Chapter 2

Chapter 2The Establishment of Hereditary Monarchy

v  The era of Zhabdrung and the Desi were filled with constant wars, intrigues and treacheries in between the Desis, Poenlops and Dzongpoens since the Desis were not really powerful which led to lack of peace and order as the common mass had to directly or indirectly participate in the war.

v  Thus, the internal condition was chaotic and the people were longing for peace and order.

v  The prayer of the common mass was answered with the birth of Jigme Namgyal and his son Ugyen wangchuk.

Factors which paved the path to Hereditary Monarchy:

i)                    Jigme Namgyal as a leader:

ü    Jigme Namgyal became the Chhoetse Poenlop in 1853.

ü    The times were difficult as he had to face lots of revolts and wars.

ü    Yet he proved to be the most powerful of all.

ü    The battle of Samkhar in 1857 with Tsondrue Gyeltshen, the Jakar Dzongpon was solved and Jigme Namgyal was able to remain as Chhoetse Poenlop.

ü    Jigme Namgyal was appointed as Lamai Zimpon which gave him the power to make important decisions on behalf of Zhabdrung Sungtruel Yeshey Ngodrup.

ü    This post gave Jigme Namgyal the power to make important decisions like-

He rejected Ashley Eden Mission in 1864 and he led the troops to Dewan Giri in 1865.

Though the battle was lost against Britishitit brought all the regional lords together and defend Bhutan from British.

ü    After signing the treaty of Sinchula on 11^th November 1865, Jigme Namgyal retired but his elder brother Dungkar Gyaltshen was appointed as choetse poenlop.However, he was pulled back into political affairs when wangduephodrang Dzongpoen Dralung Tobgyal killed Thimphu dzongpoen

 Kasar Tobgyal and appointed Kawang Mangkhel in the post. After solving the problem he was appointed as the 49^th Desi by the monastic body and the people in 1870.

ü  He then appointed his own people in the key post for easy monarchy.

ü    For example, his son Thrinley Tobgyal as Wangdiphodrang Dzongpon. Son Ugyen Wangchuckas Paro Peonlop, his adopted son Phuntsho Dorji as Zhung Dronyer, his loyal ally Lam Tshwang as Thimphu Dzongpon and his trusted supporter Choegyal Zangpo as Desi in 1879.

ü    In 1873, he retired from the post of Desi and appointed his cousin brother Kitshelp Dorji Namgyal as his successor.

ü    However, had to return when Paro Poenlop Nima and Punakha Dzongpoen Nidup joined together and assassinated Zimpoen Barchungpa, the representative of Jigme Namgyal in Paro.

ü    The revolt orginated from the combined forces of paro Poenlop Nima, Punakha Dzongpoen Nidup and Wangduephodrang Dzongpoen Andruk Nim.

ü    However the revolt was pressed down

ü    Peace was restored and the way towards Monarchy was cleared further

ii)                  Contributions of Lam Jangchub Tsondrue (Buli Lam):

ü  Jigme Namgyal came to Trongsa in 1843 and was immetiately employed as Garpa-common retainer by Trongsa Poenlop Tamshing Chhoeje Ugyen Phuntsho.As

ü    Lam Jangchub Tsondrue predicted the Trongsa Poenlop Tshokey Dorji about coming of a man from east called Jigme will benefit the people and the country.

ü    When Jigme Namgyal rose to the post of Choetse Peonlop, Lam Jangchub Tsondrue advised him to construct Dechog Lhakhang with Dechog statues facing western Bhutan which will bring peace and corporation between the west and Trongsa.

ü    Lam designed the Raven Crown to Jigme Namgyal for blessing with special power of Jarok Dongchen.

ü    Lam Advised Jigme Namgyal to dress in black clothes, black shoes and ride on a Tanag Tingkar which he referred as ‘Deb Nagpo’ (the Black Regent) which would ward-off any evil forces from Jigme Namgyal.

ü    Lam advised Jigme Namgyal to employ a person from outside the Bhutan to advice Jigme Namgyal. So he employed Padsha Raja.

ü    Of all the contributions of Lama, The Raven Crown is the biggest contribution because it is still passed down to Jigme Namgyal’s generation to generation of our Monarchy.

iii)                The Last Civil War:

ü    Thimphu Dzongpon Aloo Dorji and Punakha Dzongpon Phuntsho Dorji planned tokill the Trongsa Poenlop which led to the outbreak of the popular battle known as Battle of Changlimithang of 1886.To solve this problem, Ugyen Wangchuck called them for peaceful meeting but Dzongpons refused to come.

ü    This forced Ugyen Wangchuck to march with 2140 men.

ü    The two Dzongpoens tried to stop the forces of Trongsa poenlop at Punakha but to no avail.

ü    After losing Semtokha Dzong to the forces of Ugyen Wangchuk Dzongpons agreed to meet at Changlimithang.Dawa Penor, the Paro Poenlop, representated  Ugyen Wangchuck and Phuntsho Dorji, representated  Aloo Dorji.

ü    Ugyen Wangchuck won the battle and cleared the obstacles.

ü    It was end of disorders in Bhutan.

ü    Which further paved the way towards establishing Hereditary Monarchy

iv)                The Events leading to 17^th December 1907:

ü    Ugyen Wangchuck with 200 men joined the Younghusband Mission of 1904 to Tibet as a mediator between the British and Tibetans.

ü    It was successful that British got the right to do trade in Tibet.

ü    In 1905, as gratitude, the British presented the Insignia of Knight Commander of the Indian Empire (K. C. I. E.).

ü    Relation between the British and Bhutan became strong at both political and personal fronts.

ü    The employment of Ugyen Dorji as Gya Drung, Officer In-charge of the region in India in 1900 added another factor for the establishment of hereditary Monarchy

ü    Ugyen Dorji spoke many Indian languages, good English and he had good contact with important people.  So that he was asset to Ugyen Wangchuck.

ü    After the retirement of the last Desi Chogley Truelku Yeshey Ngoedrup in 1906, there was no incarnation of Zhabdrung and no capable person to occupy the seat of Desi.  Therefore, Gya Drung sent a petition to the Lhengye Tshog that the Desi system had become weak and powerful man who has done a lot for the country and the people was necessary to bring peace and order and to continue Hereditary Monarchy in Bhutan.

ü    The petition was accepted. So, on 17^th December 1907, Ugyen Wangchuck was crowned as the First King of Bhutan at Punakha Dzong.

ü    The ceremony was attended by John Claude White.

A king is crowned

On December 17, 1907 corresponding to the Bhutanese 12^th day of the 11^th month of the Earth Monkey Year,Ugyen Wangchuk was crowned the first King of Bhutan at Punakha Dzong. The seal of the founding Zhabdrung was imprinted on the binding contract that brought Ugyen Wangchuk and his heir to ruke as Hereditary Monarchs of Druk Yul. It was signed and sealed by the members of the Lhengye Tshog, the central Monastic Body, as well as other government officials and representatives from each province inclusive of headmen.