This is a timeline of the history of the Khitans. The Khitans were a nomadic people in northeastern Asia related to the Xianbei. Following the collapse of the Tang dynasty, they established the Liao dynasty in 916, encompassing parts of modern northern China, Mongolia, and North Korea. The Liao dynasty destroyed by a Jurchen uprising which lasted from 1112 to 1125, resulting in the Jin dynasty (1115–1234). Remnants of the Liao under Yelü Dashi fled westward to Central Asia where they established the Qara Khitai empire, also known as the Western Liao dynasty. In 1211, the Qara Khitai throne was usurped by a Naiman called Kuchlug fleeing from the Mongols. The Mongols chased after him and killed him in 1218, conquering the Qara Khitai empire.
The Kumo Xi are defeated by the Northern Wei. As a result the Khitans split from the Kumo Xi and emerge as a recognizable group of people around the Songmo region in modern Heshigten Banner and Ongniud Banner; at some point they migrate to the east of Daling River in modern Beipiao, Fuxin, and Zhangwu County[1]
6th century[]
Year
Date
Event
553
Khitans raid Northern Qi, who retaliate dealing devastating losses to the Khitans[2]
Li Jinzhong (Mushang Khan) of the Khitans along with his brother-in-law Sun Wanrong revolt against Tang hegemony and attack Hebei; Li dies soon after and Sun succeeds him[8]
Tang dynasty and Qapaghan Qaghan of the Second Turkic Khaganate defeat Sun Wanrong and Khitans become vassals of the Turks;[9] Dahe Shihuo succeeds Sun Wanrong
8th century[]
Year
Date
Event
716
Khitans break alliance with the Turks and ally with Tang[10]
717
Dahe Suogu succeeds Dahe Shihuo
720
Ketuyu attacks Suogu and Suogu flees to the governor-general of Ying Prefecture, who sends 500 Tang soldiers to back Suogu but is defeated[11]
Dahe Yugan succeeds Dahe Suogu
724
Dahe Tugan succeeds Dahe Yugan
725
Dahe Shaogu succeeds Dahe Tugan, who fled to the Tang dynasty in fear of Ketuyu
Khitans attack the Song dynasty but are repulsed[49]
1003
Khitans invade the Song dynasty and retreat without making permanent gains[49]
1004
Emperor Shengzong of Liao conducts a full-scale invasion of the Song dynasty which ends in stalemate and the Chanyuan Treaty, an agreement to an annual payment of silk and silver from the Song to the Khitans[52]
1006
The Kumo Xi are assimilated into the Khitan nation[53]
Emperor Tianzuo of Liao flees the Southern Capital and his uncle is declared emperor of Northern Liao, however he dies three months later and the title is passed down to Yelü Ding, the son in hiding with his father the emperor also in hiding; real power goes to [78]
Jin dynasty conquers the Western Capital and Southern Capital[78]
Yelü Dashi declares himself king and flees with 200 followers to the Orkhon River, where he eventually takes the title of gurkhan, meaning "Universal Khan"[81]
Kokochu, also known as Teb Tengri, chief shaman of the Mongols, bestows upon Temüjin the title of Genghis Khan, "Oceanic Ruler" of the Mongol Empire, at the kurultai of Burkhan Khaldun, sacred mountain of the Mongols[102]
1207
Muhammad II of Khwarezm captures Bukhara and Samarkand[103]
Qara Khitai defeats Kuchlug but the returning army is refused entry into Balasagun due to being mistaken for Khwarazmian troops and ends up massacring the entire city[108]
Kuchlug ambushes and captures Yelü Zhilugu, after which he usurps the throne of the Qara Khitai[109]
Kuchlug attacks unsuccessfully, and Ozar submits to the Mongol Empire of Genghis khan[110]
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