List of rulers of Tibet
Encyclopedia
Below is a list of rulers of Tibet from the beginning of documented history. Included are regimes with their base in Central Tibet, that held authority over at least a substantial portion of the country.
The Yarlung Dynasty
- Songtsen GampoSongtsen GampoSongtsän Gampo Songtsän Gampo Songtsän Gampo (Tibetan: སྲོང་བཙན་སྒམ་པོ་, Wylie: Srong-btsan sGam-po, 569–649?/605–649? was the founder of the Tibetan Empire (Tibetan: Bod; ), by tradition held to be the thirty-third ruler in his dynasty. In the Chinese records, his name is given as 'Sōngzàngānbù'...
618-641 - Gungsong GungtsenGungsrong GungtsenGungsrong Gungtsen, Gungsong Gungsten, or Kungsong Kungtsen was the only known son of Songtsän Gampo , the first Tibetan emperor....
641-646 (son) - Songtsen GampoSongtsen GampoSongtsän Gampo Songtsän Gampo Songtsän Gampo (Tibetan: སྲོང་བཙན་སྒམ་པོ་, Wylie: Srong-btsan sGam-po, 569–649?/605–649? was the founder of the Tibetan Empire (Tibetan: Bod; ), by tradition held to be the thirty-third ruler in his dynasty. In the Chinese records, his name is given as 'Sōngzàngānbù'...
646-649 (second time) - Mangsong MangtsenMangsong MangtsenMangsong Mangtsen, Trimang Löntsen or Khri-mang-slon-rtsan succeeded to the throne after the death of his grandfather, Songtsän Gampo, and was the second emperor of the newly created Tibetan Empire....
649-677 (son of Gungsong Gungtsen) - Tridu Songtsen 677-704 (son)
- Lha 704-705 (son)
- Trimalod 705-712 (widow of Tri Dusong)
- Me Agtsom 712-755 (son of Tri Dusong)
- Trisong DetsenTrisong DetsenTrisong Detsän or Trisong Detsen ཁྲི་སྲོང་ལྡེ་བཙན , was the son of Me Agtsom and one of the emperors of Tibet and ruled...
756-797 (son) - Muné TsenpoMuné TsenpoMuné Tsenpo was the 39th Emperor of Tibet . This period of Tibetan history, towards the end, and after the reign of Trisong Detsen is very murky and the sources give conflicting stories and dates....
797-799 (son) - Tride SongtsenSadnalegsSadnalegs or Tridé Songtsen , was the youngest son of King Trisong Detsen of Tibet ....
799-815 (brother) - RalpachenRalpacanRalpacan , born c. 806, the Year of the Dog was, according to traditional sources, the 41st King of Tibet, ruling from the death of his father, Sadnalegs, in c. 815, until 838 CE...
815-838 (son) - LangdarmaLangdarmaLangdarma was the last emperor of the unified Tibetan empire, who most likely reigned from 838 to 841 CE. Early sources named him Tri Darma meaning "King Darma"; "Lang" is a nickname meaning "ox". He was also called tsenpo or lhase Au Dunten...
838-842 (brother)
Sakya lamas
- Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyaltsen 1216-1251 (Mongol protegé 1240)
- Phagpa Drakpa GyaltsenDrogön Chögyal PhagpaZhogön Qögyä Pagba, Zhogoin Qoigyai Phagspa or Drogön Chögyal Phagpa , born Lochö Gyäcän or Lochoi Gyaicain , was the fifth leader of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism. He became the first vice-king of Tibet and played an important political role...
1251-1280 (nephew) - Dharmapala Raksita 1280-1282 (nephew)
- Jamyang Rinchen Gyaltsen 1286-1303 (of Sharpa lineage)
- Zangpo Pal 1306-1323 (nephew of Phagpa Drakpa Gyaltsen)
- Khatsun Namkha Lekpa Gyaltsen 1325-1341 (son)
- Jamyang Donyo Gyaltsen 1341-1344 (brother)
- Lama Dampa Sonam Lotro Gyaltsen 1344-1347 (brother)
- Lotro Gyaltsen 1347-1365 (nephew)
Sakya imperial preceptors
- Phagpa Drakpa Gyaltsen 1270-1274
- Rinchen Gyaltsen 1274-1279 (brother)
- Dharmapala Raksita 1282-1286 (nephew)
- Yeshe Rinchen 1286-1291
- Drakpa Odzer 1291-1303
- Jamyang Rinchen Gyaltsen 1304-1305 (brother of Yeshe Rinchen)
- Sangye Pal 1305-1314 (brother of Drakpa Odzer)
- Kunga Lotro Gyaltsen 1314-1327 (great-nephew of Phagpa Drakpa Gyaltsen)
- Kunga Lekpa Chungne Gyaltsen 1328-1330 (brother)
- Kunga Gyaltsen 1331-1358 (brother)
Phagmodrupa Dynasty
- Tai Situ Changchub GyaltsenTai Situ Changchub GyaltsenTai Situ Changchub Gyaltsen was a key figure in Tibetan History. He was founder of the Phagmodrupa dynasty and ruler of Tibet from 1354 to 1364 or 1371....
