Sholu
Sovereignempire

Kara-Khitans

1124 CE – 1218 CE

Quick Facts

Type
Sovereign · empire
Period
1124 CE – 1218 CE
Duration
94 years
Known Periods
8
Capital
Balasagun
Data Confidence
ai_generated

Overview

The Qara Khitai, or Kara Khitai (simplified Chinese: 哈剌契丹; traditional Chinese: 喀喇契丹; pinyin: Kālā Qìdān or Chinese: 黑契丹; pinyin: Hēi Qìdān; lit. 'Black Khitan'), also known as the Western Liao (Chinese: 西遼; pinyin: Xī Liáo), officially the Great Liao (Chinese: 大遼; pinyin: Dà Liáo), was a dynastic regime based in Central Asia ruled by the Yelü clan of the Khitan people. Being a rump state of the Khitan-led Liao dynasty, Western Liao was culturally Sinicized to a large extent, especially among the elites consisting of Liao refugees. The dynasty was founded by Yelü Dashi (Emperor Dezong), who led the remnants of the Liao dynasty from Manchuria to Central Asia after fleeing from the Jurchen-led Jin dynasty conquest of northern China..

Historical Periods

Kara-Khitans (1126–1138)

1126 CE – 1138 CE

Capital: BalasagunArea: 376,585 km²

Kara-Khitans (1139–1146)

1139 CE – 1146 CE

medium
Capital: BalasagunArea: 1,795,136 km²

Kara-Khitans (1147–1151)

1147 CE – 1151 CE

medium
Capital: BalasagunArea: 2,559,406 km²

Kara-Khitans (1152–1201)

1152 CE – 1201 CE

medium
Capital: BalasagunArea: 2,503,663 km²

Kara-Khitans (1202–1205)

1202 CE – 1205 CE

medium
Capital: BalasagunArea: 2,506,810 km²

Kara-Khitans (1206–1209)

1206 CE – 1209 CE

medium
Capital: BalasagunArea: 2,505,435 km²

Kara-Khitans (1210–1215)

1210 CE – 1215 CE

medium
Capital: BalasagunArea: 2,050,772 km²

Kara-Khitans (1216–1219)

1216 CE – 1219 CE

medium
Capital: BalasagunArea: 1,696,299 km²

Explore Kara-Khitans on the Interactive Map

Watch territories shift, borders change, and history unfold across centuries

Kara-Khitans (1124 CE – 1218 CE) — Map, Timeline & History | Sholu