PREDECESSORS AND SHORT HISTORY:
Kingdom founded 17th December 1907, became independent of India on 8th
August 1949. Rulers were...
-
 HH
Maharaja Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri Sir UGJEN WANGCHUK 1907/1926, born 1862,
son
of Jigme Namgyal, he was an able administrator and a wise diplomat. He
undertook several reforms and introduced the system of western
education.
He opened many schools. He signed a new Anglo-Bhutanese Treaty with
British
India Raj in 1910. Tongsa Penlop, K.C.I.E., K.C.S.I., married
HM
Queen Ashi Tsendue Lhamo, and had issue. He died 21st August 1926 (#4).
- HH
Maharaja Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri JIGME WANGCHUK (qv)
- HH
Maharaja Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri JIGME WANGCHUK 1926/1952, born 1906,
educated in English,
Hindi
and Buddhist literature, he signed the Treaty of perpetual peace and
friendship
between the government of Independent India and Bhutan in Darjeeling,
on
8th August 1949, married 1stly, HM Queen Ashi Phuntsho Chhoedon,
born 1911, died 24th August 2003, married
2ndly, HM Queen Pemadecchen, and had issue. He died 30th March 1952 at
Bomthang.
 HM Druk Gyalpo
JIGME DORJI WANGCHUK (by Queen Choden) (qv)- HRH Prince Namgyal Wangchuk (by Queen Pema), born 1943.
- HRH Princess Chokyi Wangchuk (by Queen Pema), married
1955,
Ugjen Rinpoche
Dorji
(see below), married 2ndly, Topga Rinpoche, died 19th September 1997 in
Delhi,
cremated
16th October 1997 in Bhutan.
- HRH Princess Dikki/Dekyi Wangchuk (by Queen Pema), born
about 1950.
- HRH Princess Pema Wangchuk (by Queen Pema)
- HM Druk Gyalpo JIGME DORJI WANGCHUK 1952/1972, born 1928,
became HM
Druk
Gyalpo in 1963, a far-sighted monarch, he introduced land reforms
putting
a landholding ceiling of 30 acres. He distributed lands to land-less
citizens.
He put a ban on slavery and serfdom. He established a High court and
reorganized
the judicial system. In 1953, he established the Tshogdu or
National
assembly - Bhutan’s first unicameral Parliament. He established the
Royal
Advisory Council in 1963. He created Bhutan’s first Council of
Ministers
in 1968. During his reign, 1770 Km of roads were constructed, the
number
of schools rose to 102 and 6 hospitals were established, married 1951,
HM Queen Ashi Kesang Chhoeden Dorji and had issue, also had
issue
by a Tibetan concubine named Yangki. He died 21st July 1972 in Nairobi,
Kenya.(#2)
- HRH Princess Ashi Sonam
Choden Wangchuk, born 26th July 1953 (#3),
Minister of Finance.
- HRH Princess Ashi Dechen Wangmo Wangchuk, born 8th
September 1954.
- HM Druk Gyalpo JIGME SINGYE WANGCHUK (qv)
- HRH Princess Ashi Pem Pem Wangchuk, born 12th March 1959.
- HRH Princess Ashi Kesang Wangmo Wangchuk, born 11th May
1961.
 HM Druk Gyalpo
JIGME SINGYE WANGCHUK 1972/2006, born 11th November 1955, briefly
studied in India and the
United Kingdom
and returned to the Ugyen Wangchuck Academy in Paro, Bhutan in 1970,
created
Crown Prince and ponlop of Tongsa by his father in May 1972,
formally
enthroned on 2nd June 1974, but not before reports of a plot to
assassinate
the new Druk Gyalpo before his coronation could take place and to set
fire
to the Tashichhodzong (Fortress of the Glorious Religion, the seat of
government
in Thimphu) were heard, Yangki was the alleged force behind the plot,
which
was uncovered three months before the coronation; thirty persons were
arrested,
including high government and police officials; abdicated in favour of
his son on 14th December 2006; he married, 1979
(privately)
and again 31st October 1988 in a public ceremony, four sisters,
daughters
of Yab Ugyen Dorji and Yum Thuiji Zam, (a) HM Queen Ashi Dorji
Wangmo,
born 29th December 1955, (b) HM Queen Ashi Tshering Pem, born
29th
December 1957, (c) HM Queen Ashi Tshering Yandon, born 21st
June
1959, (d) HM Queen Ashi Sangay Choden, born 11th May 1963 and
has
issue.(#1)
- HM
Druk Gyalpo JIGME KHESAR NAMGYAL WANGCHUK (by Tshering Yandon) (qv)
- HRH Princess Chimi Yangzon Wangchuk (by Tshering Pem),
born
10th
January
1980.
