Trongsa Dzong and Choetse Penlop
The Trongsa Dzong was founded by Pal Ngagi
Wangchuk as the monastery as prophesied by Palden Lhamo, the guardian deity of
Bhutan. Later it became the seat of Choetse Penlop after the appointment of
Chhogyal Minjure Tenpa as the first Choetse penlop by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal
in 1647.
In 1646, fifty two years old Ngawang Namgyel has
succeeded in unifying the western Bhutan under his theocratic rule. He felt
that the Trongsa by virtue of being in strategic location would play crucial
role in bringing centre and eastern Bhutanmunder theocratic rule and the in the
process unifying the whole country.
Zhabdrung found ideal person in Chogyal Minjur
Tenpa who had unquestionable loyalty and integrity who could bring feudal lords
of Sharcho Khorlo Tsipgay under rule of Zhabdrung. Taking the unification of
eastern Bhutan as good omen, Minjure Tenpa built the so-called Druk Minjure
Choekhor Rabten Tse Dzong in 1644 as commanded by Zhadrung Ngawang Namgyel.
The structures and extra buildings to the Dzong
was added by subsequent governors and in 1853, even Jigme Namgyel built Dechog
Lhakhang. Now the Dzong was total of 25 Lhakhangs. Durung the initial period, the governors were
known as Choetse Chila as they were monks until replaced by non-monk chiefs
later.
In 1853, Trongsa Penlop Tshokey Dorji resigned
paving way to Jigme Namgyal who later became most powerful leader in the
kingdom and whose son became first hereditary king of Bhutan. Even before Jigme
Namgyal became Trongsa Penlop, the post was one of the most coveted posts in
Bhutan.
Jigme Namgyal fought various wars, treacheries and
even mighty British to keep country independent and united. As Trongsa Penlop,
he designed future destiny for the country. In 1882, Ugyen Wangchuk became
Trongsa penlop from where he fought last civil war and from where he became
first king of Bhutan in 1907, from where he accompanied Younghusband to Tibet
to negotiate Indo-Tibetan treaty in 1904.
After that almost every king assumed post of Trongsa
Penlop except for Third Druk Gyalpo making it one of the true heritages of Bhutanese
Throne. The investiture as Trongsa Penlop became the formal status of Crown
Prince as future king of Bhutan. The appointment of Crown Prince of Bhutan to
Choetse penlop represents the crown prince as leader of whole dzongkhag.
In
2004, with the formal awarding of the Gyalse Ngadun, His Majesty the 5th
King became 16th Choetse Penlop, a step before he assumed the Throne
of Druk Gyalpo in 2006.
For My Own Reference
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