1354-1364 - Jamyang Shakya GyaltsenJamyang Shakya GyaltsenJamyang Shakya Gyaltsen was a ruler of Central Tibet in 1364–1373. He was a member of the Phagmodrupa dynasty which was the major Tibetan power from 1354 to 1435...
1364-1373 (nephew) - Drakpa ChangchubDrakpa ChangchubDrakpa Changchub was a ruler of Central Tibet in 1374–1381. He belonged to the Phagmodrupa dynasty which was the dominating regime in Tibet between 1354 and 1435.Drakpa Changchub was the second son of Rinchen Dorje, a brother of the preceding regent Jamyang Shakya Gyaltsen. His mother was Zina...
1374-1381 (nephew) - Sonam DrakpaSonam DrakpaSonam Drakpa was a regent of Central Tibet who ruled in 1381-1385. He belonged to the Phagmodrupa dynasty, the leading regime in Tibet from 1354 to 1435.-Tenure as abbot and regent:...
1381-1385 (brother) - Drakpa GyaltsenGongma Drakpa GyaltsenGongma Drakpa Gyaltsen was a King of Tibet who ruled in 1385–1432. He belonged to the Phagmodrupa dynasty, which was the leading regime in Tibet between 1354 and 1435...
1385-1432 (cousin) - Drakpa JungneDrakpa JungneDrakpa Jungne was a king of Tibet who ruled in 1432–1445. He belonged to the Phagmodrupa dynasty which was the leading regime in Tibet from 1354 to 1435, and exerted some influence until the early 17th century...
1432-1445 (nephew) - Kunga LekpaKunga LekpaKunga Lekpa was a King of Tibet who ruled in 1448-1481. He belonged to the Phagmodrupa dynasty, which was the leading political regime in Tibet from 1354 to 1435, and retained a certain political status until the early 17th century...
1448-1481 (brother) - Ngagi WangpoNgagi WangpoNgagi Wangpo , also known as Chen-nga Tsenyepa , was a King of Tibet who reigned in 1481-1491...
1481-1491 (son of Drakpa Jungne) - Tsokye DorjeTsokye DorjeTsokye Dorje was a regent of Tibet who ruled in 1491-1499. He belonged to the Rinpungpa family and headed the central government in Nêdong during the minority of the heir of the Phagmodrupa dynasty.-Rinpungpa ascendency:...
1491-1499 (regent, of Rinpungpa lineage) - Ngawang Tashi DrakpaNgawang Tashi DrakpaNgawang Tashi Drakpa was a king of Tibet who ruled intermittently in 1499-1564. He belonged to the Phagmodrupa dynasty which was the dominating regime in Tibet from 1354 to 1435 and maintained a degree of authority until the early 17th century...
1499-1564 (son of Ngagi Wangpo) - Ngawang Drakpa GyaltsenNgawang Drakpa GyaltsenNgawang Drakpa was a king in Central Tibet who ruled from 1564 to maybe 1579. He belonged to the Phagmodrupa dynasty which held power in Tibet or parts of it from 1354 to the early 17th century...
1564-1579? (grandson) - Kagyud Nampar GyalwaKagyud Nampar GyalwaKagyud Nampar Gyalwa was a king in Central Tibet. He belonged to the Phagmodrupa dynasty which reigned in Tibet or parts of it from 1354 to the early 17th century. He was the penultimate ruler of the line.Kagyud Nampar Gyalwa was a son of the preceding ruler of the dynasty, Ngawang Drakpa Gyaltsen...
late 16th century (son) - Mipham Sonam Wangchuk Drakpa Namgyal PalzangMipham Sonam Wangchuk Drakpa Namgyal PalzangMipham Sonam Wangchuk Drakpa Namgyal Palzang was a king in Central Tibet...
17th century (son)
Rinpungpa Dynasty
- NorzangNorzangNorzang , in full Norbu Zangpo , was the founder of the power of the Rinpungpa Dynasty in Central Tibet.-Religious activities:...
1435-1466 - KunzangKunzangKunzang , in full Kuntu Zangpo , was a prince of the Rinpungpa Dynasty that wielded power in Tsang ....
1466-c. 1479 (son) - Donyo DorjeDonyo DorjeDonyo Dorje was the third and most powerful prince of the Rinpungpa Dynasty that held power in much of Central Tibet from 1435 to 1565.-Succession and religious patronate:...
c. 1479-1512 (son) - Ngawang NamgyalNgawang Namgyal (Rinpungpa)Ngawang Namgyal was a prince of the Rinpungpa Dynasty that dominated Tsang in West Central Tibet between 1435 and 1565.-The succession:...
1512-c. 1550 (cousin) - Dondup Tseten DorjeDondup Tseten DorjeDondup Tseten Dorje was the penultimate prince of the Rinpungpa Dynasty which held power in Tsang between 1435 and 1565....
c. 1550-? (son) - Ngawang Jigme DrakpaNgawang Jigme DrakpaNgawang Jigme Drakpa was the last ruling prince of Tsang of the Rinpungpa Dynasty. He was also a renowned author.-Literary activity:...
