Kingdom of Bhutan
Kingdom
Level 2
★ Major power
1907 – present
Wangchuck monarchy since 1907; constitutional monarchy since 2008.
- Capital
- Punakha, later Thimphu
- Region
- Himalaya
- Duration
- 119 years (continuing)
- Main period
- British Crown Rule (Raj)
Approximate extent.
At a glance
Move along the chart to read any year; click a ruler or event to open the map there.
Rulers
- Ugyen Wangchuck Druk Gyalpo1907 – 1926First king.
- Jigme Wangchuck Druk Gyalpo1926 – 1952
- Jigme Dorji Wangchuck Druk Gyalpo1952 – 1972
- Jigme Singye Wangchuck Druk Gyalpo1972 – 2006Gross National Happiness.
- Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck Druk Gyalpo2006 – present
Selected rulers; gaps in the list are not gaps in the dynasty.
Key events
| Year | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 1907 | Ugyen Wangchuck becomes first King of Bhutan | Punakha |
| 2008 | Bhutan becomes a constitutional monarchy | Thimphu |
Contemporaries
Powers that coexisted with the Kingdom of Bhutan for a significant part of its history. The bar shows when, within its own span.
Sultanate of the Maldives ★
Islands · c. 1153 – 1968
Overlap: 61 years
Mewar (Sisodia) ★
West · 1326 – 1949
Overlap: 42 years
Kingdom of Mysore ★
South · 1399 – 1950
Overlap: 43 years
Portuguese Estado da Índia ★
Coastal · 1505 – 1961
Overlap: 54 years
Hyderabad State (Nizams) ★
Deccan · 1724 – 1948
Overlap: 41 years
Kingdom of Nepal ★
Himalaya · 1816 – 2008
Overlap: 101 years
British Raj (Crown Rule) ★
Pan-Indian · 1858 – 1947
Overlap: 40 years
Republic of India ★
Pan-Indian · 1950 – present
Overlap: 76 years
Republic of Maldives ★
Islands · 1968 – present
Overlap: 58 years
Islamic Republic of Pakistan ★
Northwest · 1971 – present
Overlap: 55 years
People's Republic of Bangladesh ★
East · 1971 – present
Overlap: 55 years
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ★
Sri Lanka · 1972 – present
Overlap: 54 years
Afghanistan ★
Northwest · 1973 – present
Overlap: 53 years
Kachwahas of Amber (Jaipur)
West · c. 1128 – 1949
Overlap: 42 years
Marwar (Rathore)
West · c. 1226 – 1949
Overlap: 42 years
Koch Kingdom (Kamata / Cooch Behar)
Northeast · 1515 – 1949
Overlap: 42 years
Portuguese Diu
Coastal · 1535 – 1961
Overlap: 54 years
Portuguese Daman
Coastal · 1559 – 1961
Overlap: 54 years
French India
Coastal · 1668 – 1954
Overlap: 47 years
Chandernagore
Coastal · 1673 – 1950
Overlap: 43 years
Pondichéry
Coastal · 1674 – 1954
Overlap: 47 years
Gaekwad State (Baroda)
West · 1721 – 1949
Overlap: 42 years
Mahé
Coastal · 1721 – 1954
Overlap: 47 years
Jat Kingdom of Bharatpur
North · 1722 – 1947
Overlap: 40 years
Travancore
South · 1729 – 1949
Overlap: 42 years
Holkar State (Indore)
Central · 1731 – 1948
Overlap: 41 years
Scindia State (Gwalior)
Central · 1731 – 1948
Overlap: 41 years
Yanam
Coastal · 1731 – 1954
Overlap: 47 years
Karaikal
Coastal · 1739 – 1954
Overlap: 47 years
British Ceylon
Sri Lanka · 1796 – 1948
Overlap: 41 years
Kingdom of Afghanistan
Northwest · 1926 – 1973
Overlap: 47 years