Prince Bei
Encyclopedia
Prince Bei, fully Yelü Bei , officially Emperor
Yizong of Liao (Simplified: 辽义宗, Traditional: 遼義宗), was the eldest son of Abaoji
, the founder of the Liao Dynasty
. He was declared successor to the first emperor of the Liao Empire in 916, but never succeeded to the throne. Rather, upon the accession of his younger brother, he went to China, where he was killed in 937.
, most notably, Chinese institutions designed to bring stability to the realm and the succession
process. With this in mind, he sought to institute the notion of primogeniture
, succession based on blood-lines, to the Khitan
nation. To this end, Abaoji named Prince Bei, his eldest son, to be his successor in 916.
. Despite Prince Bei’s status as designated successor, this flew in the face of Khitan culture and custom. Even more importantly, his younger brother, Deguang
, exhibited more qualities characteristic of and admired by Khitan culture. Though their mother, Empress Yingtian
, was expected to sacrifice herself upon the death of her husband, she remained to exert great influence on the succession process. She openly distrusted Prince Bei due to his addiction to Chinese learning, and consequently supported her second son, Deguang.
Though Prince Bei was by his own admission of inferior qualifications to his brother, he was no stranger to military life. He could ride and shoot with his peers. However, Deguang was not only popular with their mother, he was also popular with Khitan nobility.
While Deguang ascended to the throne, Prince Bei had the title of Prince of Dongdan, the new name for the conquered Balhae state. Despite this apparently level of trust, Prince Bei was monitored by Deguang, posthumously known as Emperor Taizong of the Liao Dynasty.
and bestowed the imperial surname of Li
. However, Prince Bei appeared to remain loyal to the Khitan state as he sent intelligence reports to his brother in 934. Then the Khitan invasion of 936 occurred, the Later Tang emperor had Prince Bei assassinated due to the feelings of betrayal due to the Khitan invasion.
Emperor
An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
Yizong of Liao (Simplified: 辽义宗, Traditional: 遼義宗), was the eldest son of Abaoji
Emperor Taizu of Liao
The Emperor Taizu of Liao was the first emperor of the Liao Dynasty . His given name was Abaoji . Some sources also suggest that the surname Yelü was adopted during his lifetime, though there is no unanimity on this point....
, the founder of the Liao Dynasty
Liao Dynasty
The Liao Dynasty , also known as the Khitan Empire was an empire in East Asia that ruled over the regions of Manchuria, Mongolia, and parts of northern China proper between 9071125...
. He was declared successor to the first emperor of the Liao Empire in 916, but never succeeded to the throne. Rather, upon the accession of his younger brother, he went to China, where he was killed in 937.
Designation as Successor
Abaoji attempted to bring numerous reforms to the KhitanKhitan people
thumb|250px|Khitans [[Eagle hunting|using eagles to hunt]], painted during the Chinese [[Song Dynasty]].The Khitan people , or Khitai, Kitan, or Kidan, were a nomadic Mongolic people, originally located at Mongolia and Manchuria from the 4th century...
, most notably, Chinese institutions designed to bring stability to the realm and the succession
Order of succession
An order of succession is a formula or algorithm that determines who inherits an office upon the death, resignation, or removal of its current occupant.-Monarchies and nobility:...
process. With this in mind, he sought to institute the notion of primogeniture
Primogeniture
Primogeniture is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings . Historically, the term implied male primogeniture, to the exclusion of females...
, succession based on blood-lines, to the Khitan
Khitan people
thumb|250px|Khitans [[Eagle hunting|using eagles to hunt]], painted during the Chinese [[Song Dynasty]].The Khitan people , or Khitai, Kitan, or Kidan, were a nomadic Mongolic people, originally located at Mongolia and Manchuria from the 4th century...
nation. To this end, Abaoji named Prince Bei, his eldest son, to be his successor in 916.
Death of Abaoji
Abaoji died a sudden and surprising death in 926 while campaigning against the state of BalhaeBalhae
Balhae was a Manchurian kingdom established after the fall of Goguryeo. After Goguryeo's capital and southern territories fell to Unified Silla, Dae Jo-yeong, a Mohe general, whose father was Dae Jung-sang, established Jin , later called Balhae.Balhae occupied southern parts of Manchuria and...
