Trinley Gyatso, 12th Dalai Lama

Trinley Gyatso (January 26, 1857 – April 25, 1875), also spelled Trinle Gyatso and Thinle Gyatso, was the 12th Dalai Lama of Tibet.

His short life coincided with a time of major political unrest and wars among Tibet’s neighbours. Tibet particularly suffered from the weakening of the Qing Dynasty which formerly offered it some outside support against the British Empire which was aiming to influence Tibet as an explansion from its colonisation of India.

He was recognised as a reincarnation of the Dalai Lama in 1860 and enthroned on 14 August that year. During his period of training as a child, Tibet banned Europeans from entering the country because of wars Britain was fighting against Sikkim and Bhutan, both of whom were controlled to a considerable degree by the lamas in Lhasa. These wars were seen as efforts to colonise Tibet – something seen as unacceptable by the lamas. Also, with missionaries threatening to enter Tibet via the Mekong and Salween Rivers, Tibet ceased recognising the authority of the Manchu government for the same reason.

Trinley Gyatso was fully enthroned as Dalai Lama on March 11, 1873 but could not stamp his full authority on Tibet because he died of a mysterious illness in the spring of 1875.