , born Yelü Hongji or Yehlu Hongji , was an emperor of the Liao dynasty, a kingdom of the Khitan people in what is now northeastern China. Succeeding his father, Xingzong, in 1055, Daozong ruled until he was murdered in 1101. He was succeeded by his grandson, Tianzuodi... (道宗 Dàozōng) |
Too tedious thus not used when referring to this sovereign | 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) | 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 |
Kara Khitai
| Temple Names ( Miao Hao 廟號 miàohào) | Posthumous Names ( Shi Hao 諡號 shìhào) | Birth Names | Convention | Period of Reign | Era Names (Nian Hao 年號 niánhào) and their according range of years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Convention: check each sovereign | |||||
| Dezong (德宗 Dézōng) | Tianyouwuliedi (天祐武烈帝 Tiānyòuwǔlièdì) | Yelü Dashi Yelü Dashi Yelü Dashi , or Yeh-Lü Ta-Shih was the founder of the Western Liao dynasty, or the Kara-Khitan Khanate.... (耶律大石 Yēlǜ Dàshí or 耶律達實 Yēlǜ Dáshí) 1 | use born name | 1124-1144 | Yanqing (延慶 Yánqìng) 1124 or 1125-1134 Kangguo (康國 Kāngguó) 1134-1144 |
| Did not exist | Gantianhou (感天后 Gǎntiānhòu) | Tabuyan (塔不煙 Tǎbùyān) | "Xi Liao" + posthumous name | 1144-1150 | Xianqing (咸清 Xiánqīng) 1144-1150 |
| Emperor Renzong of Western Liao (仁宗 Rénzōng) | Too tedious thus not used when referring to this sovereign | Yelü Yilie (耶律夷列 Yēlǜ Yíliè) | "Xi Liao" + temple name | 1150-1164 | Shaoxing (紹興 Shàoxīng) 1150-1164 |
| Did not exist | Chengtianhou (承天后 Chéngtiānhòu) | Yelü Pusuwan (耶律普速完 Yēlǜ Pǔsùwán) | "Xi Liao" + posthumous name | 1164-1178 | Chongfu (崇福 Chóngfú) 1164-1178 |
| Did not exist | Mozhu (末主 Mòzhǔ) or Modi (末帝 Mòdì) | Yelü Zhilugu (耶律直魯古 Yēlǜ Zhílǔgǔ) | use born name | 1178-1211 | Tianxi (天禧 Tiānxī) 1178-1211 |
| Did not exist | Did not exist | Kuchlug Kuchlug Kuchlug was a member of the Naiman tribe of western Mongolia. He was defeated by Genghis Khan and fled westward to the Kara-Khitan Khanate, where he became an advisor. In 1210, he took control of the khanate... (Ch. Chinese language The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages... 屈出律 Qūchūlǜ) | use born name | 1211-1218 | Did not exist |
| 1 "Dashi" might be the Chinese title "Taishi", meaning "vizier"; Or it could mean "Stone" in Turkish, as the Chinese transliteration suggests | |||||