PREDECESSORS AND SHORT HISTORY: Ancestor of the Namgyal Royal family of Ladakh and Bhutan are Central Asian Warrior Tribes of Tibetan or Mongoloid origin. The state was founded around 975 AD and was independent till 1834 after which it accepted suzerainty of Kashmir vassals of British Raj in India. Amongst the various vassal states under Ladakh were the states of Zangla, Nubra, Kargil, Lahaul, Guje, Kinnaur, Spiti, Zanskar, Baltistan, etc. Rulers were..... ^(#1)

PHASE I:

• 0975-0990 Raja Skid-l De Nyi-mamGon, Raja of Ladakh

• 0990-1020 Raja Lha-Chen dPal-gvi mGon

• 1020-1050 Raja Gro-mGon - Chos-mGon

• 1050-1075 Raja Lha-chen Grags-pa lDe

• 1075-1100 Raja Lha-Chen Bvang-Chub Sems-pa

• 1100-1125 Raja Lha-Chen rGyal-Po

• 1125-1150 Raja Lha-Chen Ot-pa-llaha

• 1150-1175 Raja Lha-Chen Nag-Lug

• 1175-1200 Raja Lha-Chen dGe dhe-dGe-Bum

• 1200-1230 Raja Lha-Chen Jo-rDor

• 1230-1265 Raja Lha-Chen bTa-Shs mGon

• 1265-1275 Raja Lha-Chen Lha-rGyal

• 1275-1300 Raja Lha-Chen Jo-dPal

• 1300-1325 Raja Lha-Chen dNgo-drub mGon

• 1325-1350 Raja Lha-Chen rGyal-bu Rin-Chem

• 1350-1375 Raja Lha-Chen Shes- Rab

• 1375-1400 Raja Lha-Chen Khri-grzng lbe

• 1430-1455 Raja Lha-Chen Drags-pa 'Bum-lde'

• 1455-1475 Raja Lha-Chen bLo-gRos mChog-lDan

PHASE II:

• 1475-1500 Raja LHACHEN BAGAN (lHa-Chen Bha-gan) [Ba-rGan Lha-Chen Rinchen rNam - rgyal], Raja of Ladakh, married and had issue, two sons, whom he used to call Namgyal or victors.

  • Raja Lhawang Namgyal (Blind King), had bodily heavy strength, throne usurped by his younger brother and sent him to Lingshet jail, he married and had issue, three sons.

    • Raja Tsewang Namgyal, eldest son, ascended the throne of Ladakh in 1535. (qv)

      • Jamyang Namgyal

        • Senege Namgyal

    • Namgyal Gonpo

    • Jamyang Namgyal

  • Raja Tashi Namgyal (qv)

• 1500-1532 Raja TASHI NAMGYAL (bKra-Shri-rNam-rgyal), he adopted the name Namgyal meaning victorious, he was very crafty and to attain the throne he plucked the eyes of his brother, later sent him to Lingshet jail; he was a brave soldier, he conquered country side small states and subdued the vassal chiefs, he succeeded in his aim of bringing ponies in great quantities, and also constructed the Royal Palace on top of the Namgyal Tsemo hill. In 1531 he fought against Mirza Heder - the turk, who invaded Nubra valley in Ladakh. In 1535 he invaded Zangskar, Khapulu and Shigar and was welcomed by King Beram of Khapulu and King Garzi of Shigar in their kingdoms by offering presents in great quantities; he built a Lamasery at Phyang village and made the rule of sending a child to be made a lama; he ordered repairing of Alchi Choskor and sent golden ink to Gadan, Shaskya to write Kangyur and Stangyur pothies; but he had no issue, and at last on the advice of his kingdom's great lamas, he gave his wife to his brother. After his death, the son of Lhawang became the King of Ladakh, gave full honours to his father and ruled Ladakh according to his desires.

• 1532-1560 Raja TSEWANG NAMGYAL (Tshe-dbang-rNamgyal) (1535/1557), a brave, intelligent and generous ruler, able administrator of Ladakh, he subdued all vassal-chief who had declared themselves independent but never dethroned any subdued ruler, conquered Baltistan. He withdrew decision to go to War against Turks on request of the people of Nubra province so that trade with Central Asian countries does not suffer and economy of Nubra is not harmed. In 1533 he made Leh as the capital of Ladakh and developed infrastructure, after sometimes went on war against Guge and received from it - 900 gm gold annually (plus 750 gm from Rutog), one hundred sheep annually for three years, one horse, ten tanned skin-bags, Rs. 100/- tsod khul. He extended his kingdom upto the outskirts of Lhasa, conquered Shigar, Kharko and divisions of Baltistan. He died in 1557.

