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Bhutan was founded and unified as a country by the Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in the mid-1600s. After his death the country nominally followed his recommended "dual system of government" which split control between an administrative leader (the Druk Desi), and a religious leader, the (Je Khenpo). In practice, regional ''penlops'', or governors, often administered their districts in defiance of the power of the Desi Druks, until the rise of the unified monarchy in the early 20th century.

Contents

Druk desis (administrative leaders, 1695-1905)

Kings of Bhutan (1907-Present)

External links

Druk desis (administrative leaders, 1695-1905)

★ Gedun Chomphel (-1701) 1695-1701

★ Ngawang Tshering 1701-1704

★ Umdze Peljor 1704-1707

★ Druk Rabgye (-1729) 1707-1719

★ Ngawang Gyamtsho (-1729) 1719-1729

★ Mipham Wangpo 1729-1736

★ Khuwo Peljor 1736-1739

★ Ngawang Gyaltshen 1739-1744

★ Sherab Wangchuck 1744-1763

★ Druk Phuntsho 1763-1765

★ Druk Tendzin I 1765-1768

★ Donam Lhundub (-1773) 1768-1773

★ Kunga Rinchen 1773-1776

★ Jigme Singye (1742-1789) 1776-1788

★ Druk Tendzin II 1788-1792

★ Tashi Namgyal 1792-1799

★ Druk Namgyal 1799-1803

★ Tashi Namgyal (2. Mal) 1803-1805

★ Sangye Tendzin 1805-1806

★ Umdze Parpop 1806-1808

★ Bop Choda 1807-1808

★ Tsulthrim Drayga (1790-1820) 1809-1810

★ Jigme Dragpa II 1810-1811

★ Yeshey Gyaltshen (1781-1830) 1811-1815

★ Tshaphu Dorji 1815

★ Sonam Drugyal 1815-1819

★ Tendzin Drugdra 1819-1823

★ Choki Gyaltshen 1823-1831

★ Dorji Namgyal 1831-1832

★ Adap Thrinley 1832-1835

★ Choki Gyaltshen (2. Mal) 1835-1838

★ Dorji Norbu 1838-1847

★ Tashi Dorji 1847-1850

★ Wangchuk Gyalpo 1850

★ Jigme Norbu (in Thimphu) 1850-1852

★ Chagpa Sangye (in Punakha) 1851-1852

★ Damcho Lhundrup 1852-1856

★ Kunga Palden (in Punakha) 1856-1861

★ Sherab Tharchin (in Thimphu) 1856-1861

★ Phuntsho Namgyal 1861-1864

★ Tshewang Sithub 1864

★ Tsulthrim Yonten 1864

★ Kagyu Wangchuk 1864

★ Tshewang Sithub (2. Mal) 1864-1866

★ Tsondru Pekar 1866-1870

★ Jigme Namgyal (1825-1881) 1870-1873

★ Kitsep Dorji Namgyal 1873-1877

★ Jigme Namgyal (2. Mal) 1877-1878

★ Kitsep Dorji Namgyal (2. Mal) 1878-1879

★ Chogyal Zangpo (-1880) 03.1879-06.1880

★ Jigme Namgyal (3. Mal) 1880-07.1881

★ Lam Tshewang (1836-1883) 1881-05.1883

★ Gawa Zangpo 16.05.1883-23.08.1885

★ Sangye Dorji (-1901) 1885-1901

★ Choley Yeshe Ngodub (1851-1917) 1903-1905

Kings of Bhutan (1907-Present)

The monarchy was established in 1907, unifying the country under the control of the Wangchuk family, the traditional ''penlops'' of Trongsa district. The king of Bhutan is formally known as the Druk Gyalpo, the Dragon King.

★ Ugyen Wangchuck (1861-1926) "First King" (17 December 1907 - 21 August 1926)

★ Jigme Wangchuck (1902/1906-1952) "Second King" (21 August1926 - 24 March 1952)

★ Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (1929-1972) "Third King" (24 March1952 - 24 July 1972)

★ Jigme Singye Wangchuck (1955) "Fourth King" (24 July 1972 - 14 December 2006)

★ Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (1980) "Fifth King" (14 December 2006 - Present)
Bhutan is to observe 100 years of the Wangchuk Monarchy in 2007.

External links

★ More about 100 years of Centenary Celebration 2008

★ Kings of Bhutan - Bhutan Monarchy