Under Bhutan's early theocratic
dual system of government, decreasingly effective central government control resulted in the
de facto disintegration of the office of
Zhabdrung after the death of Zhabdrung
Ngawang Namgyal in 1651. Under this system, the Zhabdrung reigned over the temporal
Druk Desi and religious
Je Khenpo. Two successor Zhabdrungs – the son (1651) and stepbrother (1680) of Ngawang Namgyal – were effectively controlled by the Druk Desi and Je Khenpo until power was further splintered through the innovation of multiple Zhabdrung incarnations, reflecting speech, mind, and body. Increasingly secular regional lords (
penlops and dzongpons) competed for power amid a backdrop of civil war over the Zhabdrung and invasions from
Tibet, and the
Mongol Empire. The penlops of
Trongsa and
Paro, and the dzongpons of
Punakha,
Thimphu, and
Wangdue Phodrang were particularly notable figures in the competition for regional dominance. During this period, there were a total of nine provinces and eight
penlops vying for power. Traditionally, Bhutan comprised nine provinces:
Trongsa,
Paro,
Punakha,
Wangdue Phodrang,
Daga (also Taka, Tarka, or Taga),
Bumthang,
Thimphu,
Kurtoed (also Kurtoi, Kuru-tod), and Kurmaed (or Kurme, Kuru-mad). The Provinces of Kurtoed and Kurmaed were combined into one local administration, leaving the traditional number of governors at eight. While some lords were
Penlops, others held the title
Dzongpen (
Dzongkha: རྗོང་དཔོན་;
Wylie:
rjong-dpon; also "Jongpen," "Dzongpön"); both titles may be translated as "governor." The 10th
Penlop of Trongsa Jigme Namgyel (
r. 1853–1870) began consolidating power, paving the way for his son the 12th Penlop of Trongsa (and 21st Penlop of Paro)
Ugyen Wangchuck to prevail in battle against all rival
penlops and establish
the monarchy in 1907. With the establishment of the monarchy and consolidation of power, the traditional roles of provinces, their rulers, and the
dual system of government came to an end. ==See also==