• 1560-1590 Raja JAMYANG NAMGYAL (Jam-dbyangs-rNamgyal), he renounced the kingdom in favour of his son and led a reclusive life in the Phugthal monastery.

  • Rajkumari Gyalzom (rGyal 'dzom), married Raja Sag De [King Senge-De of Ste-sta (Dzoki Gyelpo or the Yogi King)] (AD 1560-1590), King of Zanskar and Spiti, scion of second lineage of Padum kings of Zanskar, successor of Shering Pelde; but the couple could not pull on together, that provided an excuse for Raja Senege Namgyal to invade and annexe Zanskar kingdom, he detached spiti from Zanskar and made it a separat principality, appointing his stepbrother Stanzin Namgyel as the gyelpo, enjoying autonomy in a large area extending in the Satluj Valley down up to Wangtu added to it by Senege Namgyel from Bushahr.

  • Raja Senege Namgyal (qv)

  • Rajkumar Stanzin Namgyel, granted Kingdom of Spiti.

• 1590-1620 Raja SENEGE NAMGYAL (Senegge-rNam-rgyal), he annexed the principality of Zanskar, though he did not interfere in the internal affairs of the local chiefs. He died in 1635.

  • Raja Deldan Namgyal (qv)

  • Rajkumar Indrabodhi Namgyel, initially ordained as a monk, staked claim for rulership, he had been one of the leading disciples of Tagtsen Raschen and the head lama of the Hemis and Theg-mchog (Chemrey) monasteries, became king of Guje Kingdom as a vassal of Ladakh and reigned until AD 1665.

  • Rajkumar Dechog Namgyel, also staked claim for rulership.

• 1620-1645 Raja DELDAN NAMGYAL (bDe-ldan-rNam-rGyal), got his daughters married for help from Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb of India.

  • Rajkumari (name unknown), married Padshah Aurangzeb, Emperor of Hindustan, India (Delhi).

  • Rajkumari (name unknown), married Raja Harbhan Kachhawa.

• 1645-1680 Raja DE-LEGZ NAMGYAL [Lhachen Delak Namgyel] (De- legs rNam - rgyal), during his reign, in about AD 1655 war ensued between Ladakh and Tibet, and he solicited help from the Mughals and the Tibetans were repulsed but the fifth Dalai Lama felt indignant on the action of seeking foreign intervention to settle dispute between two co-religionists. Later Gyelpo of Ladakh concluded Tangmogang Friendship Treaty with Tibet and ceded entire area of Ruthog and Guge (including Spiti) to Lhasa to defray expenses for religious rites in the Lhasa monasteries. The Ladakhi king could, however, regain Spiti in a matrimonial alliance with the commander of the Tibetan army.

PHASE III:

• 1680-1720 Maharaja NYIMA NAMGYAL (Nyi-ma-rNam-rgyal), 3 weak rulers succeeded him from 1720-1790 AD.

• 1720-1740 Maharaja DE-SKYONK NAMGYAL (b-De-skyong-rNam-rgyal)

• 1740-1760 Maharaja PHUNSHOG NAMGYAL (Phun - tshog rNam - rgyal)

• 1760-1780 Maharaja TSEWANG NAMGYAL (Tshe-dbang-rNam-rgyal)

• 1780-1790 Raja THUPSTAN NAMGYAL [Tsetan Namgyal] (Tshe-brtan-rNam-rgyal), ruled Ladakh for only ten years as he died at the young age of 24.

  • Raja Tse-pal Tondup Namgyal (qv)

• 1790-1830 Maharaja TSE-PAL TONDUP NAMGYAL (Tshe-dpal-rNam-rgyal), (1790-1834, 1839-1840), After the death of Tsetan Namgyal, Tsespal Tondup Namgyal came to power in 1820. Soon he directed construction of Royal palace at Stok village in order to keep away from the royal administrative activities, as he had no capacity to face incursions from Himachal and Jammu. In 1834, the forces of Zorawar Singh attacked Leh, he was dethroned / deposed and forced to reside in the castle at Stok, later reinstated, but died after a year. He married queen (name unknown), and was succeeded by his son Tsewang Rabstan.

