Kara-Khitans: Map & History
Kara-Khitans is mapped in the atlas for 1126 CE – 1219 CE, with a peak mapped extent of about 2,568,396 km².
Wikipedia Encyclopedic Compendium
Historiographical synthesis & structured realm registry
The Qara Khitai or Kara Khitai, officially the Great Liao, also known as the Western Liao, was a dynastic state based in Central Asia, ruled by the Yelü clan of the Khitan people, a Sinicized Para-Mongolic people from modern day eastern Mongolia and Northeast China. The Khitans had ruled the Liao dynasty (907–1125), covering much of Northeast Asia, until they were defeated by the Jurchens. A group of displaced Khitans led by Yelü Dashi fled to Central Asia and continued to rule as a continuation of the Liao dynasty. The state developed into a multicultural empire synthesizing Khitan and Liao traditions with Chinese administrative forms while governing a predominantly Turkic and Iranian population.
Modern Countries Once Part of Kara-Khitans
At its mapped extent, Kara-Khitans covered territory in 5 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
- Kyrgyzstan1139–1219 CE · nearly all
- Tajikistan1147–1215 CE · most
- Uzbekistan1147–1215 CE · most
- Kazakhstan1139–1219 CE · a large part
- China1139–1219 CE · a small part
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Kara-Khitans's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Kara-Khitans in Depth
History
The Qara Khitai empire, also known as the Western Liao dynasty, was the remnant offshoot of the Khitan-led Liao dynasty. From 1114 to 1125, the Jurchen-led Jin dynasty conquered the Liao. In 1122, two groups of Khitans fled westward to escape the Jin invasion. One of these groups was led by Yelü Dashi, who joined the Liao emperor, Tianzuo, at the border of the Western Xia kingdom. Dashi was captured by the Jin in 1123 and forced to lead them to Tianzuo's camp, resulting in the capture of the entire Liao imperial family except for Tianzuo and one of his sons. Dashi later rejoined Tianzuo but the emperor was captured in early 1125 and died at the Jin court in 1128.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Qara Khitai (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Kara-Khitans: Key Facts
| Capital | Balasagun |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1124 |
| Dissolved | 1218 |
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Facts from Wikidata Q862304 (CC0).
Kara-Khitans Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Kara-Khitans appears, with the other states of the time.
Kara-Khitans Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 2,568,396 km² in 1149 CE.
Kara-Khitans: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Kara-Khitans exist?
Kara-Khitans is dated to 1126 CE – 1219 CE, in the High & Late Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of Kara-Khitans?
The capital of Kara-Khitans was Balasagun.
How large was Kara-Khitans at its peak?
At its peak in 1149 AD Kara-Khitans covered about 2,568,396 km².
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