Jigme Namgyal (Bhutan)

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This article is about the historical figure Jigme Namgyal of Bhutan. For the 21s
t-century Tibetan politician Jigme Namgyal, see Jigme Namgyal.
Genealogy of the Wangchuck Dynasty of Bhutan
Wangchuck
Emblem of Bhutan.svg
Country Bhutan
Parent house
Titles Dragon King of Bhutan
Founded 17 December 1907 AD
Founder Ugyen Wangchuck
Current head
Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck
Jigme Namgyel of Bhutan (Dzongkha: ???????????????????; Wylie: jigs med rnam rgy
al, 1825 1881) is a forefather of the Wangchuck Dynasty. He served as 51st Druk De
si (Deb Raja, the secular executive) of Bhutan (1870 1873), and held the hereditar
y post of 10th Penlop of Trongsa.[1][2][3]
Contents [hide]
1 Marriage
2 The Raven Crown
3 The Duar Wars 1864-65
4 Three Legacies of Desi Jigme Namgyel
5 Death
6 Notable descendants
7 See also
7.1 References
7.2 External Links
Marriage[edit]
Desi Jigme Namgyel was born in 1825 [4] and died in 1881. He was an outstanding
military commander. The qualities of loyalty, bravery, integrity and risk-taking
were crucial factors in the rise of Jigme Namgyel. Desi Jigme Namgyel was from
Kurtoe Dungkar, from where the ancestry of Wangchuck dynasty originates. [5] He
was a descendent of Kheydrup Kuenga Wangpo, the son of Pema Lingpa (1450-1521) a
nd Kheydrup s consort, who was a descendant of terton Guru Choewang (1212-1270). [
6]
Around 1846, he joined the Tongsa administration that governed eastern Bhutan, w
hich consisted then of the Assam Duars. He rose rapidly through the ranks to bec
ome the Tongsa Penlop in 1853.
While he was a high official of Tongsa, Jigme Namgyel married Pem Choki, the dau
ghter of Tongsa Penlop Tamzhing Choeje, Ugyen Phuntsho. His marriage to Pem Chok
i further enhanced Jigme Namgyel s noble lineage. The ancestry of Jigme Namgyel s wi
fe also went back to Pema Lingpa as she was the daughter of Tamzhing Choeje. [5]

The Raven Crown[edit]

While Jigme Namgyel was the Zimpon (Chamberlain) of Tongsa, he met his root Lama
, Jangchub Tsundru (1817-1856).[7] Lama Jangchub Tsundru had a significant influ
ence on him as a spiritual companion. The Lama designed the sacred Raven Crown f
or Jigme Namgyel. The Raven Crown has symbolized the Kings of Bhutan since then.
[8]
The Duar Wars 1864-65[edit]
As the Tongsa Penlop, from 1853 to 1870, Jigme Namgyel was concerned about the f
estering tension between British India and Bhutan over the Assam and Bengal Duar

s, which were the most fertile part of Bhutan in those days. For economic reason
, and to secure the borders of their empire, the British attempted to extend the
ir boundaries up to the foothills of Bhutan.[9] The Assam Duars were annexed in
1841 although a formal treaty ceding it did not take place until 1865. In 1864,
the British unilaterally declared that, in addition to the Assam Duars that were
already annexed, the Bengal Duars would be annexed permanently. Following this,
the British sent forces to occupy vital passes into Bhutan such as Deothang, Si
dli and Buxa. Jigme Namgyel launched a counter offensive with about 5000 men and
succeeded in dislodging the British Imperial Force at Deothang. [10]
He was successful in the January and February 1865 attacks on the British outpos
t in Deothang. However, later that year Bhutan was forced to sign the Treaty of
Sinchula, 1865. The treaty brought stability to the relationship between the two
countries. The Duars were incorporated permanently into the British Empire and
an annual subsidy of Rs 50,000 to Bhutan was instituted from that year. [10]
Three Legacies of Desi Jigme Namgyel[edit]
The most important contribution Desi Jigme Namgyel made was the ushering of peac
e, through a reduction of local feuds among the top leadership by gradually unif
ying the state over three decades, from 1850s to 1870s. The reduction of interna
l conflicts, especially after 1878, allowed for laying the foundation of the mon
archy that in turn brought a peaceful era in Bhutan. [5]
In terms of external relationship, especially with British India, Desi Jigme Nam
gyel left an identifiable centre of power that made it possible for treaties to
be revised constructively and foreign relationships to be improved over the cour
se of time. His son, the first King of Bhutan, Ugyen Wangchuck amply fulfilled t
hat role later on. After Jigme Namgyel s reign, foreign relations could be conduct
ed in a systematic and co-ordinated way, because the fragmentation of power amon
g the top leadership could be avoided.[11] The Treaty of Sinchula, 1865, which w
ent back to Jigme Namgyel s time, became the crucial, guiding bilateral legal inst
rument between Bhutan and British India and later, Independent India. It was upd
ated and revised in 1910, 1949, and 2007.[12]
Jigme Namgyel made not only political but architectural impacts. He restored the
Tongsa Dzong, and built Sangwa Duepa temple in it. He founded the Wangdicholing
Palace in Choekhor valley in 1856. Wangdicholing palace was the main residence
of the Royal Family from Desi Jigme Namgyel s time to that of the Crown Prince Jig
me Dorji Wangchuck (1929-1972). It was the political epicentre of the country fo
r over a century, from the late 1850s to the early 1950s. [4]
Death[edit]
In 1881, Desi Jigme Namgyel died, aged 57, at Semtokha dzong (first built in 162
9). His 21-year-old son, then the Paro Penlop, Ugyen Wangchuck (1862-1926), cond
ucted the grandest funeral Bhutan had ever seen for his father.[13]
Notable descendants[edit]
Jigme Namgyal is the father of the first Druk Gyalpo King Ugyen Wangchuck, who f
ounded the Bhutanese monarchy in 1907 after besting his rivals, the Penlop of Pa
ro and allies, ending protracted civil war. Jigme Namgyal is thus the forefather
of all subsequent Kings of Bhutan: Jigme Wangchuck, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, Jigm
e Singye Wangchuck, and Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.[2] Several monarchs of t
he House of Wangchuck have borne Jigme Namgyel's names.
Crown Princes of Bhutan traditionally take the title Penlop of Trongsa (also cal
led "Chhoetse" Penlop), reflecting the hereditary position and historical signif
icance of the office of Jigme Namgyal.[2][14]
See also[edit]
Penlop of Trongsa

