Yelü Chun (耶律淳) | 24 Histories

Overview

Yelü Chun was a Liao prince and short-lived emperor of the Northern Liao state.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Childhood name	Nieli	涅里	Nièlǐ
Posthumous name	Emperor Xiaozhang	孝章皇帝
Temple name	Xuanzong	宣宗	Xuānzōng
Regnal name	Emperor Tianxi	天錫皇帝

Life and dates

Death

Cause illness 病 · Age Value: 60 · Reckoning: Sui
Directly stated · History of Liao 30, passage 185
AD 1122 保大二年
Directly stated · History of Liao 114, passages 71, 73
Illness
Directly stated · History of Liao 102, passages 47, 49

Age

60
Reckoning Sui · At Event death
Directly stated · History of Liao 30, passage 185

Attested activity

AD 1101 乾統元年六月
Dated from the passage context · History of Liao 27, passage 16
AD 1121 保大初
Dated from the passage context · History of Liao 102, passages 43, 45, 49
AD 1102 乾統二年
Directly stated · History of Liao 30, passage 167
AD 1106 六年
Dated from the passage context · History of Liao 30, passage 168
AD 1055 清甯初
Directly stated · History of Liao 30, passage 23
AD 1117 七年
Dated from the passage context · History of Liao 28, passages 97, 101

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AD 1115 五年
Dated from the passage context · History of Liao 28, passages 37, 43
AD 1122 保大二年
Directly stated · History of Liao 30, passages 172, 176
AD 1122 保大二年
Dated from the passage context · History of Liao 100, passages 33-34; History of Liao 101, passages 58, 60; History of Liao 114, passage 71
AD 1116 六年
Dated from the passage context · History of Liao 28, passage 77
AD 1031 to AD 1055 右係出興宗神聖孝章皇帝
Dated from the passage context · History of Liao 66, passages 536, 544
AD 1115 天慶五年
Directly stated · History of Liao 30, passage 27
AD 1115 天慶五年
Dated from the passage context · History of Liao 100, passage 60
AD 1122 太祖取燕前後
Strongly inferred · History of Jin 78, passage 13

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Descendant of Emperor Xingzong of Liao (遼興宗)
grandfather of 孫 · 2 generations
grandson 孫 · 2 generations
fourth-generation grandson 第四孫 · paternal line · 4 generations
descent line from 係出 · paternal line
Directly stated · History of Liao 100, passage 66; History of Liao 30, passage 22; History of Liao 66, passages 536, 544
Spouse of Lady Xiao (王妃蕭氏)
prince's consort 王妃
Directly stated · History of Liao 102, passage 49
Child of Heluwo (和魯斡)
son 子
Directly stated · History of Liao 30, passage 22
Parent of Asa (阿撒)
son 子
Directly stated · History of Liao 30, passage 27
Spouse of Puxiannu (普賢女)
wife 妻
Directly stated · History of Liao 30, passages 84, 181; History of Liao 114, passage 73
Spouse of Wife of Yelü Chun (魏國王淳妻)
wife 妻
Directly stated · History of Liao 100, passage 60

Key source chapters

Origins and identity

Lineage Descent line of Emperor Xingzong 興宗神聖孝章皇帝系
Directly stated · History of Liao 66, passages 536, 544

Career and standing

Southern Chancellor 南府宰相
AD 1106 六年 · Appointed
Directly stated · History of Liao 30, passage 168
commander-in-chief 都元帥
AD 1115 天慶五年 · Appointed
Directly stated · History of Liao 30, passage 27
Eastern Capital intendant 東京留守
Appointed
Directly stated · History of Liao 27, passage 63
supreme commander 都元帥
Appointed
Directly stated · History of Liao 28, passage 77
Prince of Zheng 鄭王
Advanced
Directly stated · History of Liao 27, passage 16
King of Qin-Jin 秦晉國王
Advanced to
Directly stated · History of Liao 28, passage 77

Show 10 more source-backed claims

King of Qin and Jin 秦晉國王
Held
Directly stated · History of Liao 66, passage 536
Prince of Wei 魏國王
Held
Directly stated · History of Liao 28, passage 37; History of Liao 100, passage 60
Prince of Wei 魏王
Held
Directly stated · History of Liao 101, passage 60
Assumed royal title
Usurpation
Directly stated · History of Liao 101, passage 60
Assumed
Claimed emperorship
Directly stated · History of Liao 66, passage 536
beheaded Dili and Yanliu 斬敵裏、延留
Executed · With Dili (敵里)
Directly stated · History of Liao 100, passage 63
Heavenly Bestowed Emperor 天錫皇帝
AD 1122 保大二年…建福元年
Directly stated · History of Liao 30, passages 175-176
proclaimed himself emperor / usurped title
AD 1122 保大二年
Directly stated · History of Liao 100, passage 34
self-proclaimed ruler at Yan 自立于燕
AD 1122 天祚走天德
Directly stated · History of Jin 78, passage 13
Emperor Tianxi 天錫皇帝
Directly stated · History of Liao 102, passage 45

