Kingdom of Bumthang
The Kingdom of Bumthang was one of several small kingdoms within the territory of modern Bhutan before the first consolidation under Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1616. After initial consolidation, the Bumthang Kingdom became Bumthang Province, one of the nine Provinces of Bhutan. The region was roughly analogous to modern-day Bumthang District. It was again consolidated into the modern Kingdom of Bhutan in 1907.
Kingdom of Bumthang བུམ་ཐང་ | |
|---|---|
| before 7th century–17th century | |
| Capital | Chakhar Gutho Palace, Jakar Dzong |
| Common languages | Bumthang language, Chöke |
| Religion | Bön, Buddhism |
| Government | Monarchy |
| King (Chogyal) | |
| Historical era | Late Antiquity |
• Established | before 7th century |
• Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal begins consolidating control in Bhutan | 1616 |
• Disestablished | 17th century |
• Bumthang noble Jigme Namgyal, forefather of the House of Wangchuck, gains control of Trongsa Province and Bumthang Province | 19th century |
The Kingdom of Bumthang is particularly notable among its many contemporary Bhutanese chiefdoms because it was here that Buddhism first took root in Bhutan. The kingdom also contained several places relevant to particularly Bhutanese legends. The kingdom is also the ancestral homeland of the House of Wangchuck, which was among local elite families that surpassed the erstwhile Tibetan aristocracy. During Bhutan's early history, Bumthang served as a locus of exile for both Tibetan and Indian rulers, and as the home of Buddhist saint Pema Lingpa.: 13–14