Ugyen Wangchuck
Encyclopedia
Gongsa Ugyen Wangchuck was the first King of Bhutan from 1907 to 1926.
He was born in 1862 to Jigme Namgyal, penlop
(governor) of Trongsa
and Ashi Pema Choki. He succeeded his father as Penlop
of Trongsa. From his power base in central Bhutan
, Ugyen Wangchuck defeated his political enemies and united the country following several civil wars and rebellions in 1882–1885.
In 1907, an epochal year for the country, Ugyen Wangchuck was unanimously chosen as the hereditary monarch of the country by the people at Punakha
, the old capital of Bhutan.
For his services in mediating between the British and Tibetans during the Younghusband Expedition to Lhasa
, Tibet
, he was knighted by the British in 1904. He was appointed Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE) in the 1921 New Year Honours, having already been appointed Knight Commander (KCIE) in 1904.
Gold Medal - 1911 Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India (KCSI
) - 1911 Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE
) - 1921 (KCIE
- 1904) In his life time he has done extreme works in order to unite the country as well as to get trusted by people.
He was born in 1862 to Jigme Namgyal, penlop
Penlop
Penlop is a Dzongkha term roughly translated as governor. Bhutanese penlops, prior to unification, controlled certain districts of the country, but now hold no administrative office...
(governor) of Trongsa
Trongsa
Trongsa, previously Tongsa , is a town and capital of Trongsa District in central Bhutan. The name means "new village" in Dzongkha. The first temple was built in 1543 by the Drukpa Kagyu lama, Ngagi Wangchuk, who was the great-grandfather of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, the person who unified...
and Ashi Pema Choki. He succeeded his father as Penlop
Penlop
Penlop is a Dzongkha term roughly translated as governor. Bhutanese penlops, prior to unification, controlled certain districts of the country, but now hold no administrative office...
of Trongsa. From his power base in central Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
, Ugyen Wangchuck defeated his political enemies and united the country following several civil wars and rebellions in 1882–1885.
In 1907, an epochal year for the country, Ugyen Wangchuck was unanimously chosen as the hereditary monarch of the country by the people at Punakha
Punakha
thumb|right|Punakha Dzong and the [[Mo Chhu]]Punakha is the administrative centre of Punakha dzongkhag, one of the 20 districts of Bhutan. Punakha was the capital of Bhutan and the seat of government until 1955, when the capital was moved to Thimphu. It is about 72 km away from Thimphu and it...
, the old capital of Bhutan.
For his services in mediating between the British and Tibetans during the Younghusband Expedition to Lhasa
Lhasa
Lhasa is the administrative capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China and the second most populous city on the Tibetan Plateau, after Xining. At an altitude of , Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world...
, Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
, he was knighted by the British in 1904. He was appointed Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE) in the 1921 New Year Honours, having already been appointed Knight Commander (KCIE) in 1904.
Honours
Delhi DurbarDelhi Durbar
The Delhi Durbar , meaning "Court of Delhi", was a mass assembly at Coronation Park, Delhi, India, to mark the coronation of a King and Queen of the United Kingdom. Also known as the Imperial Durbar, it was held three times, in 1877, 1903, and 1911, at the height of the British Empire. The 1911...
Gold Medal - 1911 Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India (KCSI
Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
) - 1911 Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE
Order of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
) - 1921 (KCIE
Order of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
- 1904) In his life time he has done extreme works in order to unite the country as well as to get trusted by people.
See also
- House of WangchuckHouse of WangchuckThe House of Wangchuck has ruled Bhutan since it was reunified in 1907. Prior to reunification, the Wangchuck family had governed the district of Trongsa as descendants of Dungkar Choji. They eventually overpowered other regional lords and earned the favour of the British Empire...
- Penlop of Trongsa