History of Bhutan
References[edit]
Jump up ^ Dorji, C. T. (1994). "Appendix III". History of Bhutan based on Buddhi
sm. Sangay Xam, Prominent Publishers. p. 200. ISBN 81-86239-01-4. Retrieved 2011
-08-12.
^ Jump up to: a b c Buyers, Christopher (2010-03-20). "BHUTAN
The Wangchuck dyna
sty". The Royal Ark Royal and Ruling Houses of Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Ame
ricas. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
Jump up ^ Dorji Wangdi (2004). "A Historical Background of the Chhoetse Penlop"
(PDF). The Tibetan and Himalayan Library online. Thimphu: Cabinet Secretariat. R
etrieved 2011-02-20.
^ Jump up to: a b Karchung, Gengop. "Wangd Chling Dzong: The Masterpiece of Gongsa
r Jigme Namgyel" (PDF). Journal of Bhutan Studies (The Centre for Bhutan Studies
) 28: 73 89. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
^ Jump up to: a b c Ura, Karma (2010). Leadership of the Wise, Kings of Bhutan.
Thimphu: Dasho Karma Ura. ISBN 978-99936-633-2-4.
Jump up ^ Chos kyi dbang phyub (1979). Gu ru chos dwang gi rang rnam dang zhal g
ams. Paro: Ugyen Tempai Gyeltshen.
Jump up ^ blama byang chub brtsun grus kyi rnam thar. Thimphu: KMT Printing Press
. 2008.
Jump up ^ Michael, Aris. The Raven Crown: The Origins of Buddhist Monarchy in Bh
utan. London: Serindia Publications. ISBN 978-193247-621-7.
Jump up ^ Rennie, D.E. (1866). Bhutan and the Story of the Dooar War. London: Jo
hn Murray.
^ Jump up to: a b Ura, Karma. "Perceptions of Security" (PDF). Journal of Bhutan
Studies (The Centre for Bhutan Studies) 5: 113 139. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
Jump up ^ Bengal Secretariat Office (1970) [1865]. Political Missions to Bootan,
Comprising the Reports of The Hon ble Ashley Eden, 1864; Captain R.B. Pemberton,
1837, 1838, with Dr. W. Griffithss Journal; and the Account by Kishen Kant Bose.
Calcutta.
Jump up ^ 1907 to 2007 Bhutan Through 100 Years
Jump up ^ dpel brug zhib jug lt ba (2008). Gong sa jigs med nam rgyel gyi rtogs brjo
d dp bo g rgyangs bzhugs so. Thimphu, Bhutan: The Centre for Bhutan Studies.
Jump up ^ Rennie, Frank; Mason, Robin (2008). Bhutan: Ways of Knowing. IAP. p. 1
76. ISBN 1-59311-734-5. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
External Links[edit]
Gyeltshen, Dorji. "rig zin pad ma gling pa kun dga dbang phyug gis ka rtsom thor bu
dang sbas yul mkhan pa ljongs kyi bzhugs khri mthong ba don ldan gyi skor" (PDF
).
Aris, Michael (1979). Bhutan: The Early History of a Himalayan Kingdom. Warminst
er, England: Aris and Phillips Ltd. ISBN 978-0856681998.