Penlop of Trongsa
Penlop of Trongsa | |
---|---|
Incumbent | |
Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck | |
Since 31 October 2004 | |
Details | |
Style | His Highness |
First monarch | Chogyal Minjur Tempa |
Formation | 1647 |
The Penlop of Trongsa (
The most recent holder of the title was King
History
Number | Name | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Tongsab Minjur Tenpa |
1646–?? | |
2 | Tongsab Sherub Lhendup (Namlungpa) | ( fl. 1667)
| |
3 | Tongsab Zhidhar (Druk Dhendup) | ( fl. 1715)
| |
4 | Tongsab Dorji Namgyel (Druk Phuntsho)[table 1] | ? | |
5 | Tongsab Sonam Drugyel (Pekar)[table 2] | ( fl. 1770)
| |
6 | Tongsab Jangchhub Gyeltshen | ? | |
7 | Tongsab Konchhog Tenzin | ? | |
8 | Tongsab Ugyen Phuntsho | ? | |
9 | Tongsab Tshoki Dorji | ?–1853 | |
10 | Tongsab Samdrup Jigme Namgyal[table 3] | 1853–1870 | |
11 | Tongsab Dungkar Gyeltshen[table 4] | 1870–1882 | |
12 | Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck | 1882–1907 | |
13 | Gyalsey Jigme Wangchuck | 1923–?? | |
14 | Gyalsey Jigme Dorji Wangchuck | 1946–?? | |
15 | Gyalsey Jigme Singye Wangchuck | 1972–?? | |
16 | Gyalsey Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck | 2004–present | |
Notes:
|
Under Bhutan's early theocratic
The penlops of Trongsa and Paro, and the dzongpens of Punakha, Thimphu, and Wangdue Phodrang were particularly notable figures in the competition for regional dominance.[6][7] During this period, there were a total of nine provinces and eight penlops vying for power.[8]
Within this political landscape, the
While the Penlop of Trongsa controlled central and eastern Bhutan, the rival Penlop of Paro controlled western Bhutan. Dzongpens controlled areas surrounding their respective dzongs. Eastern dzongpens were generally under the control of the Penlop of Trongsa, who was officially endowed with the power to appoint them in 1853.[5]: 106, 251 The Penlop of Paro, unlike Trongsa, was an office appointed by the Druk Desi's central govertunment. Because western regions controlled by the Penlop of Paro contained lucrative trade routes, it became the object of competition among aristocratic families.[10]
Although Bhutan generally enjoyed favorable relations with both Tibet and the British Raj through the 19th century, extension of British power at Bhutan's borders as well as Tibetan incursions in British Sikkim defined politically opposed pro-Tibet and pro-Britain forces.[11] This period of intense rivalry between and within western and central Bhutan, coupled with external forces from Tibet and especially the British Empire, provided the conditions for the ascendancy of the Penlop of Trongsa.[10]
After the
The pro-Britain Penlop Ugyen Wangchuck ultimately prevailed against the pro-Tibet and anti-Britain Penlop of Paro after a series of civil wars and rebellions between 1882 and 1885. After his father's death in 1881, Ugyen Wangchuck entered a feud over the post of Penlop of Trongsa. In 1882, at the age of 20, he marched on Bumthang and Trongsa, winning the post of Penlop of Trongsa in addition to Paro. In 1885, Ugyen Wangchuck intervened in a conflict between the Dzongpens of Punakha and Thimphu, sacking both sides and seizing Simtokha Dzong. From this time forward, the office of Druk Desi became purely ceremonial.[12]
Legal status
Under Article 2 of the Constitution of Bhutan, actual succession depends on the King without regard to who is the titular Trongsa or Chhoetse Penlop: the title is not a part of the Constitutional succession framework. Thus, if there are "shortcomings in the elder prince, it is the sacred duty of the King to select and proclaim the most capable prince or princess as heir to the Throne."[13]
See also
- Penlop
- Druk Gyalpo
- List of rulers of Bhutan
- House of Wangchuck
Notes
- ^ The spelling of this title varies widely in sources because transliterations of Tibetan script and transcriptions of Tibetan phonology differ. Penlop may be spelled "pönlop" or "ponlop". Trongsa may appear as "Tongsa" or even "(b)Krongsa". Chotse may alternatively appear as "Chhotse", "Ch(h)oetse" or "Ch(h)ötse". Any combination of these variations may also contain additional hyphens or differing capitalization.
References
- ^ This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Worden, Robert L. (September 1991). Savada, Andrea Matles (ed.). Bhutan: A Country Study. Federal Research Division. British Intrusion, 1772–1907.
- ISBN 978-1-59311-734-4. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
- ^ a b c Dorji Wangdi (2004). "A Historical Background of the Chhoetse Penlop" (PDF). The Tibetan and Himalayan Library online. Thimphu: Cabinet Secretariat. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-02-14. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
- ^ "Päring kohanimeandmebaasist. Väliskohanimed. [Place Name Database Query. Foreign Names.]". Eesti Keele Instituudi kohanimeandmebaas (KNAB) [Estonian Place Names Database (KNAB)]. Eesti Keele Instituut [Estonian Language Institute]. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
- ^ ISBN 81-86239-01-4. Retrieved 2011-08-12.
- ^ a b This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Worden, Robert L. (September 1991). Savada, Andrea Matles (ed.). Bhutan: A Country Study. Federal Research Division. Administrative Integration and Conflict with Tibet, 1651–1728.
- ^ This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Worden, Robert L. (September 1991). Savada, Andrea Matles (ed.). Bhutan: A Country Study. Federal Research Division. Civil Conflict, 1728–72.
- ISBN 81-206-1504-2. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
- ISBN 978-0-307-80190-6. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
- ^ ISBN 1-55939-194-4. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
- ISBN 1-85743-133-2. Retrieved 2011-08-08.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-74059-529-2. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
- Government of Bhutan. 2008. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2012-09-04. Retrieved 2011-08-12.