Namgyal dynasty of Ladakh

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Namgyal dynasty of Ladakh
Gyalpo of Ladakh
1460 (1460)–1842 (1842)
Historical map of Ladakh at its largest extent
Historical map of Ladakh at its largest extent
CapitalLeh
Common languagesLadakhi, Tibetan
Religion
Tibetan Buddhism
GovernmentMonarchy
History 
• Established
1460 (1460)
• Disestablished
1842 (1842)
Preceded by
Succeeded by
First dynasty of Maryul
Sikh Empire
Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)
Today part ofIndia (Ladakh)
China
Pakistan
Nepal

The Namgyal dynasty was a dynasty whose rulers were the monarchs of the former kingdom of

Dogras of Jammu. Most of its known history is written in the Ladakh Chronicles
.

History

Founding

According to the

Bhagan, the son of Bhara in the kingdom of Maryul. Bhagan was described as warlike, and established the Namgyal dynasty in 1460 after he formed an alliance with the people of Leh and dethroned the Maryul king Lodrö Chokden (Blo-gros-mc'og-ldan) and his brothers Drünpa Aliand Lapten Dargyé (Slab-bstan-dar-rgyas).[2]
: 25, 171 

He took the surname Namgyal (meaning victorious) and founded a new dynasty which still survives today. King Tashi Namgyal (1555–1575) managed to repel most Central Asian raiders, and built a royal fort on the top of the Namgyal Peak. Tsewang Namgyal (1575–1595) extended his kingdom as far as Nepal.

gompas, the most famous of which are Hemis and Hanle.[3]

He expanded the kingdom into

Treaty of Temisgam
in 1684 settled the dispute between Tibet and Ladakh, but its independence was seriously restricted.

Downfall

The Namgyal dynasty ended in 1842 after an invasion of Ladakh by the Dogra general Zorawar Singh and its subsequent annexation.[5]

By the beginning of the 19th century, the Mughal empire had collapsed and

General Zorawar Singh invaded Ladakh in 1834. King Tshespal Namgyal was dethroned and exiled to Stok where they still had a small jagir until the post independence political integration of India.[6]

List of kings