Map Introduction

I. Foundation and Expansion of the Western Liao

In 1124 AD, Yelü Dashi, a member of the Liao imperial clan, led his followers westward to Kedun City (the ancient city of Khentii, in modern Bulgan Province, Mongolia). After consolidating forces from the seven prefectures and tribes of the Mongolian Plateau, he continued his westward advance. In 1132 AD, Yelü Dashi proclaimed himself Emperor at Yemili City (modern Tacheng, Xinjiang), adopted the era name "Yanqing," restored the dynastic name "Liao," which historians call the Western Liao. Its territory stretched from the Tuul River in the east to the region of the Seven Rivers (Jetisu) in Central Asia in the west, and from the Altai Mountains in the north to the Tianshan Mountains in the south, establishing its hegemony over Central Asia.

II. Political System and Cultural Integration

The Western Liao implemented a policy of "governing according to local customs," preserving the autonomy of Turkic, Uighur, and other tribes while simultaneously adopting a Han-style bureaucratic system. Yelü Dashi used the title "Gürkhan" (meaning "Universal Khan") to unite the multi-ethnic populace, employed Khitan and Chinese bilingual documentation, and allowed Buddhism and Islam to coexist. Its capital, Gus Ordo (near modern Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan), became a hub for East-West trade.

III. Indirect Interactions with the Southern Song and Jin

Although the Western Liao had no direct contact with the Southern Song, it maintained Silk Road trade via the intermediary of Western Xia. Following the rise of the Jin Dynasty, the Western Liao became a symbolic regime for Liao loyalists and once attempted, unsuccessfully, to form an alliance with the Southern Song against the Jin. The victory at the Battle of Qatwan in 1141 AD, where the Western Liao defeated the Seljuk Empire, solidified its Central Asian hegemony.

IV. Decline and Fall

During the reign of Yelü Zhilugu (1164–1211 AD), heavy taxation provoked rebellions from tribes like the Karluks. In 1218 AD, during the western expedition of Genghis Khan, the last ruler, Küchlüg, was killed, leading to the fall of the Western Liao. Although its rule lasted only 88 years, it profoundly influenced the political landscape of Central Asia.

Conclusion

As a continuation of the Liao Dynasty, the Western Liao blended nomadic and agrarian civilizations, serving as a bridge for multiculturalism in Central Asia. Its rise and fall reflect the historical process of power realignment across Eurasia during the 12th and 13th centuries.