Fall of Western Liao (Qara Khitai) (1210)

Timeline

1. 1210Uzgen · Fergana ValleyThe Naiman prince Kuchlug (fleeing west after Genghis Khan destroyed the Naimans in 1204) took advantage of Yelü Zhilugu's personal campaign against Samarkand to suppress the Qarakhanid revolt, seizing the Western Liao treasury at Uzgen and rising in rebellion, seriously weakening central authority.
2. 1210Samarkand · TransoxianaKhwarazmshah Muhammad Il-Arsalan took advantage of the Western Liao's main force being diverted east to suppress the revolt and Kuchlug's internal troubles to capture Samarkand, cutting off Western Liao control of Transoxiana. Kuchlug had previously allied with Khwarazm.
3. 1210Talas · Central AsiaAfter returning from Samarkand, Yelü Zhilugu was defeated by Khwarazm forces near Talas, losing Transoxiana. The Western Liao fell back on its capital Balasagun, its territory shrank greatly, and Yelü rule became nominal only.
4. 1210–1211Balasagun · ZhetysuAfter retreating to Balasagun, Yelü Zhilugu at first defeated Kuchlug, but the empire had lost its Central Asian vassals. In 1211 Kuchlug ambushed and captured the gurkhan while he was out hunting, ending Yelü rule; the remnants were conquered by the Mongols Jebe and Chormaqan in 1218.