The Tsangpa Dynasty – Superseding the Rinpungpa in Tibet

EN English English

Karma Tseten, a loyal servant of the prince of the Rinpungpa Dynasty and governor of Samdrubtsé in Tsang since 1548, established the Tsangpa dynasty which held control over much of Tibet from 1565 until 1642.

This was the final royal Tibetan dynasty to rule in their own name.

Tsangpa

Tsangpa was a dynasty that dominated large parts of Tibet from 1565 to 1642.

It was the last Tibetan royal dynasty to rule in own name.

The regime was founded by Karma Tseten, a low-born retainer of the prince of the Rinpungpa Dynasty and governor of Shigatse in Tsang since 1548.

Karma Tseten

Karma Tseten, 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, ruling in the period 1565–1599.

Karma Phuntsok Namgyal

Karma Phuntsok Namgyal was a king of Tibet who ruled from 1618 to 1620. He belonged to the Tsangpa Dynasty that held power in Tsang since 1565 and was the foremost political and military power in Tibet until 1642.

Karma Tenkyong

Karma Tenkyong, 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 since 1565. His reign was marked by the increasingly bitter struggle against the Gelugpa sect and its leader the Dalai Lama. The outcome was the crushing of the Tsangpa regime and the establishment of the Dharma-based Tibetan state that endured until 1950.

Karma Tensung

Karma Tensung, in full Karma Tensung Wangpo, was a king of Tsang who probably reigned from 1599 to 1611. He belonged to the Tsangpa Dynasty that ruled parts of Tibet from 1565 to 1642.

Karma Thutob Namgyal

Karma Thutob Namgyal was a prince of the Tsangpa Dynasty that ruled parts of Central Tibet from 1565 to 1642.

Khunpang Lhawang Dorje

Khunpang Lhawang Dorje was a prince of the Tsangpa Dynasty that held power in parts of Central Tibet, especially Tsang, between 1565 and 1642.

Second Battle of Simtokha Dzong

The Second Tibetan Invasion of Bhutan or the Second Battle of Simtokha Dzong was a military confrontation in 1634 between the supporters of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and the forces of the Tibetan Tsangpa dynasty and several Bhutanese lamas allied against him. The latter initially conquered Zhabdrung’s seat, Simtokha Dzong, threatening to eliminate his young dominion. The castle’s ammunition stores were accidentally ignited during the battle, however, resulting in an explosion that destroyed Simtokha Dzong and much of the Tibetan army. Seizing this chance, Zhabdrung’s followers rallied and ousted the Tibetans from their territory, turning the battle into a decisive strategic victory of Ngawang Namgyal, paving the way for the Unification of Bhutan under his rule.