Places and affiliations

Polity Id liao · Relation Associated with
Strongly inferred · History of Jin 78, passage 13
Polity Id liao · Relation Associated
Directly stated · History of Liao 100, passage 33; History of Liao 101, passage 60
Polity Id liao · Relation Member of
Strongly inferred · History of Liao 66, passages 536, 544
Polity Id liao · Relation Served
Directly stated · History of Liao 28, passage 37; History of Liao 102, passage 43

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · With Xiao Dili (蕭諦里)
Directly stated · History of Liao 28, passage 40

Events and relationships

Declared emperor
Political · Claimant
Directly stated · History of Liao 66, passage 536
Defeated
Military · Commander · At Jili Mountain 蒺藜山
Directly stated · History of Liao 28, passage 101
Executed
Legal · Authority · With Xiao Dili (蕭諦里)
Directly stated · History of Liao 28, passage 43
Hesitated when asked to take throne; then beheaded Dili and Yanliu
Political · Hesitant candidate
Directly stated · History of Liao 100, passages 62-63
Rejected enthronement
Political · Refused plot · With Yelü Zhangnu (耶律章奴)
Directly stated · History of Liao 28, passages 40, 43
Sent letters to recruit
Recruitment · Recruiter · With Yelu Axibao (耶律阿息保)
Directly stated · History of Liao 101, passage 60

Show 1 more source-backed claim

Relation Kin of · Person Emperor Tianzuo of Liao (遼天祚帝)
Strongly inferred · History of Liao 28, passages 37, 40

Assessments and attributes

Assessment of lofty virtue able to govern · Mode quotation Speaker Yelü Zhangnu (耶律章奴)
Directly stated · History of Liao 100, passage 66
Assessment usurper · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · History of Liao 30, passages 141-142

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · History of Liao 27, passage 16
To Emperor Xuanzong 宣宗 · From Emperor Tianxi 天錫皇帝
Directly stated · History of Liao 102, passages 45, 53

References in the histories

Search passages

History

68 passages

History of Jin, Chapter 78Volume 78 Biographies 16: Liu Yanzong and His Sons E and Kuo; Kuo's Son Zhonghui; Liu Yi; Shi Liai; Han Qixian and His Son Duo · 1 passage

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天祚走天德，秦晉國王耶律捏裏自立于燕，擢彥宗留守判官。 When Emperor Tianzuo fled to Tiande, Yelü Chun, the prince of Qin and Jin whose childhood name was Nieli, set himself up at Yan and appointed Yanzong assistant to the resident commissioner.

History of Liao, Chapter 27Volume 27 Annals 27: Emperor Tianzuo 1 · 4 passages

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乙巳，以北平郡王淳進封鄭王。 On yisi day Prince of Beiping Commandery Chun was advanced to Prince of Zheng.

十一月丙申，文武百官加上尊號曰惠文智武聖孝天祚皇帝，大赦，以宋魏國王和魯斡為皇太叔，梁王撻魯進封燕國王，鄭王淳為東京留守，進封越國王，百官各進一階。 On bingshen day of the eleventh month civil and military officials added the honorific title Benevolent, Cultured, Wise, Martial, Sagely, Filial Emperor Tianzuo; a general amnesty was proclaimed; Song Prince of Wei Heluwo was made Imperial Grand Uncle; Prince of Liang Taluo was advanced to Prince of Yan; Prince of Zheng Chun was made Eastern Capital intendant and advanced to Prince of Yue; all officials were promoted one grade.

<五>庚辰，以皇太叔、南京留守和魯斡兼惕隱，東京留守、越國王淳為南府宰相。 [5] On gengchen day Imperial Grand Uncle and Nanjing intendant Heluwo was also made tiyin; Eastern Capital intendant and Prince of Yue Chun was made Southern Court chancellor.

以和魯斡為義和仁聖皇太叔，<六>越國王淳進封魏國王，封皇子敖盧斡為晉王，習泥烈為饒樂郡王。 Heluwo was titled Imperial Grand Uncle of Yihe, Benevolent and Sagely; [6] Prince of Yue Chun was advanced to Prince of Wei; imperial son Aoluwo was enfeoffed Prince of Jin; Xini Lie was enfeoffed Prince of Raole Commandery.

History of Liao, Chapter 28Volume 28 Annals 28: Emperor Tianzuo 2 · 9 passages

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乙巳，耶律章奴反，奔上京，謀迎立魏國王淳。 On yisi day Yelü Zhangnu rebelled, fled to the Supreme Capital, and plotted to welcome Prince of Wei Chun to the throne.

