User:Garrrrmatey66/sandbox

The Sun is pretty big, but the Moon is not so big.

Notes

Though Abaoji died in 926, the dynasty would last nearly two more centuries. five cities were appointed as capitals during the dynasty. in addition to the supreme capital in the heartland of Khitan territory, there were four regional capitals, one of which was Beijing, which became a capital for the first time its history. though it was not the main capital of the dynasty but rather was appointed as the southern capital after the Khitan was obtained as the southern capital after the Khitan acquired the contentious sixteen prefectures in 935.

From the 5th to the 8th centuries, they were dominated by the steppe power to their West (Turks, then the Uyghurs, during the 8th and 9th centuries) and the Chinese to their south (Northern dynasties or Tang, respectively during the 5th and 6th, and 7th to 10th centuries), and in some cases under Korean domination (from the East, mainly Goguryeo), according to the balance of power at any given time. Under this triple domination and oppression, the Khitan started to show growing power and independence. This rise was, compared to other cases, slow. Slow because it was frequently crushed by its neighbouring powers, each using the Khitan warriors when needed, but each ready to crush them when the Khitan rose too much and became powerful, close to becoming an independent fourth regional power. The 696-697 Li-Shun Rebellion is really instructive on this "2 adults and 1 teenager" game: the Khitan were encouraged by the Turks to take all the risks and revolt against the Tang, which they successfully accomplished, before being attacked at their rear by the Turks, to the great advantage of the newly-reborn Turkish empire (2d, 682-745).

From the 5th to the 8th century, they were overtaken by the steppe power to their west and the Chinese to there south.