Chinese Monarchs
A history of Chinese monarchs.
Contents
Dynasties
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period
Song
The Song emerged from the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period as the most powerful kingdom. However, the north of China remained divided and the Song contended with the Liao, Western Xia and Jin dynasties.
In 1127 a significant northern portion of the kingdom fell to the Jin dynasty. As a result, the dynasty is split into two period: the Northern Song before this partial conquest; the Southern Song after.
The Mongols began a conquest which the Yuan dynasty completed in 1279.
Liao
The Khitan nation, led by Yelü clan, established themselves as a dominant power in northern China during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. The Khitan Empire rivaled the reach and power of the Song dynasty.
Following a war with the Song in 1004, diplomatic relations were opened and relative peace was maintained between them. The Yelü clan legitimized itself as the Liao dynasty.
The Liao fell to the Jin dynasty in 1125.
A minor successor state, known as either Qara Khitai or Western Liao, was established by fleeing Khitans. The Naiman khanlig usurped power in 1211 and Mongolia formally dissolved the state in 1218.
Western Xia
The Mongol conquest was complete by 1227.
Jin
The Jurchen nation, led by the Wanyan clan, revolted against the Liao dynasty. By 1125 they had supplanted the kingdom entirely, and by 1127 they had seized a significant portion of the Song dynasty as well.
The Mongol conquest was complete by 1234.
Yuan
The Mongol of Chinese dynasties led to Kublai Khan establishing his factional power base in China. When the Mongol Empire collapsed, he was the reigning power here and nominally in power over the Golden Horde and Ilkhanate.
Kublai legitimized his reign as the Yuan dynasty.
Ming
Qing
The Qing dynasty emerged from the collapse of the Ming dynasty as the dominant power.
The Qing were at first known as the Later Jin, in reference to the previous Jurchen kingdom.
The kingdom fell to the Xinhai Revolution in 1912.