Western Xia Dynasty major historical event

In 1028, Li Yuanhao conquered Ganzhou and Xiliangfu. It was the crucial victory against Huigu. Li Deming announced Li Yuanhao the crown prince. In 1030, Huigu's chief surrendered. Li Mingde and Li Yuanhao defeated Huigu. Dangxiang clan entered a new era.

In 1086, Qianshun only 3 years old succeeded to the throne. Actually the empress's family Liang came into power of West Xia. In 1087, West Xia waged the war with Song Dynasty. In 1089, the military of West Xia invaded Huanzhou and was defeated by Song. In 1096, Liang, the mother of the emperor led 500,000 soldiers attacked Song again and conquered Jinmingzhai. In 1098, West Xia attacked Pingxia and was defeated by Song. In 1099, Liang was dead and the emperor Qianshun began his real reign.

The next century in the history of Western Xia is characterized by power struggles between the family of the emperors and the consorts, and by the question of following which customs and political-ritual arrangements, either Chinese or Tangut. To enhance the power of the imperial family and the central government, the emperor had to rely on a Chinese-patterned administration and bureaucracy, and on the other side, he had to gain the support of the mighty Tangut clans by supporting Tangut customs and habits. Li Yuanhao was assassinated by his brother-in-law Mozang Epang who could control the court under the minor emperor Weiming Liangzuo. Li Liangzuo could eliminate Mozang Epang and the empress dowager and installed his own brother-in-law, Liang Yima as chancellor who reintroduced Tangut customs and rituals at the court. Li Liangzuo's son Li Bingchang relied on Chinese customs but faced harsh opposition among the Tangut gentry, especially from the clan of his mother, Liang.
Emperor Li Qianshunfinally could eredicate the power of the mightiest Tangut clans related to the imperial family. After some desastrous military defeats by the Liao and Song empires since 1114, he saw that it was necessary to construct an effectful civil and military adminstration that could only be established by Confucian-trained scholar officials. This politics was continued by his son Li Renxiao, whose mother was a Chinese. His most important improvements are the erection of a state academy and the installation of state examinations for officials. These loyal officials should replace the Tangut aristocracy.

West Xia under the help of Jin kingdom expanded the territory. In 1124, Jin ceded land to West Xia. In 1126, West Xia conquered Tiande and Yunnei. In 1127, Jin Kingdom ceded the land in north of Shaanxi to West Xia. In 1137, Jin, required by West Xia, ceded Lezhou, Jishizhou and Langzhou. In this period West Xia's tertiary was the largest in its history.

Reference websites : http://www.e-westchina.net