This is a timeline of the Era of Fragmentation, the period of Tibetan history lasting from the death of the Tibetan Empire's last emperor, Langdarma, in 842 until Drogön Chögyal Phagpa gained control over the three provinces of Tibet in 1253 under Mongol rule.
9th century
Year
Date
Event
842
Langdarma dies and the Tibetan Empire enters its Era of Fragmentation; Tibet is split between Langdarma's sons Ösung in the west, and Yumtän in the east[1]
843
Karasahr and Kucha are occupied by the Kingdom of Qocho[1]
847
Tibetan troops raid the Hexi Corridor but are defeated by Tang troops at Yanzhou[2]
848
Zhang Yichao, a resident of Dunhuang, rebels and captures Shazhou and Guazhou from the Tibetans[2]
849
Tibetan commanders and soldiers in seven garrisons west of Yuanzhou defect to the Tang[2]
Popular revolt breaks Tibet into numerous principalities: Tsangto Yul, Rutsham Zhunye, Panyul, Yarlung, Tamshul Lhodrak, Cho, and Chokhor[6]
925
The kingdom of Ngari Korsum[7] is founded by Ösung's grandson, Kyide Nyimagon, in the capital of Purang[8]
930
Ngari Khorsum splits into three kingdoms under Kyide Nyimagon's sons: Purang-Guge Kingdom controlled by Tashigon, Maryul controlled by Lhachen Dpalgyimgon, Zanskar and Spiti controlled by Detsugon[9]
The elders of Amdo find a descendant of the Yarlung dynasty in Gaochang by the name of Qinanling Wenqianbu. They take him to Hezhou, where he is named Gusiluo, otherwise known as Gyelsé, meaning "son of Buddha".[11]
998
Tabo Monastery is built by Rinchen-zangpo in Spiti
Tsongkha is defeated by the Song dynasty commander Cao Wei.[12]
1020
Due to a large number of refugees from Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and regions around Delhi fleeing Mahmud of Ghazni, the Ngari king passed a law restricting foreigners from staying in the country for more than three years
Gusiluo relocates to Qingtang.[13] Around the same time his eldest son Xiazhan establishes himself in Hezhou and his second son Mozhanjiao in Tsongkha.[14]
Purang-Guge Kingdom splits into independent Guge and Purang, ruled by the brothers Tsede and Tsensong respectively; another brother Tsende may have founded the Khasa Kingdom[10]
1074
Dongzhan and Mucheng submit to Song governance.[17]
1076
King Tsede of Guge organizes the Toling Chokhor (religion conference for Tibetan and Indian Buddhists)[8]
1099
Tsongkha is briefly occupied by the Song dynasty before regaining independence.[18]
12th century
Year
Date
Event
1102
The Song dynasty occupy Tsongkha and rename Qingtang to Xining.[19]
1109
The Song dynasty registers all the Tibetan towns of Kokonor under Chinese names.[19]
1110
King Sonamtse's sons split Guge into three kingdoms[20]
1120
Guge regent Jowo Gyalpo founds the kingdom of Khunu[20]
1136
The Jin dynasty (1115–1234) incorporates the area of Tsongkha and cedes some territory to the Western Xia.[21]
1150
The Khasa Kingdom emerges as the strongest power in Ngari[20]
1159
The first Nyingma monastery since Langdarma is built
13th century
Year
Date
Event
1201
Sakya Pandita travels to India and studies under Indian gurus. He becomes a great religious and cultural figure and creates a Tibetan literary tradition inspired by Sanskrit poetry.
1220
The Khasa Kingdom expands into the territory of Garhwal and Kumaon[20]
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