Ascension

Emperor Taizong was on campaign in China when he died in 947. Yelü Ruan accompanied him on this campaign, allowing him to quickly gain the support of the military leaders. While returning to the capital, his grandmother, Empress Dowager Yingtian, had plotted to have her third son, Yelü Lihu, ascend to the throne, and sent an army to intercept her grandson. She had denounced Yelü Ruan in her campaign to support her son. However, the Khitan nobles, knowing that Yelü Lihu was entirely unfit for the throne, refused to support her this time as they did previously with the ascension of Emperor Taizong. The strong support the Liao imperial court gave to Yelü Ruan's claim prevented a civil war among the Khitans.

Reign

Emperor Shizong was known both for his generosity as well as for his martial prowess. This generosity was not extended to either his grandmother or his uncle (Yelü Lihu) both of whom were sent far from the capital by Emperor Shizong. Both died soon afterward, Yelü Lihu in rebellion and Empress Dowager Yingtian of old age.

Emperor Shizong took to the field in 951 in a successful effort to resist Chinese advances from the south. However, later that year, a mere four years after his ascension as emperor, he was killed by a rebellious nephew who was part of an effort within the imperial clan to usurp the throne.

During his reign, Emperor Shizong adopted several reforms that propelled the Liao dynasty into a feudal society and consolidated power into a central government. However, Emperor Shizong was also a drunkard and liked to hunt. On a night in September 951, the emperor was murdered by an officer after a battle. He was only 33 years old and had reigned for only three years.

Family

Consorts and Issue:

• Empress Zhen (甄氏; d. 951), a former court lady of Later Tang

　• Third son Yelü Zhimo (耶律只没; d. 983), the Prince of Ning (宁王)

• Empress Xiao Sagezhi (萧撒葛只; d. 951), a niece of Shulü Ping, honoured as Empress Huaijie (怀节皇后)

　• Eldest son Yelü Hou'abu (耶律吼阿不), honoured as Crown Prince Zhuangsheng (庄圣皇太子)

　• Second son Yelü Xian (耶律贤; 948–982), later Emperor Jingzong of Liao

　• Eldest daughter Yelü Hegudian (耶律和古典), the Princess of Qin (秦国公主)

　　• Married Xiao Chuoli (萧啜里)

　• Second daughter Yelü Guanyin (耶律观音), the Princess of Jin (晋国公主)

　　• Married Xiao Xiala (萧夏剌)

　• Third daughter Yelü Sala (耶律撒剌; b. 950)

　　• Married Xiao Woli (萧斡里)

• Consort Chuoli (啜里; d. 971)

• Consort Puge (浦哥; d. 971)

Ancestry

生平

早年

契丹神册三年，耶律阮出生，他的父亲是契丹开国皇帝耶律阿保机的长子耶律倍，母亲是耶律倍之妃萧氏（死后追谥柔贞皇后）。祖父阿保机死后，父亲耶律倍在权力斗争中失利，不得立为皇帝，耶律阮也就失去了继承皇位的权利。耶律倍后来愤而渡海投奔后唐，终于于932年末被后唐末帝李从珂杀害，客死他乡。耶律阮则留在契丹国内，其叔父太宗耶律德光爱之如己出。契丹会同九年、后晋开运三年（946年），太宗以后晋皇帝石重贵不肯称臣为由大举入侵中原，耶律阮随行军中。第二年（947年）契丹军入后晋国都东京开封府（今河南省开封市），晋帝石重贵投降，后晋灭亡。太宗改国号为「大辽」，改元大同，封耶律阮为永康王。

即位

太宗灭后晋后在北归途中逝世，耶律阮发兵夺取南京析津府（今北京），并在随军将领拥戴下自立为皇帝，在上京（今内蒙古巴林左旗）的萧太后述律平派其子耶律李胡在南京北部的泰德泉交战，大败。经过大臣耶律屋质的劝阻，太后才同意耶律阮当皇帝。世宗时任用贤臣耶律屋质，进行一系列改革，将太宗时的南面官和北面官合并，成立南北枢密院，废南、北大王，后来南北枢密院合并，形成一个枢密院。这些改革使辽朝从部落联盟形式进入中央集权，这些都是与辽世宗的改革分不开的。但是世宗好酒色，喜爱打猎。他晚年更是任用奸佞，大兴封赏降杀，导致朝政不修，政治腐败。辽天禄五年（951年）9月，世宗协助北汉攻后周，行军至归化（今内蒙古呼和浩特）的祥古山，由于其他部队未到，所以驻扎在火神淀。其间喝酒、打人、打猎，众将很是不满。晚上，一直有篡位之心的耶律察割将辽世宗耶律阮杀死于梦乡。耶律阮死时年仅34岁，在位4年。其諡号为孝和庄宪皇帝，庙号世宗。

后妃子女

皇后

• 皇后甄氏

• 皇后萧撒葛只

妃

• 啜里，保宁三年（971年）与蒲哥因「厌魅」被赐死。

• 浦哥，同上

儿子

• 庄圣太子耶律吼阿不

• 辽景宗耶律贤

• 宁王耶律只没

女儿

• 第一女，耶律和古典，萧撒葛只所生，保宁年间，封秦国长公主

• 第二女，耶律观音，萧撒葛只所生，保宁年间，封晋国长公主

• 第三女，耶律撒剌，萧撒葛只所生，未封公主已逝世

• 萌古公主，950年生，萧撒葛只所生，与第三女耶律撒剌可能为同一人

评价

• 元朝官修正史《辽史》脱脱等的评价是：「世宗中才之主也，入继大统，曾未三年，纳唐丸书，即议南伐，即乏持重，宜乖周防，盖有致祸之道矣。然而孝友宽慈，亦有君人之度焉。未及师还，变起沉湎，岂不可哀也哉！」

注释