Bhutan
 

1949 - 1956                      1956 - 1969                        Adopted 1969              Confirmed 8 Jun 1972   Map of Bhutan Hear National Anthem "Druk tsendhen" (The Thunder Dragon Kingdom) Text of National Anthem Anthem Adopted 1953 Constitution (None; 2005 draft) Capital: Thimphu (Punakha 1949-1964; Summer capital- Thimphu  to 1949; Winter capital - Punakha to 1949) Currencies: Ngultrum (BTN); Indian Rupee (INR)  National Holiday: 17 Dec (1907)  National Day Population: 2,327,849 (2007) GDP: $2.9 billion (2003) Exports: $154 million (2000) Imports: $196 million (2000) Ethnic groups: Bhutia (Ngalops) 50%, Nepalese (Gurung) (includes Lhotsampas--one of several Nepalese ethnic groups) 35%,  Sharchops (and indigenous or migrant tribes) 15% (1993) Total Armed Forces: about 6,000 (2002) Merchant marine: None (2005) Religions: Lamaistic Buddhist 74%, Hinduism 20.5%, other 5.5% (2000) International Organizations/Treaties: ADB, APM, BIMSTEC, BTWC, CP, CWC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, KP, NAM, NPT, NTBT, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCLOS (signatory),  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) Bhutan Chronology 1189                       Druk Sewa Jangchubling monastery founded. 1626                       Bhutan founded, named 'Brug-yul (vernacular:                              Druk-yul) or 'Land of the Thunder Dragon' 1626 -  8 Jan 1910         Tributary of Tibet (which itself is under                              suzerainty of China). 11 Nov 1865                Protectorate of British India (spelled Bhootan). 17 Dec 1907                Kingdom of Bhutan  8 Jan 1910 - 15 Aug 1947  Protectorate of Britain (under British India).  2 Aug 1935                Government of India Act recognizes Bhutan's                              autonomy from British India. 15 Aug 1947 - 21 Sep 1971  Protectorate of India (formally from 8 Aug 1949).

Spiritual Rulers and Heads of State (title Zhabs-drung Rin-po-che; vernacular: Shabdrun Thuktrul; referred to by foreigners as Dharma Raja)
1698 - 1712                Kunga Gyaltshen                    (b. 1689 - d. 1713)
1712 - 1729                Phyogla Namgyal                    (b. 1708 - d. 1736)
1730 - 1735                Jigme Norbu                        (b. 1717 - d. 1735)
1735 - 1738                Mipham Wangpo                      (b. 1709 - d. 1738)
1738 - 1761                Jigme Dragpa I                     (b. 1724 - d. 1761)
1762 - 1788                Choeki Gyaltshen                   (b. 1762 - d. 1788)
1791 - 1830                Jigme Dragpa II                    (b. 1791 - d. 1830)
1831 - 1861                Jigme Norbu                        (b. 1831 - d. 1861)
1862 - 1904                Jigme Chogyal                      (b. 1862 - d. 1904)
1905 - 1931                Jigme Dorji                        (b. 1905 - d. 1931)

Regents (title 'Brug sDe-srid Phyag-mdzod; vernacular: Druk Desi;
referred to by foreigners as Deb Raja)
1695 - 1701                Gedun Chomphel                     (b. 16.. - d. 1701)
1701 - 1704                Ngawang Tshering
1704 - 1707                Umdze Peljor
1707 - 1719                Druk Rabgye                        (d. c.1729)
1719 - 1729                Ngawang Gyamtsho                   (d. 1729)
1729 - 1736                Mipham Wangpo                      (s.a.)
1736 - 1739                Khuwo Peljor
1739 - 1744                Ngawang Gyaltshen
1744 - 1763                Sherab Wangchuk
1763 - 1765                Druk Phuntsho
1765 - 1768                Druk Tendzin I
1768 - 1773                Donam Lhundub                      (d. 1773)
1773 - 1776                Kunga Rinchen
1776 - 1788                Jigme Singye                       (b. 1742 - d. 1789)
1788 - 1792                Druk Tendzin II
1792 - 1799                Tashi Namgyal (1st time)
1799 - 1803                Druk Namgyal
1803 - 1805                Tashi Namgyal (2nd time)
1805 - 1806                Sangye Tendzin
1806 - 1808                Umdze Parpop 
                           - jointly with -
1807 - 1808                Bop Choda
1809 - 1810                Tsulthrim Drayga                   (b. 1790 - d. 1820)
1810 - 1811                Jigme Dragpa II                    (s.a.)
1811 - 1815                Yeshey Gyaltshen                   (b. 1781 - d. 1830)
1815                       Tshaphu Dorji
1815 - 1819                Sonam Drugyal
1819 - 1823                Tendzin Drugdra
1823 - 1831                Choki Gyaltshen (1st time)
1831 - 1832                Dorji Namgyal
1832 - 1835                Adap Thrinley
1835 - 1838                Choki Gyaltshen (2nd time)
1838 - 1847                Dorji Norbu
1847 - 1850                Tashi Dorji
1850                       Wangchuk Gyalpo
1850 - 1852                Jigme Norbu (at Thimphu)
1851 - 1852                Chagpa Sangye (at Punakha)
1852 - 1856                Damcho Lhundrup
1856 - 1861                Kunga Palden (at Punakha)
1856 - 1861                Sherab Tharchin (at Thimphu)
1861 - 1864                Phuntsho Namgyal
1864                       Tshewang Sithub (1st time)
1864                       Tsulthrim Yonten
1864                       Kagyu Wangchuk
1864 - 1866                Tshewang Sithub (2nd time)
1866 - 1870                Tsondru Pekar
1870 - 1873                Jigme Namgyal (1st time)           (b. 1825 - d. 1881)
1873 - 1877                Kitsep Dorji Namgyal (1st time)
1877 - 1878                Jigme Namgyal (2nd time)           (s.a.)
1878 - 1879                Kitsep Dorji Namgyal (2nd time)
Mar 1879 - Jun 1880        Chogyal Zangpo                     (b. 18.. - d. 1880)
1880 - Jul 1881            Jigme Namgyal (3rd time)           (s.a.)
1881 - May 1883            Lam Tshewang                       (b. 1836 - d. 1883)
16 May 1883 - 23 Aug 1885  Gawa Zangpo
1885 - 1901                Sangye Dorji                       (b. 18.. - d. 1901)
1903 - 1905                Choley Yeshe Ngodub                (b. 1851 - d. 1917)
Kings (title Druk Gyalpo)¹
17 Dec 1907 - 21 Aug 1926  Ugyen Wangchuk                     (b. 1861 - d. 1926)
21 Aug 1926 - 30 Mar 1952  Jigme Wangchuk                     (b. 1906 - d. 1952)
30 Mar 1952 - 21 Jul 1972  Jigme Dorji Wangchuk               (b. 1929 - d. 1972)
22 Apr 1972 - 21 Jul 1972  Queen Ashi Kesang Chhoeden         (b. 1930)
                             Dorji(f) -Regent
21 Jul 1972 - 14 Dec 2006  Jigme Singye Wangchuk              (b. 1955)
14 Dec 2006 -              Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk      (b. 1980)
 

