Overview
Yelü Dashi, an eighth-generation descendant of Abaoji, rebuilt the Khitan state in Central Asia after the Jurchen Jin destroyed the Liao. He ruled both as a Chinese-style emperor, with reign names, and as gurkhan, 'universal khan', of the steppe and oasis peoples. Muslim writers knew him as the Gurkhan of the Khitay.
Rise to Power
A scholar who had passed the Liao civil examinations and a general, he broke with the last Liao emperor in 1124 and led about two hundred followers to the old Uyghur lands on the Orkhon, where he gathered tribal support. He moved west around 1130 and took the gurkhan title by 1132.
Rule and Achievements
- Founded a base on the Emil River and in 1134 took Balasagun, at the invitation of its Karakhanid khan, making it his capital
- Defeated the Western Karakhanids at Khujand in 1137
- On 9 September 1141 destroyed the army of the Seljuk sultan Sanjar at Qatwan, near Samarkand; the Western Karakhanids and Khwarazm became his vassals
- Ruled directly only the lands around Balasagun and left his vassals their thrones in return for tribute
Legacy
He died in 1143. His widow Tabuyan ruled for their young son. Europeans who heard of his victory over a Muslim sultan may have taken it as news of Prester John, the legendary Christian king of the East.