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In the early 13th Century, Tibet faced dangers
from the marauding forces of Mongols under Ghengis Khan. His great-grandson, named
Godan, invaded Tibet and put Sakya lamas in power. His son, Kublai Khan, appointed
Phagpa as the ruler of Tibet. But the Sakya power declined as the Mongols were
busy with their conquest of China and establishment of the Yuan dynasty.
A Kargyu monk leader named Changchub Gyaltsen overthrew the
Sakya rulers and established the Phagdru dynasty. Chanchub Gyaltsen revived the
ancient glory of the Yarlung kings by encouraging ancient Tibetan practices and
nationalism. The Phagmo Drupa dynasty
was replaced by Tsanpa rulers. This was a period when there was much sectarian
power rivalry and infighting.
In 1642, Mongols under the leadership
of Gushri Khan invaded Tibet, and installed the Fifth Dalai Lama as the supreme
ruler of Tibet. Thereafter, a succession of fourteen Dalai Lamas ruled over Tibet.
During the reign of the Fifth Dalai
Lama, Losang Gyatso, the modern government of Tibet was created. During his time,
the famous Potala Palace was built, and he even visited China at the invitation
of the Chinese emperor.
The next great national leader was
Thupten Gyatso, the Thirteenth Dalai Lama, who presided over Tibet's entry into
the twentieth century. He was a perceptive ruler who recognized the precarious
position of Tibet and the need to defend itself. He was forced into exile twice
during his reign; first to Mongolia when the British rulers sent a military expedition
in 1904; secondly to India when the Manchus invaded Tibet.
In 1911, there was revolution in China.
The Tibetans kicked out all the Chinese from Tibet and the Thirteenth Dalai Lama
declared the independence of Tibet. He died in 1933.
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