In the confusion of the Khitan rebellion against Tang in 696, Sumo Mohe tribe, led by Qiqi Zhongxiang and Qisi Piyu, escaped eastward to their homeland. The two leaders died but Da Zuorong, the son of Qiqi Zhongxiang, established the State of Zhen (震 or 振). Since it gained power under protection of Gokturk, Tang gave Da Zuorong the title of "Prefecture King of Bohai" in 713. Bohai had been a Chinese prefecture, but since then referred to the kingdom. The title was upgraded to "State King of Bohai" in 762.
After destroyed Bohai in 926, the Khitan put the state of Eastern Khitan, followed by the annexation by Liao in 936. Bohai aristocrats were moved to Liaoyang but small fragments of the state remained semiindependent. Some Bohai people fled southward to Goryeo, including a son of the last king. Some descendants of the royal family live in Korea changing their family name to Tae (太). The Jin Dynasty favored the Bohai people as well as the Khitans. The fourth, fifth and seventh emperors were mothered by Bohai concubines. The 13th century census of Northern China by the Mongols distinguished Bohai from other ethnic groups such as Goryeo (Korean), Khitan and Jurchen. This suggests that the Bohai people still preserved their identity.
| Posthumous Names ( Shi Hao 諡號) | Personal Names | Period of Reigns | Era Names (Nian Hao 年號) and their according range of years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 高王 gao1 wang2 | Da Zuorong|大祚榮 da4 zuo4 rong2 | 698-718 | Did not exist |
| 武王 wu3 wang2 | Da Wuyi|大武藝 da4 wu3 yi4 | 718-737 | Ren'an (仁安 ren3 an1) |
| 文王 wen2 wang2 | Da Qinmao|大欽茂 da4 qin1 mao4 | 737-793 | Daxing (大興 da4 xing1)Baoli (寶曆 bao3 li4) 774-? |
| ? | Da Yuanyi|大元義 da4 yuan2 yi4 | 793-794 | Zhongxing (中興 zhong4 xing1) |
| 成王 cheng2 wang2 | Da Huaxing|大華興 da4 hua1 xing1 | 794 | ? |
| 康王 kang1 wang2 | Da Songlin|大嵩璘 da4 song1 lin2 | 794-808 | Zhengli (正曆 zheng4 li4) |
| 定王 ding4 wang2 | Da Yuanyu|大元瑜 da4 yuan2 yu2 | 808-812 | Yongde (永德 yong3 de2) |
| 僖王 xi1 wang2 | Da Yanyi|大言義 da4 yan2 yi4 | 812-817? | Zhuqiao (朱雀 zhu1 qiao3) |
| 簡王 jian3 wang2 | Da Mingzhong|大明忠 da4 ming2 zhong1 | 817?-818? | Taishi (太始 tai4 shi3) |
| 宣王 xuan1 wang2 | Da Renxiu|大仁秀 da4 ren2 xiu4 | 818?-830 | ? |
| ? | Da Yizhen|大彝震 da4 yi2 zhen4 | 830-857 | ? |
| ? | Da Qianhuang|大虔晃 da4 qian2 huang3 | 857-871 | ? |
| ? | Da Xuanxi|大玄錫 da4 xuan2 xi2 | 871-895 | ? |
| ? | Da Weixie|大瑋瑎 da4 wei3 xie2 | 895-907? | ? |
| ? | Da Yinzhuan|大諲譔 da4 yin1 zhuan4 | 907?-926 | ? |
| Posthumous Names ( Shi Hao 諡號) | Personal Names | Period of Reigns | Era Names (Nian Hao 年號) and their according range of years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Go Wang|고왕|高王 | Dae Jo Yong|대조영|大祚榮 | 698-718 | Did not exist |
| Mu Wang|무왕|武王 | Dae Mu Ye|대무예|大武藝 | 718-737 | In An (인안|仁安) |
| Mun Wang|문왕|文王 | Dae Heung Mu|대흥무|大欽茂 | 737-793 | Daeheung (대흥|大興)Boryeok (보력|寶曆) 774-? |
| None (disposed) | Dae Won Eui|대원의|大元義 | 793-794 | Jung Heung (중흥|中興) |
| Sung Wang|성왕|成王 | Dae Hua Heung|대화흥|大華興 | 794 | ? |
| Gang Wang|강왕|康王 | Dae Seung Lin|대승린|大嵩璘 | 794-808 | Jeong Ryok (정력|正曆) |
| Jung Wang|정왕|定王 | Dae Won Yu|대원유|大元瑜 | 808-812 | Yong Deok (영덕|永德) |
| Heui Wang|희왕|僖王 | Dae Un Eui|대언의|大言義 | 812-817? | Ju Jak (주작|朱雀) |
| Gan Wang|간왕|簡王 | Dae Myong Chung|대명충|大明忠 | 817?-818? | Tae Shi (태시|太始) |
| Seon Wang|선왕|宣王 | Dae In Su|대인수|大仁秀 | 818?-830 | ? |
| ? | Dae Ih Jin|대이진|大彝震 | 830-857 | ? |
| ? | Da Geon Hwang|대건황|大虔晃 | 857-871 | ? |
| Kyong Wang|경왕|景王 | Dae Hyon Seok|대현석|大玄錫 | 871-895 | ? |
| ? | Dae Wi Kye|대위계|大瑋瑎 | 895-907? | ? |
| ? | Dae In Seon|대인선|大諲譔 | 907?-926 | ? |
Important source of cultural information on Bohai was discovered at the end of the 20th century at the Ancient Tombs at Longtou Mountain, especially the Mausoleum of Princess Zhenxiao.