Emperor Daozong "the Cruel" of Liao (14 September 1032-13 February 1101) was the Emperor of the Liao dynasty from 1055 to 1101, succeeding Emperor Xingzong of Liao and preceding Emperor Tianzuodi of Liao.
Biography[]
Yelu Hongji was born in 1033, the son of Emperor Xingzong of Liao. He was a member of the Buddhist Khitan House of Liao, and he succeeded his father as Emperor of the Liao dynasty on his death in 1055. In 1063 he survived an assassination attempt by Khitans upset that he put them under local Chinese governance. Daozong executed the rebels, and in 1070 he restructured the legal system to reflect the difference of Khitan and Chinese customs. In 1101, however, he was murdered, and his grandson Emperor Tianzuodi of Liao succeeded him.
Daozong led his first campaign in 1066-1067 against the Yenisei Kirghiz, during which he conquered the Tribe of Ket from them. However, the Kimak tribe of Cumans later expanded to form a large empire in Central Asia, posing a new threat to Liao sovereignty of the region. Daozong decided to lead his army on campaign against them again, but they were conquered by Cumania, whose khan Saru "the Careless" conquered much of the western regions of the empire before fully annexing the kingdom. Daozong failed in his goal of taking over the realm, so he had to bide his time before making a move against the Cumans or what was left of the Kirghiz, as he required more prestige to mount an invasion.
Personal life =[]
Emperor Daozong was married to Khanum Xuan Yi of Liao from 1066, but he also had a few concubines:
He also had several children from an unknown wife, Khanum Xuan Yi, and his concubines:
- Jun Liao (5 May 1057-, unknown wife)
- Guanjing Liao (4 November 1073-10 June 1075, Ozgul)
- Shangju Liao (24 October 1075-, Taoge)
- Duolubu Liao (20 December 1077-, Ozgul)