This article lists the rulers of Tibet from the beginning of legendary history. Included are regimes with their base in

Central Tibet Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object. Central may also refer to: Directions and generalised locations * Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known as ...

, that held authority over at least a substantial portion of the country.

Pre-Imperial Yarlung dynasty

Nyatri Tsenpo Nyatri Tsenpo (, ) was a king of Tibet. He was a legendary progenitor of the Yarlung dynasty. His reign is said to have begun in 127 BC and in traditional Tibetan history, he was the first ruler of the kingdom. The Dunhuang chronicles report t ...

* Mutri Tsenpo (son) * Dingtri Tsenpo (son) * Sotri Tsenpo (son) * Mertri Tsenpo (son) * Daktri Tsenpo (son) * Siptri Tsenpo (son) *

Drigum Tsenpo Drigum Tsenpo was an emperor of Tibet. According to Tibetan mythology, he was the first king of Tibet to lose his immortality when he angered his stable master, Lo-ngam. Legend states that rulers of Tibet descended from heaven to earth on a cord ...

(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 Namri Songtsen (), also known as "Namri Löntsen" () (died 618) was according to tradition, the 32nd King of Tibet of the Yarlung Dynasty. (Reign: 570 – 618) During his 48 years of reign, he expanded his kingdom to rule the central part of the ...

?–618 (son)

Tibetan Empire

Songtsen Gampo Songtsen Gampo (; 569–649? 650), also Songzan Ganbu (), was the 33rd Tibetan king and founder of the Tibetan Empire, and is traditionally credited with the introduction of Buddhism to Tibet, influenced by his Nepali consort Bhrikuti, of Nepa ...

618–641 (son of Namri Songtsen) * Gungsong Gungtsen 641–646 (son) *

646–649 (second time) * Mangsong Mangtsen 649–677 (son of Gungsong Gungtsen) *

Tridu Songtsen Tridu Songtsen (), Tridu Songtsen or Dusong Mangban, (b.668 – 704d.; r. 676–704 CE) was an emperor of the Tibetan Empire from 676 to 704. Ascent to throne 'Dus-rong ascended the Tibetan throne after the death of his father, Mangsong Mangtse ...

677–704 (son) * Lha 704–705 (son) *

Khri ma lod Empress Khri ma lod (or Thrimalö) was an Empress regent of Tibet. She was Empress consort by marriage to emperor Mangsong Mangtsen. She was the ruler of the Tibetan empire The Tibetan Empire (, ; ) was an empire centered on the Tibetan Plat ...

705–712 (widow of Mangsong Mangtsen) * Me Agtsom 712–755 (son of Tridu Songtsen) *

Trisong Detsen Tri Songdetsen () was the son of Me Agtsom, the 38th emperor of Tibet. He ruled from AD 755 until 797 or 804. Tri Songdetsen was the second of the Three Dharma Kings of Tibet, playing a pivotal role in the introduction of Buddhism to Tibet and th ...

756–797 (son) *

Muné Tsenpo Muné Tsenpo () was the 39th Emperor of Tibet (r. 797?-799?). 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. Mune Tsenpo is a Zhangzhung n ...

797–799 (son) * Tride Songtsen 799–815 (brother) * Ralpachen 815–838 (son) *

Langdarma Darma Udumtsen (), better known by his nickname Langdarma (, "Mature Bull" or "Dharma the Bull") was most likely the last Tibetan Emperor who most likely reigned from 838 to 841 CE. Early sources call him Tri Darma "King Dharma". His domain e ...

838–842 (brother)

Yuan dynasty and Sakya rulers

Sakya lamas
Luciano Petech Luciano Petech (8 June 1914, Trieste – 29 September 2010, Rome) was an Italian scholar of Himalayan history and the early relations between Tibet, Nepal and Italy. He was Chair of History of Eastern Asia at the University of Rome from 1955 to 1 ...
, ''Central Tibet and the Mongols''. Rome 1990.

* Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyaltsen 1216–1251 (Mongol protégé 1247) * Phagpa Drakpa Gyaltsen 1251–1280 (nephew) *

Dharmapala Raksita Dharmapala Raksita (; ; 1268 – 24 December 1287) was the head of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism, which was the most powerful school in Tibet under the Yuan dynasty from 1280 to 1282. He also held the title of Imperial Preceptor (Dishi), fr ...

1280–1282 (nephew) *

Jamyang Rinchen Gyaltsen Jamyang Rinchen Gyeltsen (; ; c. 1257 - 5 February 1305), was the ruler of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism, which had precedence in Tibet under the Yuan dynasty, in 1286–1303. He also held the title of Imperial Preceptor ( ''Dishi'') from 1 ...

1286–1303 (of Sharpa lineage) *

Zangpo Pal Zangpo Pal (1261 - 1323), in full Danyi Chenpo Zangpo Pal (; ), was the ruler of Sakya, which held a precedence position in Tibet under the Yuan dynasty. He ruled nominally from 1298, in reality from 1306 to his death in 1323. Family and upbringin ...

1306–1323 (nephew of Phagpa Drakpa Gyaltsen) *

Khatsun Namkha Lekpa Gyaltsen Khatsun Namkha Lekpa Gyaltsen (1305 - 1343), orthographic spelling , was a ruler of Sakya, which had a precedence position in Tibet under the Yuan dynasty. He reigned from 1325 to 1341, but was more prominent in religious than in worldly affairs, ...

1325–1341 (son) *

Jamyang Donyo Gyaltsen Jamyang Donyo Gyaltsen (1310 - 1344), in orthographic spelling ''Jam dbyangs don yod rgyal mts'an'', was a ruler of Sakya which had a precedence position in Tibet under the Yuan dynasty. He reigned from 1341 until his death in 1344. Background Th ...

1341–1344 (brother) *

Lama Dampa Sonam Gyaltsen Sönam Gyaltsen, the Sakya Lama Dampa (, 16 May 1312 - 23 July 1375) was a ruler of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism, which had a precedence position in Tibet under the Yuan dynasty. He is considered the greatest Sakya scholar of the 14th centu ...

1344–1347 (brother) *

Lotro Gyaltsen Lotro Gyaltsen (1332 - 1365), in orthographic spelling ''bLo gros rgyal mts'an'', was a ruler of Sakya, which had a precedence position in Tibet under the Yuan dynasty. He reigned from 1347 to 1365; however, Sakya lost its influence in Central Tibe ...

1347–1365 (nephew)

Sakya Imperial Preceptors (Dishi)

* Phagpa Lodro Gyaltsen 1270–1274 *

Rinchen Gyaltsen Rinchen Gyaltsen (; ) (1238 – 24 March 1279) was a Tibetan imperial preceptor at the court of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty of China. His tenure lasted from 1274 to his death in either 1279 or 1282. Family background Rinchen Gyaltsen was born ...

1274–1279 (brother) *

1282–1286 (nephew) *

Yeshe Rinchen Yeshe Rinchen (; ) (1248 - 1294) was a Tibetan Imperial Preceptor (''Dishi'') at the court of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. He hailed from Sakya, the foremost monastic regime in Tibet in this period, and held the title from 1286 to 1291. Sakya and ...

1286–1291 * Drakpa Odzer 1291–1303 *

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)

* 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

Tai Situ Changchub Gyaltsen Tai Situ Changchub Gyaltsen (; )Chen Qingying (2003) (1302 – 21 November 1364) was the founder of the Phagmodrupa Dynasty that replaced the Mongol-backed Sakya dynasty, ending Tibet under Yuan rule. He ruled most of Tibet as ''desi'' (regent) fr ...

1354–1364 * Jamyang Shakya Gyaltsen 1364–1373 (nephew) * Drakpa Changchub 1374–1381 (nephew) *

Sonam Drakpa Sonam Drakpa (, 1359–1408) 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 Sonam Drakpa was the son of Rinchen Dorje, a bro ...