上遣駙馬蕭昱領兵詣廣平澱護后妃，行宮小底乙信持書馳報魏國王。 The emperor sent imperial son-in-law Xiao Yu leading troops to Guangping Marsh to guard the empress and consorts; mobile palace attendant Yixin bore a letter at full gallop to report to Prince of Wei.

時章奴先遣王妃親弟蕭諦里以所謀說魏國王。 At that time Zhangnu had first sent the consort's younger brother Xiao Dili to explain the plot to Prince of Wei.

王曰：「此非細事，主上自有諸王當立，北、南面大臣不來，而汝言及此，何也？」 The prince said, "This is no small matter; the sovereign has his own princes who should be enthroned; Northern and Southern Court great ministers have not come — yet you speak of this — how so?"

魏國王立斬蕭諦里等首以獻，單騎間道詣廣平澱待罪。 Prince of Wei at once beheaded Xiao Dili and others' heads to present; alone on horseback by a hidden path he went to Guangping Marsh to await punishment.

章奴知魏國王不聽，率麾下掠慶、饒、懷、祖等州，結渤海群盜，眾至數萬，趨廣平澱犯行宮。 Zhangnu, learning Prince of Wei would not listen, led his followers to plunder Qing, Rao, Huai, Zu, and other prefectures, joined Bohai bandits, and when his force reached tens of thousands hastened to Guangping Marsh to attack the mobile palace.

庚辰，魏國王淳進封秦晉國王，為都元帥； On gengchen day Prince of Wei Chun was advanced to King of Qin-Jin and made supreme commander;

八月丙寅，獵斯那里山，命都元帥秦晉王赴沿邊，會四路兵馬防秋。 On bingyin day of the eighth month the court hunted at Sinari Mountain and ordered supreme commander King of Qin-Jin to go to the border and assemble four-route troops to guard against autumn raids.

十二月丙寅，都元帥秦晉國王淳遇女直軍，戰於蒺藜山，敗績。 On bingyin day of the twelfth month supreme commander King of Qin-Jin Chun encountered Jurchen troops; they fought at Jili Mountain and were defeated.

History of Liao, Chapter 30Volume 30 Annals 30: Emperor Tianzuo 4: Ye Luchun, Ye Luyali, Ye Ludashi and Son: Yilie, Yi Lie and Younger Sister: Pu Suwan, Yi Lieci and Son: Zhilugu · 27 passages

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天祚皇帝四耶律淳耶律雅里耶律大石子:夷列夷列妹:普速完夷列次子:直魯古 Emperor Tianzuo IV; Yelü Chun; Yelü Yali; Yelü Dashi — Yilie; Yilie's sister Pusuwan; Yilie's second son Zhilugu

耶律淳 Yelü Chun

耶律淳者，世號為北遼。 Yelü Chun — his regime is known as Northern Liao.

淳小字涅里，興宗第四孫，南京留守、宋魏王和魯斡之子。 Chun's childhood name was Nieli; he was Emperor Xingzong's fourth-generation grandson, son of Southern Capital regent and Song Prince of Wei Heluwo.

昭懷太子得罪，上欲以淳為嗣。 When the Memorializing Heir Apparent was condemned, the emperor wished to make Chun heir.

上怒耶律白斯不，知與淳善，出淳為彰聖等軍節度使。 The emperor was angry at Yelü Baisi, knowing he was friendly with Chun, and sent Chun out as Zhangsheng and other armies military commissioner.

天祚即位，進王鄭。 When Tianzuo took the throne, Chun was advanced to Prince of Zheng.

其父和魯斡薨，即以淳襲父守南京。 When his father Heluwo died, Chun thereupon succeeded his father as regent of Nanjing.

天慶五年，東征，都監章奴濟鴨子河，與淳子阿撒等三百餘人亡歸，先遣敵里等以廢立之謀報淳，淳斬敵里首以獻，進封秦晉國王，拜都元帥，賜金券，免漢拜禮，不名。 In Tianqing year 5, on the eastern campaign, superintendent Zhangnu crossed the Yazi River; with Chun's son Asa and more than three hundred others he fled back, first sending Dili and others to report to Chun the plan to depose and enthrone; Chun beheaded Dili and presented his head, was advanced Prince of Qin-Jin, appointed commander-in-chief, granted the gold warrant, exempted from Han bowing ritual, and not called by name.

東至錦州，隊長武朝彥作亂，劫淳。 Going east to Jinzhou, company chief Wu Chaoyan made disorder and seized Chun.

淳匿而免，收朝彥誅之。 Chun hid and escaped, gathered Chaoyan and executed him.