Xiao Yanyan was the domineering empress dowager of the Liao Dynasty, born in a large family of the Khitan Dynasty, a young man who was intelligent, resilient, and did things vigorously, after Emperor Jingzong of Liao succeeded to the throne, Xiao Yanyan was named a noble concubine and later became an empress. After her father was killed, Xiao Yanyan began to get involved in politics, and after her husband's death, she took charge of the state affairs of the Liao Dynasty, reformed internally, and attacked the Song Dynasty externally, which made the Liao Dynasty achieve great development.
Brief introduction of Empress Xiao Yanyan of the Great Liao
Xiao Yanyan's original surname was Bali, and his ancestors were given the surname Xiao by the founding emperor of the Liao State, whose original name was Xiao Qi, the small character Yan Yan, was born in the Liao Dynasty's official eunuch family, his father was the elder of the four dynasties of the Liao Dynasty, and his mother was princess Of Yan, the daughter of Emperor Taizong of Liao. Xiao Yanyan was born smart, meticulous and tenacious, decisive in doing things, and won the love of her father.
Stills of Xiao Yanyan in "Yangmen Female General"
In 969, when Emperor Muzong of Liao was killed by his people while hunting in Montenegro, Xiao Siwen put Yelüxian on the throne, that is, Liaojingzong. As a meritorious servant, Xiao Siwen was promoted to the title of King of Wei, and his daughter Xiao Yanyan was elected to the imperial palace and was soon made empress. A year later, Xiao Siwen was murdered, and Emperor Jingzong of Liao was physically weak, and Xiao Yanyan, who was not yet twenty years old, acted as the state administrator and became the de facto ruler.
In 982, Emperor Jingzong of Liao died on his way to hunting, and Emperor Shengzong of Liao succeeded to the throne, and Xiao Yanyan became empress dowager, beginning her regency career. Since the young lord had just ascended the throne and the foundation was unstable, Xiao Yanyan appointed Han Derang and Yelü Xieyi to be responsible for internal affairs and military affairs respectively, stabilizing the political situation and implementing large-scale reforms, and the Liao state developed in an all-round way.
In 986, the Song Dynasty attacked the Liao State, Xiao Yanyan personally went into battle, defeated the Song army twice, but later lost to the Song army, and after negotiating peace with the Song Dynasty, after the alliance with the Liaoyuan, the Song and Liao were almost in a peaceful stage for more than a hundred years. In 1009, Xiao Yanyan surrendered power and went to Nanjing to retire, but unfortunately fell ill and died on the way.
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Is Xiao Yanyan really powerful?
Liao Jingzong was weak, and after ascending the throne, he suffered from a disease similar to sheep madness, and he was even weaker and weaker, and did not have the energy to manage the government. At this time, the seventeen-year-old empress Xiao Yanyan took on the heavy responsibility of handling the government.
"Empress Dowager Liao" Xiao Yanyan stills
Xiao Yanyan was allowed by Emperor Jingzong of Liao to govern the country and exerted her shrewd talents. Under her rule, the economy of the Liao Dynasty continued to develop, and the strength of border defense gradually became stronger, and officials of the DPRK and China were convinced of her. In 976, Emperor Jingzong of Liao issued an edict that the empress's words would be recorded in the name of "朕" and "予", which raised Xiao Yanyan's status to the height of an emperor.
In 982, at the age of twelve, Yelü Longxu ascended the throne, and Xiao Yanyan became the empress dowager. At this time, Xiao Yanyan was facing a situation of unstable regime, more than two hundred royal relatives had military power, and the border defense was threatened by the Song Dynasty. Therefore, Xiao Yanyan requested the help of Han Derang and Yelü Xieyun, and issued an edict at the suggestion of Han Derang to allow the princes to return to their territories, no contacts, to solve the political crisis, and to carry out favorable reforms, so that the national strength and military strength of the Liao state were continuously enhanced.
The Liao State and the Song Dynasty have always had wars, for the sixteen prefectures of Yanyun, Song Taizong sent troops to the Northern Han Dynasty, and then attacked the Liao State, which was very smooth at the beginning, but the soldiers of the long-distance Northern Expedition were exhausted, and they were defeated and retreated one after another, and in Jiaxiao Yanyan personally went into battle, and the Song army was in a hurry to collect troops. In 986, in the Northern Expedition of Yongxuan, Xiao Yanyan led his troops to repel the Song army several times, killed Yang Ye, Yang Yanyu and others, recovered the territory, approached Kaifeng, and was defeated by the Song army, forming an alliance with the Song Dynasty, and maintaining peace for more than a hundred years.
Xiao Yanyan was a well-known political woman in the Liao Dynasty, and in her ruling career of about forty years, she consolidated the ruling position of her husband and young son, consolidated the rule of the Liao Dynasty, greatly developed the domestic economy, opened the prosperous era of the Liao Dynasty, and made positive contributions to the peace between the Song and Liao Dynasties.