Xiao Tabuyan (, died ''after'' 1150) was empress of the Western Liao dynasty (Qara Khitai) by marriage to her cousin Yelü Dashi (Emperor Dezong). She was known in Muslim sources as Kuyang or Orghina. She served as the

regent In a monarchy, a regent () is a person appointed to govern a state because the actual monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge their powers and duties, or the throne is vacant and a new monarch has not yet been dete ...

of the empire for her son, Yelü Yilie (Emperor Renzong), from 1143 to 1150 during his minority.

Life

After Yelü Dashi's death in 1143, she assumed the throne as regent for their little son Yelü Yilie. She also changed era date to ''Xianqing'' and started to rule effectively. In March 1144, Oghuz tribes reinvaded

Bukhara Bukhara ( ) is the List of cities in Uzbekistan, seventh-largest city in Uzbekistan by population, with 280,187 residents . It is the capital of Bukhara Region. People have inhabited the region around Bukhara for at least five millennia, and t ...

and held it probably until 1148. Later that year, Emperor Xizong of Jin sent a messenger named Zhangge Hannu (粘割韓奴) to Tabuyan, who only arrived in Qara Khitai lands in 1146, demanding her submission to Jin. Furious, Tabuyan executed him immediately. She stepped down in 1150, when Yelü Yilie came of age.

Family

''Spouse'': Yelü Dashi (cousin) ''Children'': * Yelü Yilie (son) * Yelü Pusuwan (daughter)

References

{{Liao empresses 12th-century regents 12th-century women regents Qara Khitai empresses 12th-century Khitan women 12th-century Khitan people Xiao clan Mothers of Chinese emperors