1381–1385 (brother) *

Drakpa Gyaltsen Dragpa Gyaltsen may refer to: *Jetsun Dragpa Gyaltsen (1147–1216), third of the five Sakya Patriarchs * Duldzin Dragpa Gyaltsen (1350–1413), one of the main disciples of Je Tsongkhapa *Gongma Drakpa Gyaltsen (1374–1432), ruler of Tibet from 13 ...

1385–1432 (cousin) *

Drakpa Jungne Drakpa Jungne (, 1414–1445) was a king of central 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. His reign sa ...

1432–1445 (nephew) *

Kunga Lekpa Kunga Lekpa (, 1433–1483) was a King of central Tibet who ruled from 1448 to 1481. He belonged to the Phagmodrupa Dynasty, which was the leading political regime in central Tibet from 1354 to 1435, and retained a certain political status until the ...

1448–1481 (brother) * Ngagi Wangpo 1481–1491 (son of Drakpa Jungne) *

Tsokye Dorje Tsokye Dorje (, 1450–1510) 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 Tsokye ...

1491–1499 (regent, of Rinpungpa lineage) *

Ngawang Tashi Drakpa Ngawang Tashi Drakpa (, 1488–1564) was a king of Tibet who ruled in 1499–1554 and 1556/57–1564. 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 ea ...

1499–1554 (son of Ngagi Wangpo) * Ngawang Drakpa Gyaltsen 1554–1556/57 (grandson) *

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

Norzang Norzang (1403–1466), in full Norbu Zangpo (), was the founder of the power of the Rinpungpa Dynasty in Central Tibet. Religious activities Norzang was the son of Namkha Gyalpo, the chief of the Rinpung fief in Tsang (West Central Tibet). His g ...

1435–1466 *

Kunzang Kunzang (1445 – c. 1479), in full Kuntu Zangpo (), was a prince of the Rinpungpa Dynasty that wielded power in Tsang (West Central Tibet). He was the second son of Norzang, the founder of the power of the family, and the Phagmodrupa princess Y ...

1466–circa 1479 (son) *

Donyo Dorje Donyo Dorje () (1463 – 23 March 1512) was the third and most powerful prince of the Rinpungpa Dynasty that held power in much of Central Tibet from 1479 to 1512. Succession and religious patronate Donyo Dorje was the second son of the previous ...

circa 1479–1512 (son) *

Ngawang Namgyal Ngawang Namgyal (later granted the honorific Zhabdrung Rinpoche, approximately "at whose feet one submits") (; alternate spellings include ''Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel''; 1594–1651) and known colloquially as The Bearded Lama, was a Tibetan Budd ...

1512–1544 (cousin) * Dondup Tseten Dorje 1544–? (son) *

Ngawang Jigme Drakpa Ngawang Jigme Drakpa () (died 1597) was the last ruling prince of Tsang (West Central Tibet) of the Rinpungpa Dynasty. He was also a renowned author. His increasingly chaotic reign ended in 1565, when the Tsangpa dynasty deprived the Rinpungpa of t ...

1547–1565 (brother)

Tsangpa dynasty

Karma Tseten Karma Tseten (; ) (died 1599), also known as Zhingshak Tseten Dorje () 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 from 1565 to 1642. Karma ruled du ...

1565–1599 * Khunpang Lhawang Dorje circa 1582 – 1605/06 (son) *

Karma Thutob Namgyal Karma Thutob Namgyal () (died 17 October 1610) was a prince of the Tsangpa Dynasty that ruled parts of Central Tibet from 1565 to 1642. Family and offspring Karma Thutob Namgyal was the son of the king of Upper Tsang, Karma Tseten, who founded th ...

circa 1586–1610 (brother) *

Karma Tensung Karma Tensung (died 1611), in full Karma Tensung Wangpo (; ), was a king of Tsang (West Central Tibet) who probably reigned from 1599 to 1611. He belonged to the Tsangpa Dynasty that ruled parts of Tibet from 1565 to 1642. Background Karma Tensun ...

