Liu Zhiyuan

Liu Zhiyuan, a Shatuo Turk military governor, declared himself emperor of the Later Han dynasty after the fall of the Later Jin dynasty to the Khitan Liao dynasty. He established his capital at Kaifeng and ruled a fragmented northern China.

Liu Zhiyuan died after ruling for less than a year. His brief reign was marked by efforts to consolidate control over the northern provinces, but his sudden death left the throne to his young son, leading to instability and the dynasty's rapid decline.