Songtsen

Songtsen Gampo was a 7th-century Tibetan king traditionally regarded as the founder of the Tibetan Empire. He is dated by sources to have reigned in the first half of the 600s CE as the 33rd king of the Yarlung dynasty, and his rule is seen as the turning point from a loose collection of tribes to a centralized state with a more cohesive administration.

During his reign, Tibet expanded its political and military influence beyond the Yarlung valley, consolidating control over western regions and key caravan routes. This helped establish Tibet as a regional power on the frontier with Tang China and Tuyuhun. The capital is traditionally linked to Lhasa, which became the political center, and a centralized administration was developed to manage the growing state.

Songtsen is also known for fostering important cultural and religious changes. He forged diplomatic marriages to secure alliances: a Tang dynasty princess, Wencheng, and a Nepalese princess, often identified as Bhrikuti. These unions brought Buddhist art, scriptures, and crafts to Tibet and facilitated the transmission of Buddhist ideas. The era is associated with early Buddhist patronage that laid the groundwork for later religious developments, including the spread of Buddhism in Tibet.

In addition to political and religious reforms, Songtsen is traditionally credited with initiating the creation of a Tibetan script to translate Buddhist texts, a project that was continued and expanded by his successors, notably Thonmi Sambhota. He died around 649 CE, and his reign is viewed as the beginning of centralized Tibetan statehood and a period that shaped Tibetan culture for centuries.