Conquest of Central Tibet Güshi Khan

statues of fifth dalai lama , (apparently) güshi khan seen johann grueber in lobby of dalai lama s palace in 1661

having subdued kham entirely 1641, güshi proceeded invade domain of karma tenkyong in tsang. reputation invincible warrior rendered resistance weak. meanwhile, sonam rapten busy taking on districts in Ü paid allegiance tsangpa. khoshut troops besieged shigatse, stronghold of karma tenkyong. eyewitness described horrors of siege: [the place] had turned big cremation ground covered heaps of corpses deprived of lives 1 had given flock of sheep pack of wolves . attempts of mediation failed, , monastic settlement , suburbs fell on 8th day of 1st month of water-horse year 1642. followed surrender of castle on 25th day of 2nd month (25 march). karma tenkyong s life spared moment , imprisoned in neu, south-east of lhasa. güshi khan, according 5th dalai lama s chronicles, when crystal lord [the moon] of month of chaitra full [14 april 1642], day of first season of year according kalachakra, became king of 3 parts of tibet , set white umbrella of laws on peak of world . on 5th day of 4th month in 1642, dalai lama led in state palace of shigatse , seated on throne of deposed king. act replaced rival dominant school of karmapas. güshi khan declared bestowed supreme authority of tibet on dalai lama, tachienlu in east ladakh border in west. 5th dalai lama in turn confirmed position of güshi khan dharma king (or chogyal) of tibet.

the upheavals of mongol conquest led famine , hardship. there still opposition against güshi khan-dalai lama ruling constellation. karmapa hierarch chöying dorje requested dalai lama sign formal agreement not cause further trouble. karmapa refused, arguing had not fomented trouble in past. mongol , tibetan soldiers surrounded large movable encampment (gar). chöying dorje managed sneak out in last minute, troops broke in, ravaged camp , killed resisted. karmapa hierarch fled mountains in south. surviving supporters of tsangpa , karma kagyü took resistance in kongpo region in south-east. incensed güshi khan gave orders execute royal prisoner karma tenkyong, while army ravaged kongpo , killed 7,000 rebels. remainder gave up. many karma kagyü monasteries in country forcibly converted gelugpa, while nyingma monks had performed mongol-repelling exorcism imprisoned.