List of rulers of Bhutan

Bhutan was founded and unified as a country by Ngawang Namgyal, 1st Zhabdrung Rinpoche in the mid–17th century. After his death in 1651, Bhutan nominally followed his recommended "Dual System of Government". Under the dual system, government control was split between a secular leader, the Druk Desi (, Deb Raja);The original title is ་; . and a religious leader, the Je Khenpo ().

Both the Druk Desi and Je Khenpo were under the nominal authority of the Zhabdrung Rinpoche, a reincarnation of Ngawang Namgyal. In practice however, the Zhabdrung was often a child under the control of the Druk Desi, and regional penlops often administered their districts in defiance of the power of the Druk Desis until the rise of the unified Wangchuck dynasty in 1907.

Since the rise of the unified Wangchuck family in 1907, the Druk Gyalpo (; lit. "Dragon King") have been the head of state of the Kingdom of Bhutan.

Druk Desis (1650–1905)

Below appears the list of Druk Desis throughout the existence of the office. Officeholders were initially appointed by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, though after his death the Je Khenpo and civil government decided appointments.

Italics indicate coregencies and caretaker governments, which are not traditionally separately numbered.

+Druk Desis of Bhutan Name Date of birth Reign start Reign end Date of death 1 Tenzin Drukgye 1591 1650 1655 1655 2 Langonpa Tenzin Drukdra 1655 1667 1667 3 Chhogyel Minjur Tempa 1613 1667 1680 1680 4 Gyalsey Tenzin Rabgye 1638 1680 1694 1696 5 Gedun Chomphel 1695 1701 1701 6 Ngawang Tshering 1701 1704 7 Umze Peljor 1704 1707 1707 8 Druk Rabgye 1707 1719 1729 9 Ngawang Gyamtsho 1719 1729 1729 10 Mipham Wangpo 1729 1736 11 Khuwo Peljor 1736 1739 12 Ngawang Gyaltshen 1739 1744 13 Sherab Wangchuk 1744 1763 14 Druk Phuntsho 1763 1765 15 Wangzob Druk Tenzin I 1765 1768 16 Sonam LhundubDruk Desi Sonam Lhundub was the first Bhutanese ruler to confront British power, losing in a power bid in Cooch Behar, a traditional Bhutanese dependency. 1768 1773 1773 17 Kunga Rinchen 1773 1776 18 Jigme Singye 1742 1776 1788 1789 19 Druk Tenzin 1788 1792 20 Umzey Chapchhab 1792 1792 1792 21 Chhogyel Sonam Gyaltshen (Tashi Namgyel) 1792 1799 22 Druk Namgyel 1799 1803 23 Chhogyel Sonam Gyaltshen (Tashi Namgyel) 1803 1805 24 Sangye Tenzin 1805 1806 25 Umzey Parob 1806 1808 26 Byop Chhyoda 1807 1808 27 Tulku Tsulthrim Daba 1790 1809 1810 1820 28 Zhabdrung Thutul (Jigme Dragpa) 1810 1811 29 Chholay Yeshey Gyaltshen 1781 1811 1815 1830 30 Tshaphu Dorji Namgyel 1815 1815 31 Sonam Drugyel 1815 1819 32 Gongzim Tenzin Drukda 1819 1823 33 Chhoki Gyaltshen 1823 1831 34 Dorji Namgyal 1831 1832 35 Adab Thinley 1832 1835 36 Chhoki Gyaltshen 1835 1838 37 Dorji Norbu 1838 1850 38 Wangchuk Gyalpo 1850 1850 39 Zhabdrung Thutul (Jigme Norbu) 1850 1852 Chagpa Sangye 1851 1852 40 Damchho Lhundrup 1852 1854 41 Jamtul Jamyang Tenzin 1854 1856 42 Kunga Palden 1856 1860 Sherab Tharchin 1856 1860 43 Phuntsho Namgyel (Nazi Pasang) 1860 1863 44 Tshewang Sithub 1863 1864 Tsulthrim Yonten 1864 1864 45 Kagyud Wangchuk 1864 1864 46 Tshewang Sithub 1865 1867 47 Tsondul Pekar 1867 1870 48 Jigme Namgyel 1825 1870 1873 1881 49 Kitshab Dorji Namgyel 1873 1879 Jigme Namgyel 1877 1878 Kitshab Dorji Namgyel 1878 1879 50 Chhogyel Zangpo March 1879 June 1880 1880 Jigme Namgyel June 1880 July 1881 51 Lam Tshewang 1836 July 1881 May 1883 1883 52 Gawa Zangpo May 1883 August 1885 53 Sangay Dorji 1885 1901 1901 54 Choley Yeshe Ngodub 1851 1903 1905 1917 Notes:

Kings of Bhutan (1907–present)

The Bhutanese monarchy was established on 17 December 1907, unifying the country under the control of the Wangchuck dynasty, hereditary penlops (governors) of Trongsa Province. The King of Bhutan, formally known as the Druk Gyalpo ("Dragon King"), also occupies the office of Druk Desi under the "Dual System of Government". Since the enactment of the Constitution of 2008, the Druk Gyalpo has remained head of state, while the Prime Minister of Bhutan acts as executive and head of government in a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy.

Timeline

List of rulers of Bhutan

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