A Study on the Rebellion of the Balhae Remnant Dae Yeonrim and the Suppression Process by the Liao Dynasty

This study examines the process by which the Liao dynasty suppressed the rebellion led by Dae Yeonrim, which occurred from the eighth lunar month of 1029 to the eighth lunar month of 1030. The rebellion of Dae Yeonrim has garnered renewed attention in the 21st century, largely because numerous inscriptions from the Liao period have been discovered that mention the event. However, there has been no research addressing Dae Yeonrim’s rebellion from a military historical perspective, and thus this study aims to explore that dimension. In particular, while tomb epitaphs from the Liao period record the rebellion as having occurred in 1028, a closer analysis of the official history of Liao Dynasty and historical sources from neighboring countries indicates that the event should be understood as having taken place in 1029. The reasons the Liao dynasty was able to suppress Dae Yeonrim’s rebellion swiftly are as follows. First, the Liao forces responded quickly in the initial phase, thereby preventing Dae Yeonrim's forces from advancing westward beyond the Liao River or eastward beyond Liao territory, which would have enabled them to freely contact with the Jurchen and Goryeo. Second, the Liao achieved a decisive victory in the Battle of Pu river, where the main forces of both sides clashed, significantly weakening the momentum of the rebellion. Third, by besieging the Eastern Capital and drawing the conflict into a protracted campaign, the Liao army was able to minimize its own losses while inducing internal divisions within the fortress. In this way, the reasons for the Liao’s success in suppressing the rebellion are directly connected to the reasons for Dae Yeonrim’s failure to sustain his uprising.