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Dzongpen (Dzongkha: རྗོང་དཔོན་; Wylie: rjong-dpon; also spelled "Dzongpon," "Dzongpön," "Jongpen," "Jongpon," "Jongpön") is a Dzongkha term roughly translated as governor or dzong lord. dzongpens, prior to unification, controlled certain areas of the country, but now hold no administrative office. Rather, dzongpens are now entirely subservient to the House of Wangchuck.
Traditionally, Bhutan comprised nine provinces: Trongsa Province, Paro Province, Punakha Province, Wangdue Phodrang, Daga Province (also Taka, Tarka, or Taga), Bumthang, Thimphu Province, Kurtoed Province (also Kurtoi, Kuru-tod), and Kurmaed Province (or Kurme, Kuru-mad). The Provinces of Kurtoed and Kurmaed were combined into one local administration, leaving the traditional number of governors at eight. While some lords ruled from (dzongpens), others held the title of penlop (Dzongkha: དཔོན་སློབ་; Wylie: dpon-slob; also "Ponlop"), a title also translated as "governor," though penlops tended to be more powerful.
Dzongpens ruled in Byagha, Dalay, Dalingkote, Ha, Kham, Punakha (the "Punab"), Singhi, Tashichho Dzong, Thimphu (the "Thimphub"), Tuwa, and Wangdue Phodrang (the "Wangzob").
Under the dual system of government, and dzongpens were theoretically masters of their own realms but servants of the Druk Desi. In practice, however, they were under minimal central government control, and the Penlop of Trongsa and Penlop of Paro dominated the rest of the local lords. And while all governor posts were officially appointed by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, later the Druk Desi, some offices such as the Penlop of Trongsa were de facto hereditary and appointed within certain families. Penlops and dzongpens often held other government offices such as Druk Desi, governor of other provinces, or a second or third term in the same office.
Within this political landscape, the Wangchuck family originated in the Bumthang region of central Bhutan. The family belongs to the Nyö clan, and is descended from Pema Lingpa, a Bhutanese saint. The Nyö clan emerged as a local aristocracy, supplanting many older aristocratic families of Tibetan origin that sided with Tibet during invasions of Bhutan. In doing so, the clan came to occupy the hereditary position of Penlop of Trongsa, as well as significant national and local government positions.
The Penlop of Trongsa controlled central and eastern Bhutan; the rival Penlop of Paro controlled western Bhutan; and controlled areas surrounding their respective . Eastern dzongpens were generally under the control of the Penlop of Trongsa, who was officially endowed with the power to appoint them in 1853. The Penlop of Paro, unlike Trongsa, was an office appointed by the Druk Desi's central government. Because western regions controlled by the Penlop of Paro contained lucrative trade routes, it became the object of competition among aristocratic families.
Punakha Dzongpens
Below are the Dzongpens of Punakha Province, also called "Punab."
Thimphu Dzongpens
Below are the Dzongpens of Thimphu Province, also called "Thimphub."
+ Thimphu Dzongpens Thimphub Awu Tshering Thimphub Norbu Thimphub Ngwang Gyeltshen Thimphub Tashi Dorji Thimphub Druk Rubgye Thimphub Sonam Drugyel Thimphub Dondub Thimphub Druk Phuntsho Thimphub Druk Tenzin Thimphub Chhoki Gyeltshen (Tshewang Rinchhen)Tshewang Rinchhen assassinated Druk Desi Wangchuck Gyalpo in 1851; the same year, Wangzob Chaap had Tshewang Rinchhen assassinated. Thimphub Uma Dewa (Sherub Tharchhin)Uma Dewa (Sherub Tharchhin) was assassinated by Zimpon Dachung in 1857. Thimphub Kasha Thimphub Karma Drugyel Thimphub Khasab Tobgye Thimphub Kawang Manghkhel Thimphub Lama Thewang Thimphub Alu Dorji Thimphub Kunzang Thinley Thimphub Pema Thimphub Kunzang ThinleySecond tenure. Father of First Druk Gyaltsuen Tsundue Pema Lhamo Notes:
Wangdue Dzongpens
Below are the Dzongpens of Wangdue Phodrang, also called "Wangzob."
+ Wangdue Dzongpens Wangzob Chhoje Namkha Rinchhen Wangzob Gedun Chhophel Wangzob Ngwang Tshering Wangzob Druk Tenzin Wangzob Sangye Tenzin Wangzob Lepi Sherub Wangzob Sonam Lhundup Wangzob Sangay Wangzob Kunga Gyeltshen Wangzob Phuntsho Namgyel Wangzob Dalub Tobgye Wangzob Sigay Wangzob Tenzin Namgyel Wangzob Kawang Sangay Wangzob Angdu Wangzob Jigme NamgyelFather of First Druk Gyalpo Ugyen Wangchuck Wangzob Thinley Tobgye Wangzob Ashang Jampa Wangzob Kodu Wangzob Domchu Notes:
See also
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