Northern Liao facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Great Liao 大遼
1122–1123
Capital	Xijin Fu
Religion	Tengrism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Chinese folk religion
Government	Monarchy
Emperor
• 1122	Yelü Chun
• 1123	Yelü Yali
• 1123	Yelü Zhulie
History
• Yelü Chun enthroned as emperor	1122
• Yelü Zhulie killed	1123
Currency	Chinese cash, Chinese coin, copper coins etc.
Preceded by Succeeded by Liao dynasty Jin dynasty
Today part of	China

The Northern Liao (also called the Great Liao) was a short-lived kingdom in northern China. It was created by the Khitan Yelü family. This kingdom was different from the main Liao dynasty that existed at the same time. The Northern Liao only lasted for a very short time, from 1122 to 1123.

History of Northern Liao

Khitan maces, a type of weapon

The Northern Liao kingdom started during a time of trouble for the main Liao dynasty. The Liao dynasty was ruled by Emperor Tianzuo. A leader from the Jurchen group, named Wanyan Aguda, started a rebellion. In 1115, Wanyan Aguda created his own kingdom, called the Jin dynasty. He became its first emperor.

In 1122, the Jin dynasty's army put a lot of pressure on the Liao dynasty. Emperor Tianzuo had to run away to a place called Jiashan. Because the main emperor had fled, a man named Yelü Chun was made "Emperor Tianxi" by other Khitan leaders. This new kingdom was called "Northern Liao" because the original Liao dynasty, led by Emperor Tianzuo, still existed elsewhere. The Northern Liao court even tried to demote Emperor Tianzuo to a lower rank.

After Emperor Tianxi (Yelü Chun) died, his son Yelü Ding was supposed to take over. But Yelü Ding was with Emperor Tianzuo, who was still in exile. So, Yelü Ding's mother, Empress Dowager Xiao Puxian'nü, became the ruler for a short time. She asked the Jin dynasty to accept Yelü Ding as the new emperor, but they said no.

As the Jin army got closer to the Northern Liao capital, Empress Dowager Xiao and another leader, Yelü Dashi, went to join Emperor Tianzuo. Empress Dowager Xiao was executed for her actions, but Yelü Dashi was allowed to live.

In 1123, the Northern Liao capital, Nanjing, surrendered to the Jin forces. When the Jin army attacked Emperor Tianzuo's hiding place, he decided to escape to the Western Xia kingdom. Another Yelü family member, Yelü Yali, tried to become emperor, but he died five months later. His son, Yelü Zhulie, took over, but his own soldiers killed him just one month later. This happened in 1123 and marked the end of the Northern Liao kingdom.

Later, in 1124, Yelü Dashi led some of the Liao court members to Central Asia. There, he started a new kingdom called the Western Liao dynasty. The original Liao dynasty, led by Emperor Tianzuo, finally fell in 1125 when he was captured by a Jin general.

Monarchs of Northern Liao

Here is a list of the rulers, or monarchs, of the Northern Liao kingdom during its short existence.