| Penlop ofTrongsa | |
|---|---|
| Incumbent | |
.jpg) | |
| Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck | |
| Since 31 October 2004 | |
| Details | |
| Style | His Highness |
| First monarch | Chogyal Minjur Tempa |
| Formation | 1647 |
ThePenlop of Trongsa (Dzongkha:ཀྲོང་གསར་དཔོན་སློབ་;Wylie:Krong-gsar dpon-slob),[1][2] also calledChhoetse Penlop (Dzongkha: ཆོས་རྩེ་དཔོན་སློབ་;Wylie:Chos-rtse dpon-slob; also spelled "Chötse"[3][4]),[Note 1] is aDzongkha title meaning "Governor of theProvince of Trongsa (Chhoetse)". It is now generally given to theheir apparent of the Kingdom ofBhutan, but historically was an important title, for the governor ofTrongsa and the surrounding area, and was the route by which theHouse of Wangchuck came to the throne.
The most recent holder of the title was KingJigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who was then aprince (Dzongkha:dasho,gyalsey). The currentheir apparent isPrinceJigme Namgyel Wangchuck, because the title is reserved for the officially designatedheir apparent, and is subject to change by the reigning king. Also, the reigningDruk Gyalpo may retain the office or award it to another person after coronation. The proper reference style isHis Royal Highness Trongsa (Chhoetse) Penlop.
Penlop is a title roughly translating to "Provincial Governor" or theEuropean title "Duke". The crown prince holds the title "Penlop ofTrongsa", or "TrongsaPenlop", which is the title held by theHouse of Wangchuck before its ascendancy to the throne. Originally, there werePenlops for each of the nine provinces ofBhutan, but they were consolidated under the control of the 12thPenlop ofTrongsaUgyen Wangchuck when he became the firstDruk Gyalpo.[3]
| Number | Name | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TongsabChogyalMinjur 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 SamdrupJigme Namgyal[table 3] | 1853–1870 | |
| 11 | Tongsab Dungkar Gyeltshen[table 4] | 1870–1882 | |
| 12 | GongsarUgyen Wangchuck | 1882–1907 | |
| 13 | GyalseyJigme Wangchuck | 1923–?? | |
| 14 | GyalseyJigme Dorji Wangchuck | 1946–?? | |
| 15 | GyalseyJigme Singye Wangchuck | 1972–?? | |
| 16 | GyalseyJigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck | 2004–present | |
Notes:
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Under Bhutan's early theocraticdual system of government, decreasingly effective central government control resulted in thede facto disintegration of the office ofZhabdrung Rinpoche after the death ofNgawang Namgyal in 1651. Under this system, the Zhabdrung reigned over the temporalDruk Desi and religiousJe Khenpo. Two successor Zhabdrungs – the son (1651) and stepbrother (1680) of Ngawang Namgyal – were effectively controlled by the Druk Desi and Je Khenpo until power was further splintered through the innovation of multiple Zhabdrung incarnations, reflecting speech, mind, and body. Increasingly secular regional lords (penlops anddzongpens) competed for power amid a backdrop of civil war over the Zhabdrung and invasions fromTibet and theMongol Empire.[6]
The penlops ofTrongsa andParo, and the dzongpens ofPunakha,Thimphu, andWangdue 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]
Chogyal Minjur Tenpa (1613–1680;r. 1667–1680) was the first Penlop of Trongsa, appointed by Ngawang Namgyal. He was born Damchho Lhundrub in Min-Chhud,Tibet, and led a monastic life from childhood. Before his appointment at Trongsa, he held the appointed post of Umzey (Chant Master). A trusted follower of the Zhabdrung, Minjur Tenpa was sent to subdue kings of Bumthang, Lhuntse, Trashigang, Zhemgang, and other lords fromTrongsa Dzong. After doing so, the Tongsa divided his control in the east among eight regions (Shachho Khorlo Tsegay), overseen by Dungpas and Kutshabs (civil servants). He went on to buildJakar,Lhuntse, Trashigang, and ZhemgangDzongs.[5]: 106
Within this political landscape, theHouse of Wangchuck originated in theBumthang region of central Bhutan.[9] The family belongs to the descendants of Dungkar Choji of the Nyö clan, and is descended fromPema Lingpa, a BhutaneseNyingma saint. The Nyö clan emerged as a local aristocracy supplanting many older aristocratic families of Tibetan origin that sided with Tibet during invasions of Bhutan. In doing so, the clan came to occupy thede facto hereditary position of Penlop of Trongsa sinceJigme Namgyal (appointed from among his family), as well as significant national and local government positions.[10]
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 theDruk 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 theBritish Raj through the 19th century, extension of British power at Bhutan's borders as well as Tibetan incursions in BritishSikkim 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 theBritish Empire, provided the conditions for the ascendancy of the Penlop of Trongsa.[10]
After theBhutan War with Britain (1864–65) as well as substantial territorial losses (Cooch Behar 1835;AssamDooars 1841), armed conflict turned inward. In 1870, amid the continuing civil wars, Penlop Jigme Namgyal of Trongsa ascended to the office ofDruk Desi. In 1879, he appointed his 17-year-old sonUgyen Wangchuck as Penlop of Paro. Jigme Namgyal reigned through his death 1881, punctuated by periods of retirement during which he retained effective control of the country.[12]
The pro-Britain PenlopUgyen 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 seizingSimtokha Dzong. From this time forward, the office ofDruk Desi became purely ceremonial.[12]
Under Article 2 of theConstitution 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]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain. Worden, Robert L. (September 1991). Savada, Andrea Matles (ed.).Bhutan: A Country Study.Federal Research Division. British Intrusion, 1772–1907. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic 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 thepublic domain. Worden, Robert L. (September 1991). Savada, Andrea Matles (ed.).Bhutan: A Country Study.Federal Research Division. Civil Conflict, 1728–72.| Government |  | |
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