?-1565 (brother)
Tsangpa Dynasty
- Karma TsetenKarma TsetenKarma Tseten was a king of Upper Tsang in West Central Tibet. He was the founder of the Tsangpa Dynasty that had an important role in the history of Tibet up to 1642.-Rebelling against the Rinpungpa:...
1565-? - Karma Thutob NamgyalKarma Thutob NamgyalKarma Thutob Namgyal was a prince of the Tsangpa Dynasty that ruled parts of Central Tibet from 1565 to 1642....
late 16th century (son) - Khunpang Lhawang DorjeKhunpang Lhawang DorjeKhunpang Lhawang Dorje was a prince of the Tsangpa Dynasty that held power in parts of Central Tibet, especially Tsang , between 1565 and 1642....
fl. 1582 (brother) - Karma TensungKarma TensungKarma Tensung , in full Karma Tensung Wangpo , was a king of Tsang in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth century. He belonged to the Tsangpa Dynasty that ruled parts of Tibet from 1565 to 1642....
late 16th century-1611? (brother) - Karma Phuntsok NamgyalKarma Phuntsok NamgyalKarma Phuntsok Namgyal was a king of Tibet who ruled from 1618 to 1620. He belonged to the Tsangpa Dynasty that held power in Tsang since 1565 and was the foremost secular power in Tibet until 1642.-Family:...
before 1603-1620 (son of Karma Thutob) - Karma TenkyongKarma TenkyongKarma Tenkyong , in full Karma Tenkyong Wangpo , was a king of Tibet who ruled from 1620 to 1642. He belonged to the Tsangpa Dynasty which had been prominent in Tsang since 1565. His reign was marked by the increasingly bitter struggle against the Gelugpa sect and its leader the Dalai Lama...
1620-1642 (son)
Khoshut protector rulers
- Gushri Khan 1642-1655
- Dayan Khan 1655-1668 (son)
- Tenzin Dalai Khan 1668-1696 (son)
- Tenzin Wangchuk Khan 1696-1697 (son)
- Labzang Khan 1697-1717 (brother)
Dalai Lamas
| Image | Name | Date of birth | Dalai Lama From | Dalai Lama Until | Date of death |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Gedun Drub | 1391 | N/A | 1474 | |
 |
Gedun Gyatso | 1475 | 1492 | 1542 | |
| 3rd Dalai Lama | Sonam Gyatso | 1543 | 1578 | 1588 | |
 |
Yonten Gyatso | 1589 | 1601 | 1617 | |
| 5th Dalai Lama | Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso | 1617 | 1642 | 1682 | |
 |
Tsangyang Gyatso | 1683 | 1697 | 1706 | |
| 7th Dalai Lama | Kelzang Gyatso | 1708 | 1720 | 1757 | |
 |
Jamphel Gyatso | 1758 | 1762 | 1804 | |
 |
Lungtok Gyatso | 1805 | 1810 | 1815 | |
 |
Tsultrim Gyatso | 29 March 1816 | 1826 | 1837 | |
 |
Khedrup Gyatso | 1 November 1838 | 1842 | 31 January 1856 | |
 |
Trinley Gyatso | 26 January 1857 | 1860 | 25 April 1875 | |
| 13th Dalai Lama | Thubten Gyatso | 12 February 1876 | 1879 | 17 December 1933 | |
 |
Tenzin Gyatso | 6 July 1935 | 17 November 1950 | Alive | |
See also
- List of Qing imperial residents in Tibet
- History of TibetHistory of TibetTibetan history, as it has been recorded, is particularly focused on the history of Buddhism in Tibet. This is partly due to the pivotal role this religion has played in the development of Tibetan, Mongol, and Manchu cultures, and partly because almost all native historians of the country were...
- Tibetan EmpireTibetan EmpireThe historic name for the Tibetan Empire is different from Tibet's present name.Traditional Tibetan history preserves a lengthy list of rulers, whose exploits become subject to external verification in the Chinese histories by the seventh century. From the 7th to the 11th century a series of...
- SakyaSakyaThe Sakya school is one of four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, the others being the Nyingma, Kagyu, and Gelug...
- Phagmodrupa dynastyPhagmodrupa dynastyThe Phagmodrupa dynasty or Pagmodru of Tibet was established by Tai Situ Changchub Gyaltsen at the end of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty. Tai Situ came from the monastic fief Phagmodru , which was originally founded as a hermitage in 1158 by the famous Kagyu scholar Phagmo Drupa Dorje Gyalpo...
- RinpungpaRinpungpaRinpungpa was a Tibetan regime that dominated much of Western Tibet and some of Central Tibet between 1440 and 1565...
- TsangpaTsangpaTsangpa was a dynasty that dominated large parts of Tibet from 1565 to 1642. It was the last Tibetan royal dynasty to rule in own name. The regime was founded by Karma Tseten, a retainer of the prince of the Rinpungpa Dynasty and governor of Shigatse in Tsang since 1548.-Superseding the...
- Dalai LamaDalai LamaThe Dalai Lama is a high lama in the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" branch of Tibetan Buddhism. The name is a combination of the Mongolian word далай meaning "Ocean" and the Tibetan word bla-ma meaning "teacher"...