  • Raja Tsewang Raftan (qv)

ANNEXED by General Zorawar Singh of Punjab State (J&K)

• 1830-1834 Maharaja TSEWANG RAFTAN [Tsewang Rabstan] (Tshe-dbang-Rab-brtan), King of Ladakh (1856/1873 A.D.), son of Jigmet Choskyi-Senge-Migyur-Kunga Namgyal was installed as the king under a treaty that required him to pay Rs. 18,000/- annual tax to Dogra reign; a weak administrator, he spent his time in merry making and married three queens, he married 1stly, Queen Skalzang Dolma, daughter of Tsewang Tondup, Ayu Kalom, Zimkhang Ningpa, she had issue, one son; married 2ndly, Queen Sonam Palkit, from the noble family of Piyu Pangpa village, located near Chemde-Sakti side, she had issue, one son; married 3rdly, Jera Khatun, daughter of noble family (Co of Pashkyum), Kargil, she had no issue. It is said that when the king was at Shey with his mother and pregnant wives, General Zorawar Singh attacked Leh and they (except 1st queen) fled to Lahul, and the king died there after which 3rd queen returned to Leh. Ladakh became part of Jammu and Kashmir State of British Raj (which was a creature of the treaty of Amritsar), and was divided between the two princes and the 3rd queen (she got the rest of the royal properties but returned to Kargil).

  • 1834-1873 Raja Jigmet Namgyal [Jigmet Dadul] (by 1st wife), born at Shey Palace, given Stok and half of Matho village area. He married 1stly, Tsering Wangmo, from a noble family of Khang Sar, Lahul (Himachal), she had no issue, he married 2ndly (when no child was born out of 1st marriage), Norzin Wangmo [Queen Nilza Wangmo], daughter of Tsering Tashi of Rupshu, and had issue, one son. (qv)

    • Raja Sonam Namgyal (qv)

  • Rajkumar Phunchok Yurgyal (by 2nd wife), born at Tangche village, given half area of Matho village.

• 1873-1896 Maharaja SONAM NAMGYAL (bSod-nams-rNam-rGyal), born 1860 (1866?), enthroned 1875 (1873?) as nominal head of Ladakh vassal state under Dogra Supremacy. He married the princess of a noble family of Barbok, Lahul, and had issue.

  • Raja Jigmet Dadul Namgyal (qv)

• 1896-1949 Maharaja JIGMET DADUL NAMGYAL, born 1896, during his reign Ladakh came under British Raj, married 1896, Rani Nilza Angmo, from the noble family of Gurang palace in Lahul (Himachal), both living in 1928, and had issue.

  • Raja Kunzang Namgyal (qv)

• 1925-1974 Maharaja KUNZANG NAMGYAL (dKun-bzang rNam-rgyal), born 1926, during his reign Ladakh territory became a part of Indian Republic and merged with Jammu & Kashmir State; he married 26 August 1950, Rani Parvati Devi Deskit Wangmo [Gyalmo (Queen) Diskyit Wangmo, the Queen Mother of Ladakh], born 1938 into noble family of Khangsar Palace, Lahul, she rode into Ladakh on horseback from Manali almost 45 years ago to wed the Ladakhi king, but unfortunately he turned out to be an alcoholic and it was not just the tame chung for him but hard liquor. At the age of 42 his life gave out and a chorten (prayer memorial) stands in his memory beyond the palace portals. The queen and her kingly brood were left to cope with his kingdom. He had issue, two sons and two daughters. He died 16th October 1974 at Leh General Hospital.

  • Raja Jigmet Wangchok Namgyal (elder son) (qv)

  • Rajkumar Sri Skarma Konchok Namgyal

  • Rajkumari Jigmet Wangmo (elder daughter)

  • Rajkumari Rinchen Wangmo, married Thupstan Chhewang, he represented the constituency as Ladakh Union Territory Front (LUTF) candidate between 2004 and 2009, won the 2014 general election by defeating independent candidate backed by a Islamic institution Ghulam Raza by a slender margin of 36 votes - though the slim margin hardly matters because none had ever thought that the BJP could secure a seat in Ladakh.

• 1974/- Maharaja JIGMET WANGCHUK NAMGYAL (Jig-med dbang-chuk rNam-rgyal), Raja of Ladakh (see above)

OTHER MEMBERS:

• Rajkumari (name unknown), Princess of Ladakh, married Padshah Akbar, Emperor of India (see Delhi).

• Rajkumari (name unknown), daughter of Ali Rai, the ruler of Little Thibet, married (as his eighth wife) Padshah Jahangir, Emperor of India (see Delhi).

• Kanwal Rani (born at Ladakh), youngest daughter of Ali Sher Khan [Ali Rai], 15th Maqpon of Skardu and 1st Anchan Maqpon of Baltistan, by his wife, Gul Khatun, a Mughal lady from Kashmir, married (as his thirteenth wife) at Lahore, 11th January 1592, Padshah Jahangir, H.M. the Emperor of India (1605/1627) (see Delhi), and had issue.