1599–1611 (brother) * Karma Phuntsok Namgyal 1611–1620 (son of Karma Thutob) *

Karma Tenkyong Karma Tenkyong (1606 – Neu, Central Tibet, 1642), 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 (West Central Tibet) since 1565. His reign ...

1620–1642 (son)

Gandan Phodrang and Qing dynasty

Khoshut kings of Tibet

Hugh E. Richardson, 1962; Tsepon W.D. Shakabpa, 1967. *

Güshi Khan Güshi Khan (1582 – 14 January 1655; ) was a Khoshut prince and founder of the Khoshut Khanate, who supplanted the Tumed descendants of Altan Khan as the main benefactor of the Dalai Lama and the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. In 1637, Güshi ...

1642–1655 *

Dayan Khan Dayan Khan ( mn, Даян Хаан; Mongol script: ; ), born Batumöngke ( mn, Батмөнх; ), (1472–1517) was a khagan of the Northern Yuan dynasty, reigning from 1479 to 1517. During his rule, he reunited the Mongols under Chinggisid sup ...

1655–1668 (son) * Tenzin Dalai Khan 1668–1696 (son) * Tenzin Wangchuk Khan 1696–1697 (son) * Labzang Khan 1697–1717 (brother)

Dalai Lamas

5th Dalai Lama Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso (; ; 1617–1682) was the 5th Dalai Lama and the first Dalai Lama to wield effective temporal and spiritual power over all Tibet. He is often referred to simply as the Great Fifth, being a key religious and temporal leader ...

(Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso, 1642–1682) *: Regents:

Sonam Rapten Sönam Rapten (''bsod nams rab brtan''; 1595–1658), initially known as Gyalé Chödze and later on as Sönam Chöpel, was born in the Tholung valley in the Central Tibetan province of Ü. He started off as a monk-administrator (''las sne, lené ...

(1642–1658), Depa Norbu (1659–1660), Trinlé Gyatso (1660–1668), Lozang Tutop (1669–1675), Lozang Jinpa (1675–1679), Sangye Gyatso (1679–1703) Tsepon W.D. Shakabpa, ''One Hundred Thousand Moons: An Advanced Political History of Tibet, Vol. 2'', Brill, Boston, 2010, p. 1133 *

6th Dalai Lama Tsangyang Gyatso (; born 1 March 1683, died after 1706) was the 6th Dalai Lama. He was an unconventional Dalai Lama that preferred the lifestyle of a crazy wisdom yogi to that of an ordained monk. His regent was killed before he was kidnapped ...

(Tsangyang Gyatso, 1697–1706) *: Regents:

Ngawang Rinchen Ngawang Rinchen (; ; born 26 February 1984) is a Chinese actor of Tibetan descent. Early life and education Ngawang Rinchen was born in Lhasa, Tibet, China. He graduated from Shanghai Theatre Academy in 2007, where he majored in acting. After g ...

(1703–1706), Khangchennä (1721–1728) *

7th Dalai Lama Kelzang Gyatso (; 1708–1757), also spelled Kalzang Gyatso, Kelsang Gyatso and Kezang Gyatso, was the 7th Dalai Lama of Tibet, recognized as the true incarnation of the 6th Dalai Lama, and enthroned after a pretender was deposed. The Seventh ...

(Kelzang Gyatso, 1720–1757) *: Regents: Polhanas (1728–1747),

Gyurme Namgyal Gyurme Namgyal (; ) (died 11 November 1750) was a ruling prince of Tibet of the Pholha family. He was the son and successor of Polhané Sönam Topgyé and ruled from 1747 to 1750 during the period of Qing rule of Tibet. Gyurme Namgyal was murdere ...

(1747–1750), the sixth Demo Rinpoche (1757–1777) *

8th Dalai Lama Jamphel Gyatso (1758–1804) was the 8th Dalai Lama of Tibet. Born in 1758 at Lhari Gang (Tob-rgyal Lha-ri Gang) in the Upper Ü-Tsang region of southwestern Tibet his father, Sonam Dhargye and mother, Phuntsok Wangmo, were originally from Kham ...

