About the Place and Role of a Dynasty in the Normadic Empire (Based on the Material of the History of the Yelu Family in the Khitan Liao State, 907—1125)

The article is about a dynasty phenomenon in the nomadic Yelu empire of Eastern Asia. The Yelu family in the Khitan Liao empire whose period of existence may be considered the climax of the nomadic civilization development, is viewed as a vivid example. The reasons of the origination of the Khitan Yelu dynasty, its history, functions and problems, the results of its existence and the reasons of its leaving the historical arena are examined. A special attention is paid to its role in both the history of the Khitan nomadic state itself and in civilization history of the nomadic area of Eastern Asia.

Keywords: dynasty, empire, elite, Khitans, Liao, Yelu, China, Mongolia, Eastern Asia.