Chief ministers (Gongzim)
1907 - 1917                Raja Ugyen Dorji                                        Non-party
1917 - 1952                Raja Sonam Tobgay Dorji            (b. 1896 - d. 1953)  Non-party
Prime ministers (Lonchen)
1952 -  5 Apr 1964         Jigme Palden Dorji                 (b. 1919 - d. 1964)  Non-party
 5 Apr 1964 - 25 Jul 1964  Vacant
25 Jul 1964 - 27 Nov 1964  Dasho Lhendup Dorji (acting)       (b. 1935 - d. 2007)  Non-party
27 Nov 1964 - 20 Jul 1998  Post abolished
20 Jul 1998 -  9 Jul 1999  Jigme Yoser Thinley (1st time)     (b. 1952)            Non-party
 9 Jul 1999 - 20 Jul 2000  Sangay Ngedup (1st time)           (b. 1953)            Non-party
20 Jul 2000 -  8 Aug 2001  Yeshey Zimba (1st time)            (b. 1952)            Non-party
 8 Aug 2001 - 14 Aug 2002  Khandu Wangchuk (1st time)         (b. 1950)            Non-party
14 Aug 2002 - 30 Aug 2003  Kinzang Dorji (1st time)           (b. 1951)            Non-party
30 Aug 2003 - 18 Aug 2004  Jigme Yoser Thinley (2nd time)     (s.a.)               Non-party
18 Aug 2004 -  5 Sep 2005  Yeshey Zimba (2nd time)            (s.a.)               Non-party
 5 Sep 2005 -  7 Sep 2006  Sangay Ngedup (2nd time)           (s.a.)               Non-party
 7 Sep 2006 - 31 Jul 2007  Khandu Wangchuk (2nd time)         (s.a.)               Non-party
31 Jul 2007 -  9 Apr 2008  Kinzang Dorji (2nd time)           (s.a.)               Non-party
 9 Apr 2008 -              Jigme Yoser Thinley (3rd time)     (s.a.)               DPT

British Political Officers
 8 Jan 1910 - 1920         Charles A. Bell (1st time)         (b. 1870 - d. 1945)
1920                       John Bartley                       (b. 1886 - d. 1954)
1920 - 1921                Charles A. Bell (2nd time)         (s.a.)
1921 - 1928                Frederick Marshman Bailey          (b. 1882 - d. 1967)
1928 - 1932                Leslie Weir                        (b. 1883 - d. 1950)
1932 - 1935                Frederick Williamson               (b. 1891 - d. 1935)
1935 - 1945                Basil J. Gould                     (b. 1883 - d. 1956)
                             (from 1941, Sir Basil J. Gould) 
1945 - 15 Aug 1947         Arthur John Hopkinson              (b. 1894 - d. 1953) 
Indian Political Officers
15 Aug 1947 - 1948         Arthur John Hopkinson              (s.a.)
1948 - 1952                Sri Harishwar Dayal                (b. 1915)  
Mar 1952 - 1955            Bairaj Krishna Kapur
1955 - 1961                Apa Parshuram Rao Pant             (b. 1912 - d. 1992) 
Oct 1961 - 1963            Inder Jeet Bahadur Singh
1963 - 1966                Nari Kaikhosru Rustomji            (b. 1919)
1966 - 1967                Vincent Herbert Coelho
1967 - 1968                Nedyam Balachandran Menon          (b. 1921 - d. 2006)
Indian Special Officer
Jan 1968 - 21 Sep 1971     B.S. Das

 ¹style of the rulers: 'Brug rGyal-po, Mi-rje-mha'-bdag Rin-po-che (vernacular: Druk Gyalpo), in communications with British and Indian authorities was styled Maharaja 1907-1963.

Party abbreviations (political parties banned until 2007): DPT = Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party, conservative/royalist, est.2007); PDP = People's Democratic Party (social-democratic, est.2007)

International Disputes: Approximately 104,000 Bhutanese refugees live in Nepal, 90% of whom reside in seven UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees camps.

©2000  Ben Cahoon