(Jamphel Gyatso, 1762–1804) *: Regents: the 1st

Tsemonling Rinpoche Tsomon Ling, Tsomonling, Tsome Ling, Chomoling ( or ''Tsho smon gling'' - pronounced 'Tsemonling') is a temple in inner Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, China, south of the Ramoche Temple, and on the corner of one of the main roads, Dekyi Shar L ...

(1777–1786),

Yeshe Lobsang Tenpai Gonpo Yeshe Lobsang Tenpai Gonpo (Wylie: ''ye shes blo bzang bstan pa'i mgon po''; 1760 – 30 December 1810) was the 8th Tatsag (rta tshag), a Tibetan reincarnation lineage. From 1789 to 1790 and from 1791 until his death in 1810 he was regent of Tibet ...

, 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 Reting Rinpoche () was a title held by abbots of Reting Monastery, a Buddhist monastery in central Tibet. History of the lineage Historically, the Reting Rinpoche has occasionally acted as the selector of the new Dalai Lama incarnation. It is f ...

(1845–1862) *

11th Dalai Lama Khedrup Gyatso (1 November 1838 – 31 January 1856) was the 11th Dalai Lama of Tibet. He was recognised as the Eleventh Dalai Lama in 1840, having come from the same village as Kelzang Gyatso, the seventh Dalai Lama, had in 1708. In 1841, Pald ...

(Khedrup Gyatso, 1842–1856) *

12th Dalai Lama Trinley Gyatso (also spelled Trinle Gyatso and Thinle Gyatso; 26 January 1857 – 25 April 1875) was the 12th Dalai Lama of Tibet. His short life coincided with a time of major political unrest and wars among Tibet's neighbours. Tibet particula ...

(Trinley Gyatso, 1860–1875) *: ''

Desi DESI may refer to * Desorption electrospray ionization * Drug Efficacy Study Implementation Drug Efficacy Study Implementation (DESI) was a program begun by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the 1960s after the requirement (in the Kefauve ...

'': 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

Jamphel Yeshe Gyaltsen (Thubten) Jamphel Yeshe Gyaltsen or Thupten Jampel Yishey Gyantsen, ( Dagpo, 1912 – Lhasa, 1947) was a Tibetan tulku and the fifth Reting Rinpoche. Life Gyantsen played a significant role in Tibetan history as the one-time regent of the ...

(1934–1941), Taktra Rinpoche (1941–1950) *

14th Dalai Lama The 14th Dalai Lama (spiritual name Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso, known as Tenzin Gyatso (Tibetan: བསྟན་འཛིན་རྒྱ་མཚོ་, Wylie: ''bsTan-'dzin rgya-mtsho''); né Lhamo Thondup), known as ...

(Tenzin Gyatso, 1950–Present)

Panchen Lamas

Dzungar occupation

* Tagtsepa (deputy of

Tsewang Rabtan Tsewang Rabtan (from ''Tsewang Rapten''; ; ; 1643–1727) was a Choros (Oirats) prince and the Khong Tayiji of the Dzungar Khanate from 1697 (following the death of his uncle and rival Galdan Boshugtu Khan) until his death in 1727. He was mar ...

) 1717–1720

Qing rule

Gashi and Pholha princes

Khangchenné Khangchenné Sonam Gyalpo (; ) (died 5 August 1727) was the first important representative of the noble house Gashi () in Tibet. Between 1721 and 1727 he led the Tibetan cabinet (Kashag, ) that governed the country during the period of Qing rule o ...

1721–1727 * Polhané Sönam Topgyé 1728–1747 *

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

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rulers of Tibet History of Tibet

Tibet Tibet (; ''Böd''; ) is a region in East Asia, covering much of the Tibetan Plateau and spanning about . It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people. Also resident on the plateau are some other ethnic groups such as Monpa, Taman ...

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