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Khitan Dynasty

The Khitan Dynasty (契丹) 907-1125, also called the Empire of Khitan, was founded by the Yeluu (耶律 ye1 luu4) family of the Khitan tribe in the final years of the Tang Dynasty, although Yeluu A Bao Ji did not declare an era name until 916. Forty years after the establishment of Khitan Dynasty, in 947, Emperor Yeluu Ruan officially renamed to Liao Dynasty (遼 liao2).

It was anniliated by the Jin Dynasty in 1125 however remnants led by Yelu Da Shi (耶律大石 ye1 luu4 da4 shi2, Wade-Giles: Yeh-lü Ta-Shih) established Xi (Western) Liao Dynasty 1125-1220, also known as Kara-Khitai or Qara Khitai, which survived until the arrival of Genghis Khan's Mongolian cavalry.

Liao Dynasty 907-1125
Temple Names ( Miao Hao 廟號 miao4 hao4) Posthumous Names ( Shi Hao 諡號 ) Born Names Period of Reigns Era Names (Nian Hao 年號) and their according range of years
Convention: "Liao" + temple name except Liao Tian Zuo Di who is referred using "Liao" + posthumous name
Tai Zu|太祖 tai4 zu3 Too tedious thus not used when referring to this sovereign Yeluu A Bao Ji|耶律阿保機 ye1 luu4 a1 bao3 ji1 907-926 Shence (神冊 shen2 ce4) 916-922
   Tianzan (天贊 tian1 zan4) 922-926
Tianxian (天顯 tian1 xian3) 926
Tai Zong (太宗 tai4 zong1) Too tedious thus not used when referring to this sovereign Yeluu De Guang|耶律德光 ye1 luu4 de2 guang1 926-947 Tianxian (天顯 tian1 xian3) 927-938
   HDatong (會同 hui4 tong2) 938-947
Datong (大同 da4 tong2) 947
Shi Zong (世宗 shi4 zong1) Too tedious thus not used when referring to this sovereign Yeluu Ruan|耶律阮 ye1 luu4 ruan3 947-951 Tianlu (天祿 tian1 lu4) 947-951
Mu Zong (穆宗 mu4 zong1) Too tedious thus not used when referring to this sovereign Yeluu Jing|耶律璟 ye1 luu4 jing3 951-969 Yingli (應曆 ying4 li4) 951-969
Jing Zong (景宗 jing3 zong1) Too tedious thus not used when referring to this sovereign Yeluu Xian|耶律賢 ye1 luu4 xian2 969-982 Baoning (保寧 bao3 ning2) 969-979
   Qianheng (乾亨 qian2 heng1) 979-982
Sheng Zong (聖宗 sheng4 zong1) Too tedious thus not used when referring to this sovereign Yeluu Long Xu|耶律隆緒 ye1 luu4 long2 xu4 982-1031 Qianheng (乾亨 qian2 heng1) 982
   Tonghe (統和 tong3 he2) 983-1012
Kaitai (開泰 kai1 tai4) 1012-1021
Taiping (太平 tai4 ping2) 1021-1031
Xing Zong (興宗 xing1 zong1) Too tedious thus not used when referring to this sovereign Yeluu Zong Zhen|耶律宗真 ye1 luu4 zong1 zhen1 1031-1055 Jingfu (景福 jing3 fu2) 1031-1032
   Chongxi (重熙 chong2 xi1) 1032-1055
Dao Zong (道宗 dao4 zong1) Too tedious thus not used when referring to this sovereign Yeluu Hong Ji|耶律洪基 ye1 luu4 hong2 ji1 1055-1101 Qingning (清寧 qing1 ning2) 1055-1064
   Xianyong (咸雍 xian2 yong1) 1065-1074
Taikang (太康 tai4 kang1) or Dakang (大康 da4 kang1) 1075-1084
Daan (大安 da4 an1) 1085-1094
Shouchang (壽昌 shou4 chang1) or Shoulong (壽隆 shou4 long2) 1095-1101
Did not exist Tian Zuo Di (天祚帝 tian1 zuo4 di4) Yeluu Yan Xi|耶律延禧 ye1 luu4 yan2 xi1 1101-1125 Qiantong (乾統 qian2 tong3) 1101-1110
   Tianqing (天慶 tian1 qing4) 1111-1120
Baoda (保大 bao3 da4) 1121-1125


See also: Chinese history, Chinese sovereign, Song Dynasty, Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, Tang Dynasty, Jin Dynasty , Mongols