- HRH Princess Sonam Dechen Wangchuk (by Dorji Wangmo),
born
5th August
1981.
- HRH Princess Dechen Yangzon Wangchuk (by Tshering
Yandon),
born 2nd
December
1981.
- HRH Princess Kesang Choden Wangchuk (by Tshering Pem),
born
23rd
January
1982.
- HRH Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuk (by Dorji Wangmo), born
16th July
1984,
educated at Choate Rosemary High School and at St Peter's College,
Oxford.
- HRH Prince Khamsum Singye Wangchuk (by Sangay Choden),
born
6th October
1985.
- HRH Prince Jigme Dorji Wangchuk (by Tshering Yandon),
born
14th April
1986.
- HRH Princess Euphelma Choden Wangchuk (by Sangay Choden),
born 1993.
- HRH Prince Ugyen Jigme Wangchuk (by Tshering Pem), born
1994.
- HM
Druk Gyalpo JIGME KHESAR NAMGYAL WANGCHUK (see above)
OTHER MEMBERS:
- Raja Ugyen Dorji, gongzim 1907/c1913, married and
had issue. He
died c1913.
- Raja Sonam Tobgye Dorji, born 1896, gongzim (chief
chamberlain), Chief
Minister of Bhutan 1917/1952, married Rani Chuni Wangmo Namgyal
of Sikkim and had issue. He died
September 1953.
- Tashi Dorji
- Jigme Palden Dorji, born 1919, lonchen, Prime
Minister of
Bhutan
1955/1964, married Tessla Tsarong and had issue. He died 5th April 1964
(#2)
in Phunchholing, Bhutan.
- Paljor J. Dorji
- Kalden Dorji
- Tobgye Dorji, married (div.) Hon. Manjula Sinha, born
1947, died 1996,
daughter of the 3rd Baron Sinha of Raipur, and has issue.
- Jigme Palden Dorji [born as Jigme Tobgye, later
re-named after his
grandfather],
born 1967.
- Ugyen Dorji [Phodang Rinpoche or Rimp], born 1930,
married 1stly ,1955,
Choki Wangchuk, married 2ndly, Savitri. He died March 2006.
- Ashi Kesang Choden Dorji, married 1951, HM
Druk
Gyalpo JIGME DORJI
WANGCHUK (see above).
- Lhendup Dorji, born 1935 (1936), lonchen, Acting
Prime
Minister
of Bhutan in 1964 (July to November).
- Chumed Zhalgno
Dasho Jamyang of the Tamzhing Choeje family, married Ashi Decho,
daughter of
Ashi Yeshey Choden, (sister of Druk Gyalpo Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck),
and had issue.
 HM Queen Ashi Phuntsho Chhoedon, born 1911 at Wangdue
Choling Palace, married HH
Maharaja Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri JIGME WANGCHUK (see above), and had issue.
She died 24th August 2003 at Dechenchholing.
- Namgyal Bahadur, uncle of the Druk Gyalpo, executed
in 1964 for
his part in the assassination of Jigme Palden Dorji.
|
born 21st February 1980, educated at Magdalen College,
Oxford (M. Phil.
in Politics), Chhoetse Penlop [cr.21 Oct 2004] (formally
installed
as the heir to the Golden Throne). Succeeded to the throne on his
father's abdication on 14th December 2006.