Songtsen Gampo

Songtsen Gampo (born towards 609 - 613 - died in 650), 33e sovereign of the Dynasty Yarlung, was with Trisong Detsen and Tri Ralpachen one of the " three kings religieux" Tibet.

It unified Tibet, founded Lhassa where it installed its main home and its administration, and made build the first building of the Palais of Potala. It gave to the kingdom of Tibet the borders which will be still them his at the beginning of the 20th century. It made build the Temples of Jokhang and Ramoché.

Rise with the capacity

Although the date of its birth and certain dates of the first part of its reign are discussed, the chronology becomes more precise in second half.

After death by poisoning of his/her father, Namri Songtsen (Gnam-laughed-slon-rtsan; Namri Löntsen), in 618 Songtsen Gampo goes up on the throne whereas he is still minor, after having probably subdued a short rebellion.

It will show as it is versed as well in the diplomacy as in the art of the war. Towards 627, its minister, Myang Mang-Po-rje, with the troops of Zhang Zhung (Chinese Tang: 羊同 Yangtong), demolishes the people Sumpa (Chinese: Undergone) of the North-East of Tibet. But six years later, towards 632 - 633 it is shown of treason and is carried out. It is replaced by Mgar-srong-rtsan as a minister.

Conquests

In 635 - 638, always with the assistance of the troops of Zhang Zhung, it attacks and demolishes the people A-zha (CH. Tuyhun), which lives around the lake Kokonor in the North-East of Tibet and control important trade route towards China. He also undertakes a victorious campaign against the empire Tang.

In 635 - 636, it successfully undertakes a campaign against China in the province border of Songzhou .

Driven back by the conquests of Gampo, the emperor Taizong negotiates peace and accepts the proposal for a matrimonial alliance requested since 634 by the emperor Tibetan. He offers to him in marriage the princess Wencheng, probably one of his nieces, who leaves China in 640 and arrives one year later at Lhassa. Peace between the China and Tibet will perdurera during the remainder of the reign. Songtsen Gampo would have also had three wives Tibetans of which young person, Mongso Tricham, would have given him a son.

Towards 639, after a conflict between Songtsen Gampo and its younger brother Brtsan srong , this last is burned alive by the minister Mkha' Sr (probably on order of his/her older brother).

He undertakes starting from 640 a series of conquests towards the valley of Katmandou, the west of the Tibet (Zhang Zhung, Western Nepal), Tibet of South-east and the areas in the south of the lake Kokonor. He subjects Zhang-Zhung, his more important immediate competitor, and extends his influence until the Pamir, with the Nepal and in Western China.

Alliances and diplomacy

To consolidate his political alliances, the king would have obtained, inter alia wives, two Buddhists, the Nepalese princess Bhrikuti and the Chinese princess Wencheng Gongzhu (tib. : Mung-chang Kong-OJ), still called Belsa (Nepalese queen) and Gyasa (Chinese queen). Because of these marriages, the historical medieval tradition ( Rgyal-rabs and Gsel-ba' I Me-length ) and arts person ( Mani-bka'- “bum ) credit it with the first introduction of the Bouddhisme to Tibet. Alliances are also the occasion of cultural exchanges. “Students” Tibetans are sent in China and India. In this last country they learn the Sanskrit. The minister Thonmi Sambhota creates the writing Tibetan starting from the Indian alphabet Devanâgarî.

The matrimonial diplomacy with the Zhang-Zhung, center important for the traditional religion Good-Po, does not collect same success. Sad-kar-my , sister of the emperor of Tibet, complains about the not-consumption of the marriage by the king Lig-myi-rhya . A war follows which is completed by incorporation with the Empire Tibetan of Zhang-Zhung, which becomes starting from 645 Western Tibet.

Succession

With its death, its grandson and heir Khri-mang-slon being still young, regency was ensured by the minister Mgar-srong-rtsan whose family will be maintained a long time with the capacity.

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