Liao Dynasty

The Liao Dynasty (Khitan: Mos Jælud; traditional Chinese: 遼朝; simplified Chinese: 辽朝; pinyin: Liáo cháo) also known as the Liao Empire, officially the Great Liao (大遼; 大辽; Dà Liáo), or the Khitan (Qidan) State (Khitan: Mos diau-d kitai huldʒi gur), was an empire in east Asia who ruled China, regions of Mongolia and Manchuria. The Empire was founded by the Khagan of the Khitans, Juqu following the collapse of the Tang Dynasty.

Following its foundation, the Liao Dynasty began a series of external wars following the pacification of the Chinese bureaucracy under Khitan elites. This began with the Tibetan Kingdom, who agreed following a short war to become a tributary of the Empire.

A series of difficulties emerged due to differences between the Khitan elite, the Liao Dynasty and the Chinese bureaucracy. This resulted in the formation of two parallel governments, one to govern the Khitans who favoured succession by the strongest ruler and another to govern the remaining Chinese and Manchurian territory that followed the Chinese practise of primogeniture. This system of parallel governments caused a small series of succession issues.

Despite this, the Liao Dynasty was broadly internally stable and was able to engage in a series of wars that resulted in its official territory extending as far west as the Taid Sultanate bringing its political influence to the borders of the Abbasid Caliphate into Persia.