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

契丹神冊三年，耶律阮出生，他的父親是契丹開國皇帝耶律阿保機的長子耶律倍，母親是耶律倍之妃蕭氏（死後追謚柔貞皇后）。祖父阿保機死後，父親耶律倍在權力鬥爭中失利，不得立為皇帝，耶律阮也就失去了繼承皇位的權利。耶律倍後來憤而渡海投奔後唐，終于於932年末被後唐末帝李從珂殺害，客死他鄉。耶律阮則留在契丹國內，其叔父太宗耶律德光愛之如己出。契丹會同九年、後晉開運三年（946年），太宗以後晉皇帝石重貴不肯稱臣為由大舉入侵中原，耶律阮隨行軍中。第二年（947年）契丹軍入後晉國都東京開封府（今河南省開封市），晉帝石重貴投降，後晉滅亡。太宗改國號為「大遼」，改元大同，封耶律阮為永康王。

即位

太宗滅後晉後在北歸途中逝世，耶律阮發兵奪取南京析津府（今北京），並在隨軍將領擁戴下自立為皇帝，在上京（今內蒙古巴林左旗）的蕭太后述律平派其子耶律李胡在南京北部的泰德泉交戰，大敗。經過大臣耶律屋質的勸阻，太后才同意耶律阮當皇帝。世宗時任用賢臣耶律屋質，進行一系列改革，將太宗時的南面官和北面官合併，成立南北樞密院，廢南、北大王，後來南北樞密院合併，形成一個樞密院。這些改革使遼朝從部落聯盟形式進入中央集權，這些都是與遼世宗的改革分不開的。但是世宗好酒色，喜愛打獵。他晚年更是任用奸佞，大興封賞降殺，導致朝政不修，政治腐敗。遼天祿五年（951年）9月，世宗協助北漢攻後周，行軍至歸化（今內蒙古呼和浩特）的祥古山，由於其他部隊未到，所以駐紮在火神澱。其間喝酒、打人、打獵，眾將很是不滿。晚上，一直有篡位之心的耶律察割將遼世宗耶律阮殺死於夢鄉。耶律阮死時年僅34歲，在位4年。其諡號為孝和莊憲皇帝，廟號世宗。

后妃子女

皇后

• 皇后甄氏

• 皇后蕭撒葛只

妃

• 啜里，保寧三年（971年）與蒲哥因「厭魅」被賜死。

• 浦哥，同上

兒子

• 莊聖太子耶律吼阿不

• 遼景宗耶律賢

• 寧王耶律只沒

女兒

• 第一女，耶律和古典，蕭撒葛只所生，保寧年間，封秦國長公主

• 第二女，耶律觀音，蕭撒葛只所生，保寧年間，封晉國長公主

• 第三女，耶律撒剌，蕭撒葛只所生，未封公主已逝世

• 萌古公主，950年生，蕭撒葛只所生，與第三女耶律撒剌可能為同一人

評價

• 元朝官修正史《遼史》脫脫等的評價是：「世宗中才之主也，入繼大統，曾未三年，納唐丸書，即議南伐，即乏持重，宜乖周防，蓋有致禍之道矣。然而孝友寬慈，亦有君人之度焉。未及師還，變起沉湎，豈不可哀也哉！」

注釋