Yaonian Yanmujin
Yaonian Yanmujin (
Background and marriage to Yelü Saladi
It is not known when Yaonian Yanmujin was born. (She is referred to in traditional historical sources (such as the
At some point, Yaonian Yanmujin married the Yelü chieftain Yelü Saladi. They had six children — including five of Yaonian's six sons and his oldest son Yelü Abaoji, and one daughter.[3][4]
As empress dowager
After Yelü Abaoji succeeded Yelü Saladi as the Yelü chief, he conquered the other Khitan tribes by force, and by 907, he had declared himself the emperor of a new
In 913, while Emperor Taizu was away at Lu River (蘆水), he believed that there would be a joint rebellion by his brothers Yelü Diela (耶律迭剌 (whom he had made the King of the Xi)) and Yelü Anduan (耶律安端), and therefore arrested them. When another brother, Yelü Lage (耶律剌葛) heard this, Yelü Lage then arrived at the Khitan headquarters with an army, apparently planning to declare himself emperor. It was at Empress Dowager Yaonian's orders that he departed from the headquarters. His army subsequently pillaged the headquarters but were repelled by Empress Shulü's army, and they subsequently departed.[5]
In 919, on an occasion when Emperor Taizu was attacking the Wugu Tribe (烏古), he heard that Empress Dowager Yaonian was ill, and therefore returned to headquarters to attend to her. He resumed the Wugu campaign once she recovered.[7]
As grand empress dowager
In 927, Emperor Taizu died and was succeeded by his son Yelü Deguang (as Emperor Taizong). Emperor Taizong honored Empress Dowager Yaonian as grand empress dowager. She died in 933.[1]
References
- ^ a b History of Liao, vol. 3.
- ^ Academia Sinica Chinese-Western Calendar Converter.
- ^ a b History of Liao, vol. 71.
- ^ History of Liao, vol. 64.
- ^ a b History of Liao, vol. 1.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 269.
- ^ History of Liao, vol. 2.