Emperor Taizu of Liao

Also known as Yelu Abaoji · Yelu Yi · Abaoji · Dasheng Daming Huangdi · Tian Huangdi

Emperor Taizu of Liao, Yelü Abaoji, Chinese name Yi, of the Khitan Yila tribe, was born in 872. He united the eight Khitan tribes, replaced the Yaonian line as khagan in 907 and in 916 proclaimed himself emperor with the era name Shence. In 920 he ordered the large Khitan script created on the model of Chinese characters, and his brother Yelü Diela later devised the small script. He built the Imperial Capital, later the Supreme Capital at Linhuang, destroyed Bohai in 926 and set up the Dongdan state in its place, and died on the way back that year. The source is the History of Liao.