List of rulers of Tibet


This article lists the rulers of Tibet from the beginning of legendary history. Included are regimes with their base in Central Tibet, that held authority over at least a substantial portion of the country.

Pre-Imperial Yarlung dynasty''Ancient Tibet: Research materials from the Yeshe De project''. Berkeley 1986, pp. 141-78; [Tsepon W.D. Shakabpa], ''Tibet. A Political History''. Yale 1967.

  • Nyatri Tsenpo
  • Mutri Tsenpo
  • Dingtri Tsenpo
  • Sotri Tsenpo
  • Mertri Tsenpo
  • Daktri Tsenpo
  • Siptri Tsenpo
  • Drigum Tsenpo
  • Pude Gunggyal
  • Esho Leg
  • Desho Leg
  • Tisho Leg
  • Gongru Leg
  • Drongzher Leg
  • Isho Leg
  • Zanam Zindé
  • Detrul Namzhungtsen
  • Senöl Namdé
  • Senöl Podé
  • Denöl Nam
  • Denöl Po
  • Degyal Po
  • Detring Tsen
  • Tore Longtsen
  • Tritsun Nam
  • Tridra Pungtsen
  • Tritog Jethogtsen
  • Lha Thothori
  • Trinyen Zungtsen
  • Drongnyen Deu
  • Tagri Nyenzig
  • Namri Songtsen

Tibetan Empire

Yuan dynasty and Sakya rulers

Sakya lamas[Luciano Petech], ''Central Tibet and the Mongols''. Rome 1990.

Sakya Imperial Preceptors (Dishi)

Dpon-chens (Ponchens)

  • Shakya Zangpo circa 1264–1270
  • Kunga Zangpo circa 1270–1275
  • Zhangtsun circa 1275–?
  • Chukpo Gangkarwa ?–1280
  • Changchub Rinchen 1281/82
  • Kunga Zhonnu 1282–circa 1285
  • Zhonnu Wangchuk circa 1285–1288
  • Changchub Dorje circa 1289
  • Aglen Dorje Pal circa 1290–1298
  • Zhonnu Wangchuk 1298
  • Lekpa Pal 1298–circa 1305
  • Sengge Pal early 14th century
  • Odzer Sengge circa 1315–1317
  • Kunga Rinchen circa 1319
  • Donyo Pal circa 1320
  • Yontsun Drakpa Dar before 1322
  • Odzer Sengge ?–1328/29
  • Gyalwa Zangpo 1328/29–1333
  • Wangchuk Pal 1333–1337
  • Sonam Pal 1337–1344
  • Gyalwa Zangpo 1344–1347
  • Wangtson 1347–circa 1350
  • Gyalwa Zangpo circa 1350–1356/58
  • Namkha Tenpai Gyaltsen circa 1357
  • Palbum ?–1360
  • Namkha Tenpai Gyaltsen circa 1364

Phagmodrupa dynasty[Giuseppe Tucci], ''Tibetan Painted Scrolls''. Rome 1949; [[Giuseppe Tucci], ''Deb T'er Dmar Po Gsarma''. Rome 1971; [Per K. Sørensen] & Guntram Hazod, ''Rulers on the Celestial Plain.'' Wien 2007; Olaf Czaja, ''Medieval rule in Tibet'', Vol. I-II. Wien 2013.

Rinpungpa dynasty[Giuseppe Tucci], 1949; [Giuseppe Tucci], 1971; Olaf Czaja, 2013.

Tsangpa dynasty[Giuseppe Tucci], 1949; [Hugh E. Richardson], ''A Short History of Tibet''. New York 1962.

Gandan Phodrang and Qing dynasty

Khoshut kings of Tibet

Dalai Lamas

Dzungar occupation

Qing rule

Rule by Lay Aristocrats

Qing imperial residents (Ambans)

  • Sengge 1727–1733
  • Lianyu 1906–1912

20th century ''Silöns'' (prime ministers)

  • Changkhyim 1907–1920
  • Paljor Dorje Shatra 1907–1923
  • Sholkhang 1907–1926
  • Langdün Künga Wangchuk 1926–1940
  • acting silöns: Lobsang Tashi and Lukhangwa 1950–1952