Raven Crown
Encyclopedia
The Raven Crown is worn by the Kings of Bhutan. It is a hat surmounted by the head of a raven
.
The hereditary monarchy of the Wangchuk dynasty in the independent Himalayan State of Bhutan
was established in 1907. The first king of the Wangchuk dynasty, Sir Ugyen Wangchuck
(1862–1926), was a charismatic figure who came to power against a turbulent background of incessant and complex feuding in that chaotic warrior state.
He adopted as the unique symbol of his authority a crown surmounted by the head of a raven. The bird represents a form of "Mahakala
", Bhutan's guardian deity. The prototype of the founding monarch's Raven Crown had first been devised as a battle helmet for his father, Jigme Namgyel (1825–81). Known as the Black Regent, he had worn it in bloody struggles against his many rivals within the country and against the British who tried, unsuccessfully, to subdue him.
The story of the Wangchuck dynasty's rise and triumph moves from a picture of turmoil and chaos to one of relative peace and stability. The heredity monarchy is fairly recent and the Wangchuck dynasty was established in 1907.
Raven Crown today is the official crown worn by the Kings of Bhutan.
The Raven is the national bird of Bhutan. The raven is known locally as Jaroq. One time it was a capital crime to kill a raven in Bhutan.
Raven
Raven is the common name given to several larger-bodied members of the genus Corvus—but in Europe and North America the Common Raven is normally implied...
.
History
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
was established in 1907. The first king of the Wangchuk dynasty, Sir Ugyen Wangchuck
Ugyen Wangchuck
Gongsa Ugyen Wangchuck was the first King of Bhutan from 1907 to 1926.He was born in 1862 to Jigme Namgyal, penlop of Trongsa and Ashi Pema Choki. He succeeded his father as Penlop of Trongsa...
(1862–1926), was a charismatic figure who came to power against a turbulent background of incessant and complex feuding in that chaotic warrior state.
He adopted as the unique symbol of his authority a crown surmounted by the head of a raven. The bird represents a form of "Mahakala
Mahakala
Mahākāla is a Dharmapala in Vajrayana Buddhism, and a deity in Chinese and Japanese Buddhism, particularly in the Vajrayana school. He is known as Daheitian in Chinese and Daikokuten in Japanese...
", Bhutan's guardian deity. The prototype of the founding monarch's Raven Crown had first been devised as a battle helmet for his father, Jigme Namgyel (1825–81). Known as the Black Regent, he had worn it in bloody struggles against his many rivals within the country and against the British who tried, unsuccessfully, to subdue him.
The story of the Wangchuck dynasty's rise and triumph moves from a picture of turmoil and chaos to one of relative peace and stability. The heredity monarchy is fairly recent and the Wangchuck dynasty was established in 1907.
Raven Crown today is the official crown worn by the Kings of Bhutan.
The Raven is the national bird of Bhutan. The raven is known locally as Jaroq. One time it was a capital crime to kill a raven in Bhutan.
Hereditary Kings of Bhutan
- His Majesty Ugyen WangchuckUgyen WangchuckGongsa Ugyen Wangchuck was the first King of Bhutan from 1907 to 1926.He was born in 1862 to Jigme Namgyal, penlop of Trongsa and Ashi Pema Choki. He succeeded his father as Penlop of Trongsa...
(1st Druk Gyalpo) - His Majesty Jigme Wangchuck (2nd Druk Gyalpo)
- His Majesty Jigme Dorji WangchuckJigme Dorji WangchuckJigme Dorji Wangchuck was the Third Druk Gyalpo of Bhutan.He began to open Bhutan to the outside world, began modernization, and took the first steps toward democratization...
(3rd Druk Gyalpo) - His Majesty Jigme Singye WangchuckJigme Singye WangchuckJigme Singye Wangchuck is the former King of Bhutan. He was the fourth Dragon King of Bhutan from 1972 until his abdication in favour of his eldest son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, in 2006...
(4th Druk Gyalpo) - His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (5th Druk Gyalpo)