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Liao Dynasty Cavalry

Type Object Region East Asia Time c. 907–1125

Liao cavalry centered on Khitan iron cavalry, combining steppe horse-archery traditions with Central Plains armor and siege engines into a fast, mixe…

Timeline

  1. 907–1000Songliao Plain · NortheastIn the early Liao, Khitan tribal horse-archer warriors formed the core, supplemented by cavalry of subject peoples such as the Shiwei and Balhae; after obtaining Yan-Yun in 947, they absorbed Han armored cavalry and siege engines, forming a tactical system combining light horse archers and heavy iron cavalry, achieving repeated successes against Song and Goryeo.
  2. 1000–1101Liao four-season nabo routes · ChinaFrom Shengzong to Daozong, the Liao fielded hundreds of thousands of bow-armed men; the four-season nabo maintained cavalry readiness and horse administration; the Northern Bureau of Military Affairs commanded palace-guard and tribal cavalry, maintaining a horse-archery advantage along the Song border.
  3. 1101–1110Northeast frontier defense and spring nabo territory · NortheastBetween 1101 and 1110, Tianz Emperor's internal disorder weakened command while Jurchen horse-archer forces rose in the northeast; Liao cavalry remained considerable in number but suffered lax discipline and confused command, losing control over the Songhua River basin, laying the groundwork for the later Jin cavalry counterstrike.

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