List of rulers of Tibet

Below is a list of rulers of Tibet from the beginning of legendary history. Included are regimes with their base in Central Tibet, that held authority over at least a substantial portion of the country.

Pre-Imperial Yarlung dynasty[1]

• Nyatri Tsenpo
• Mutri Tsenpo (son)
• Dingtri Tsenpo (son)
• Sotri Tsenpo (son)
• Mertri Tsenpo (son)
• Daktri Tsenpo (son)
• Siptri Tsenpo (son)
• Drigum Tsenpo (son)
• Pude Gunggyal (son)
• Esho Leg (son)
• Desho Leg (son)
• Tisho Leg (son)
• Gongru Leg (son)
• Drongzher Leg (son)
• Isho Leg (son)
• Zanam Zindé (son)
• Detrul Namzhungtsen (son)
• Senöl Namdé (son)
• Senöl Podé (son)
• Denöl Nam (son)
• Denöl Po (son)
• Degyal Po (son)
• Detring Tsen (son)
• Tore Longtsen (son)
• Tritsun Nam (son)
• Tridra Pungtsen (son)
• Tritog Jethogtsen (son)
• Lha Thothori (son)
• Trinyen Zungtsen (son)
• Drongnyen Deu (son)
• Tagri Nyenzig (son)
• Namri Songtsen ?–618 (son)

Tibetan Empire

[2]

• Songtsen Gampo 618–641 (son of Namri Songtsen)
• Gungsong Gungtsen 641–646 (son)
• Songtsen Gampo 646–649 (second time)
• Mangsong Mangtsen 649–677 (son of Gungsong Gungtsen)
• Tridu Songtsen 677–704 (son)
• Lha 704–705 (son)
• Khri ma lod 705–712 (widow of Mangsong Mangtsen)
• Me Agtsom 712–755 (son of Tri Dusong)
• Trisong Detsen 756–797 (son)
• Muné Tsenpo 797–799 (son)
• Tride Songtsen 799–815 (brother)
• Ralpachen 815–838 (son)
• Langdarma 838–842 (brother)

Yuan dynasty and Sakya rulers

Sakya lamas[3]

• Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyaltsen 1216–1251 (Mongol protégé 1247)
• Phagpa Drakpa Gyaltsen 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 Gyaltsen 1344–1347 (brother)
• Lotro Gyaltsen 1347–1365 (nephew)

Sakya Imperial Preceptors (Dishi)[3]

• 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)
• Sanggye Pal 1305–1314 (brother of Drakpa Odzer)
• Kunga Lotro Gyaltsen 1314–1327 (grandnephew of Phagpa Drakpa Gyaltsen)
• Kunga Lekpa Jungne Gyaltsen 1327–1330 (brother)
• Kunga Gyaltsen 1331–1358 (brother)

Dpon-chens (Ponchens)[3]

• Shakya Zangpo circa 1264–1270
• Kunga Zangpo circa 1270–1275
• Zhangtsun circa 1275–?
• Chukpo Gangkarwa ?–1280
• Changchub Rinchen 1281/82
• Kunga Zhonnu 1282–circa 1285
• Zhonnu Wangchuk circa 1285–1288
• Changchub Dorje circa 1289
• Aglen Dorje Pal circa 1290–1298
• Zhonnu Wangchuk 1298 (second time)
• Lekpa Pal 1298–circa 1305
• Sengge Pal early 14th century
• Odzer Sengge circa 1315–1317
• Kunga Rinchen circa 1319
• Donyo Pal circa 1320
• Yontsun Drakpa Dar before 1322
• Odzer Sengge ?–1328/29 (second time)
• Gyalwa Zangpo 1328/29–1333
• Wangchuk Pal 1333–1337
• Sonam Pal 1337–1344
• Gyalwa Zangpo 1344–1347 (second time)
• Wangtson 1347–circa 1350
• Gyalwa Zangpo circa 1350–1356/58 (third time)
• Namkha Tenpai Gyaltsen circa 1357
• Palbum ?–1360
• Namkha Tenpai Gyaltsen circa 1364 (second time)

Phagmodrupa dynasty[4]

• Tai Situ Changchub Gyaltsen 1354–1364
• Jamyang Shakya Gyaltsen 1364–1373 (nephew)
• Drakpa Changchub 1374–1381 (nephew)
• Sonam Drakpa 1381–1385 (brother)
• Drakpa Gyaltsen 1385–1432 (cousin)
• Drakpa Jungne 1432–1445 (nephew)
• Kunga Lekpa 1448–1481 (brother)
• Ngagi Wangpo 1481–1491 (son of Drakpa Jungne)
• Tsokye Dorje 1491–1499 (regent, of Rinpungpa lineage)
• Ngawang Tashi Drakpa 1499–1554 (son of Ngagi Wangpo)
• Ngawang Drakpa Gyaltsen 1554–1556/57 (grandson)
• Ngawang Tashi Drakpa 1556/57–1564 (second time)
• Ngawang Drakpa Gyaltsen 1576–1603/04 (second time)
• Mipham Wanggyur Gyalpo 1604–1613 (possible grandnephew)
• Mipham Sonam Wangchuk Drakpa Namgyal Palzang 17th century (grandson of Ngawang Drakpa Gyaltsen)

Rinpungpa dynasty[5]

• Norzang 1435–1466
• Kunzang 1466–circa 1479 (son)
• Donyo Dorje circa 1479–1512 (son)
• Ngawang Namgyal 1512–1544 (cousin)
• Dondup Tseten Dorje 1544–? (son)
• Ngawang Jigme Drakpa 1547–1565 (brother)

