The Fifth Dalai Lama
Thangka of the Fifth Dalai Lama
佚名 · Public domain

17th century · 1617–1682

The Fifth Dalai Lama

阿旺罗桑嘉措 · China

The first Dalai Lama to hold both religious and political power in Tibet

Revered as 'the Great Fifth'. With military support from Güshi Khan, he unified Tibet under the Ganden Phodrang government. In 1645 he began building today's Potala Palace and moved into the White Palace in 1649. He also wrote 24 volumes on a wide range of subjects.

Where the story happened

Los lugares que dejó

Historia · Potala Palace

Two builders: Songtsen Gampo and the Fifth Dalai Lama

In the 7th century Songtsen Gampo unified the Tibetan Plateau and moved his capital to Lhasa, and the first palace is said to have been built on Marpo Ri (Red Hill). A thousand years later, in 1645, the 5th Dalai Lama — revered as 'the Great Fifth' — on his advisers' recommendation chose Red Hill, between Drepung and Sera monasteries, as the centre of religious and political power and began building today's Potala Palace, moving into the White Palace in 1649. From then until 1959 it was the winter palace of successive Dalai Lamas.

Fuentes