. Despite Prince Bei’s status as designated successor, this flew in the face of Khitan culture and custom. Even more importantly, his younger brother, Deguang
Emperor Taizong of Liao
The Emperor Taizong of Liao , born as Yelü Deguang , was the second emperor of the Khitan Empire .-Succession to the Throne:...
, exhibited more qualities characteristic of and admired by Khitan culture. Though their mother, Empress Yingtian
Empress Dowager Yingtian
Empress Dowager Yingtian was empress dowager of the Liao Empire from the time of her husband Abaoji’s death in 926 to her own death in 953...
, was expected to sacrifice herself upon the death of her husband, she remained to exert great influence on the succession process. She openly distrusted Prince Bei due to his addiction to Chinese learning, and consequently supported her second son, Deguang.
Though Prince Bei was by his own admission of inferior qualifications to his brother, he was no stranger to military life. He could ride and shoot with his peers. However, Deguang was not only popular with their mother, he was also popular with Khitan nobility.
While Deguang ascended to the throne, Prince Bei had the title of Prince of Dongdan, the new name for the conquered Balhae state. Despite this apparently level of trust, Prince Bei was monitored by Deguang, posthumously known as Emperor Taizong of the Liao Dynasty.
Time in China
In 930, Prince Bei slipped into China, where he supported himself as a poet and painter. He was welcomed by Li Siyuan, also known as Emperor Mingzong of the Later Tang DynastyLater Tang Dynasty
The Later Tang Dynasty was a short-lived dynasty that lasted from 923 to 937 one of the five dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was also the first in a series of three dynasties ruled by the Shatuo Turks...
and bestowed the imperial surname of Li
Li
Li or li may refer to:* Li , the Confucian concept of ritual** Li , philosophical concept of principle* Li people, an ethnic group of China...
. However, Prince Bei appeared to remain loyal to the Khitan state as he sent intelligence reports to his brother in 934. Then the Khitan invasion of 936 occurred, the Later Tang emperor had Prince Bei assassinated due to the feelings of betrayal due to the Khitan invasion.
Prince Bei’s Son
Prince Bei left a son behind in the homeland to be raised by his younger brother, who is said to have loved him like a son. He accompanied his uncle on campaign in China in 947 where his uncle died. He was a model Khitan prince, and despite the opposition of Empress Yingtian, he succeeded his uncle and became known as Emperor ShizongEmperor Shizong of Liao
The Emperor Shizong of Liao , born as Yelü Ruan , also known as Wuyu, was the third emperor of Liao dynasty, reigning from 16 May 947 to 7 October 951. He is the son of Prince Bei, the eldest son of Abaoji, the founder of the Khitan Empire...
See also
- Emperor Taizu of LiaoEmperor Taizu of LiaoThe Emperor Taizu of Liao was the first emperor of the Liao Dynasty . His given name was Abaoji . Some sources also suggest that the surname Yelü was adopted during his lifetime, though there is no unanimity on this point....
- Emperor Taizong of LiaoEmperor Taizong of LiaoThe Emperor Taizong of Liao , born as Yelü Deguang , was the second emperor of the Khitan Empire .-Succession to the Throne:...
- Emperor Shizong of LiaoEmperor Shizong of LiaoThe Emperor Shizong of Liao , born as Yelü Ruan , also known as Wuyu, was the third emperor of Liao dynasty, reigning from 16 May 947 to 7 October 951. He is the son of Prince Bei, the eldest son of Abaoji, the founder of the Khitan Empire...
- Khitan peopleKhitan peoplethumb|250px|Khitans [[Eagle hunting|using eagles to hunt]], painted during the Chinese [[Song Dynasty]].The Khitan people , or Khitai, Kitan, or Kidan, were a nomadic Mongolic people, originally located at Mongolia and Manchuria from the 4th century...
- Liao DynastyLiao DynastyThe Liao Dynasty , also known as the Khitan Empire was an empire in East Asia that ruled over the regions of Manchuria, Mongolia, and parts of northern China proper between 9071125...