Tsangpa dynasty[6]

• Karma Tseten 1565–1599
• Khunpang Lhawang Dorje circa 1582 – 1605/06 (son)
• Karma Thutob Namgyal circa 1586–1610 (brother)
• Karma Tensung 1599–1611 (brother)
• Karma Phuntsok Namgyal 1611–1620 (son of Karma Thutob)
• Karma Tenkyong 1620–1642 (son)

Gandan Phodrang and Qing dynasty

Khoshut kings of Tibet

[7]

• Güshi 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

[7]

• 5th Dalai Lama (Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso, 1642–1682)

  Regents: Sonam Rapten (1642–1658), Depa Norbu (1659–1660),[8] Trinlé Gyatso (1660–1668), Lozang Tutop (1669–1675), Lozang Jinpa (1675–1679), Sangye Gyatso (1679–1703)[9]

• 6th Dalai Lama (Tsangyang Gyatso, 1697–1706)

  Regents: Ngawang Rinchen (1703–1706), Khangchennä (1721–1728)

• 7th Dalai Lama (Kelzang Gyatso, 1720–1757)

  Regents: Polhanas (1728–1747), Gyurme Namgyal (1747–1750), the sixth Demo Rinpoche (1757–1777)

• 8th Dalai Lama (Jamphel Gyatso, 1762–1804)

  Regents: the 1st Tsemonling Rinpoche (1777–1786), Yeshe Lobsang Tenpai Gonpo, the 8th Kundeling Lama (1791–1811), the 7th Demo Rinpoche (1811–1818)

• 9th Dalai Lama (Lungtok Gyatso, 1810–1815)

  Regent: the 2nd Tsemonling Lama (1819–1844)

• 10th Dalai Lama (Tsultrim Gyatso, 1826–1837)

  Regent: the 3rd Reting Rinpoche (1845–1862)

• 11th Dalai Lama (Khedrup Gyatso, 1842–1856)
• 12th Dalai Lama (Trinley Gyatso, 1860–1875)

  Desi: Shatra Wangchuk Gyalpo (1862–1864)

  Regents: Dedruk Khyenrab Wangchuk (1864–1873), the 10th Kundeling Lama Tatsak Ngawang Pelden (1875–1886), the 9th Demo Rinpoche Lozang Trinlé (1886–1895)

• 13th Dalai Lama (Thubten Gyatso, 1879–1933)

  Regents: the 5th Reting Rinpoche, Jamphel Yeshe Gyaltsen (1934–1941), Taktra Rinpoche (1941–1950)

• 14th Dalai Lama (Tenzin Gyatso, 1950–1959)

Panchen Lamas

Dzungar occupation

• Tagtsepa (deputy of Tsewang Rabtan) 1717–1720

Qing rule

Gashi and Pholha princes[7]

• Khangchenné 1721–1727
• Polhané Sönam Topgyé 1728–1747
• Gyurme Namgyal 1747–1750 (son)

Qing imperial residents (Ambans)

• Sengge 1727–1733 (first)
• Lianyu 1906–1912 (last)

20th century Silöns (prime ministers)

• Changkhyim 1907–1920
• Paljor Dorje Shatra 1907–1923
• Sholkhang 1907–1926
• Langdün Künga Wangchuk 1926–1940
• acting silöns: Lobsang Tashi and Lukhangwa 1950–1952

Modern political leaders within China

See also

• History of Tibet
• Pre-Imperial Tibet
• Tibetan Empire
• List of emperors of Tibet
• Guge
• Sakya
• Mongol conquest of Tibet
• Tibet under Yuan rule
• Phagmodrupa Dynasty
• Rinpungpa
• Tsangpa
• Ganden Phodrang
• Dalai Lama
• Panchen Lama
• Khoshut Khanate
• Dzungar Khanate
• Chinese expedition to Tibet (1720)
• Tibet under Qing rule
• Tibet (1912–51)
• List of modern political leaders of Tibet

References

1. Ancient Tibet: Research materials from the Yeshe De project. Berkeley 1986, pp. 141-78; Tsepon W.D. Shakabpa, Tibet. A Political History. Yale 1967.
2. Christopher I. Beckwith, The Tibetan Empire in Central Asia. Princeton 1987, pp. 226–9; Tsepon W.D. Shakabpa, Tibet. A Political History. Yale 1967.
3. Luciano Petech, Central Tibet and the Mongols. Rome 1990.
4. Giuseppe Tucci, Tibetan Painted Scrolls. [Rome 1949; Giuseppe Tucci, Deb T'er Dmar Po Gsarma. Rome 1971; Per K. Sørensen & Guntram Hazod, Rulers on the Celestial Plain. Wien 2007; Olaf Czaja, Medieval rule in Tibet, Vol. I-II. Wien 2013.
5. Giuseppe Tucci, 1949; Giuseppe Tucci, 1971; Olaf Czaja, 2013.
6. Giuseppe Tucci, 1949; Hugh E. Richardson, A Short History of Tibet. New York 1962.
7. Hugh E. Richardson, 1962; Tsepon W.D. Shakabpa, 1967.
8. Samten G. Karmay, The Illusive Play; The Political Autobiography of the Fifth Dalai Lama, Vol. 1 (a.k.a. The Dukula), Serindia, Chicago 2014, pp. 403-425
9. Tsepon W.D. Shakabpa, One Hundred Thousand Moons: An Advanced Political History of Tibet, Vol. 2, Brill, Boston, 2010, p. 1133