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- Buddhist Tibet: 7th - 8th century AD
- Tibet and China: 7th - 13th century AD
- Dalai Lamas: from the 14th century
- Spiritual rulers of Tibet: 1642-1912 AD
- Panchen Lamas: from the 17th century
- Manchu protection: 1720-1911 AD
- Tibet Subject to Western Aggression
- Communist Invasion
- Chinese Aggression in Tibet
Spiritual rulers of Tibet: 1642-1912 AD
From about 1562 Tibet has been controlled by a self-made dynasty of kings, the Gtsang-pa. In 1642 a Mongol army removes them, and the khan presents the country to the Dalai Lama as a spiritual gift. The abbot is to rule it with Mongol military support.
In keeping with his new status, the fifth Dalai Lama moves his official residence to Lhasa and begins the construction of a palace - the Potala - on the site of the castle of the first historical king of Tibet, Srong-btsan sgam-po. The pattern of rule by the Dalai Lama, with military support from elsewhere (the Manchu dynasty in China later takes the Mongol role), lasts till the demise of the Chinese empire in the early 20th century.