The Jin empire 金 (1115-1234) was founded by the Jurchens, ancestors of the Manchus, that lived in the Liao River plain (what was later to become known as "Manchuria") and the surrounding mountains in northeast China. Their leader proclaimed himself khan and conquered the Liao empire 辽 (907-1125) in north China, a foundation by the proto-Mongol people of the Khitans. They even advanced further south, conquered Kaifeng 开封 (modern Kaifeng, Henan), the capital of the Song empire 宋 (960-1279), and forced the Song court to flee to southeast China, where they founded the Southern