Background
Abaoji was born in 872 in the Yila tribe of the Khitan, a nomadic group likely speaking a proto-Mongolian language.
Yi Yelü
Abaoji was born in 872 in the Yila tribe of the Khitan, a nomadic group likely speaking a proto-Mongolian language.
In 901, Abaoji was elected chieftain of his tribe. Not long afterwards he assumed the tide of yuyue, the khan’s second-in-command. In 907, at the triennial assembly or council of Khitan nobles (similar to the khuriltai of the Mongols), Abaoji was elected the new khan of the Khitan.
Traditions die hard, and Abaoji faced numerous internal rebellions by Khitan nobles including his own uncle and younger brothers, especially when the khan- ship was due for re-election. He managed to thwart all these attempts through a combination of brutal suppression, clever scheming, use of external force and false retreats. Abaoji, already versed in the Chinese language, adopted a Chinese-style political system to maintain permanent power and to establish the lineal succession of the khanship.
He declared himself emperor, probably as early as 916, and adopted a reign tide on the Chinese model, becoming Emperor Taizu (of the Liao). He also proclaimed his eldest son as heir apparent, following the Chinese primogeniture rule and ending the claims to succession of other members of the Khitan nobility.
Ordered to build the first Confucian temple among the Khitan.
Ordered the construction of a permanent capital city in today’s Inner Mongolia in 918.
Ordered the creation of a ‘large script’ for the Khitan language, which was promulgated in 920.
Developed a dual system of government for ruling his nomadic followers and the increasing number of Han Chinese (ethnic Chinese) subjects under his sovereignty.
