kids encyclopedia robot

Jigme Wangchuck facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Jigme Wangchuk
Jigme Wangchuck Name.svg
Druk Gyalpo
Bhutan-Jigme-Wangchuck.jpg
Dragon King of Bhutan
Reign 26 August 1926 – 30 March 1952
Coronation 14 March 1927
Predecessor Ugyen Wangchuck
Successor Jigme Dorji Wangchuck
Born 1905
Thinley Rabten Palace
Died (1952-03-30)30 March 1952 (aged 47)
Kuenga Rabten Palace, Dragteng Gewog, Trongsa
Burial Cremated at Kurjey Lhakhang
Spouse 1st consort-Phuntsho Choden
2nd consort-Pema Dechen
Issue King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck
Princess Choki Wangmo Wangchuck
Prince Namgyel Wangchuck
Princess Deki Yangzom Wangchuck
Princess Pema Choden Wangchuck
House House of Wangchuck
Father Ugyen Wangchuck
Mother Tsundue Pema Lhamo
Religion Buddhism
Picture of king Jigme Wangchuck at Thimpu airport Bhutan
Picture of Dragon King Jigme Wangchuck at Paro International Airport

Jigme Wangchuck (Dzongkha: འཇིགས་མེད་དབང་ཕྱུག, Wylie: ’jigs med dbang phyug; 1905 – 30 March 1952) was the 2nd Druk Gyalpo or king of Bhutan from 26 August 1926, until his death. He pursued legal and infrastructural reform during his reign. Bhutan continued to maintain almost complete isolation from the outside world during this period; its only foreign relations were with the British Raj in India. He was succeeded by his son, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck.

Early life

Jigme Wangchuck was born in 1905, at the Thinley Rabten Palace in Wangdue Phodrang District. He received his education at Wangdecholing Palace, where he learned English and Hindi and received a religious education. As the first son of Ugyen Wangchuck, Jigme was expected to succeed his father; accordingly, he was given the title Penlop of Trongsa in 1923.

Reign

Jigme Wangchuck ascended to the throne in 1926, after the death of Ugyen Wangchuck; he received his formal coronation in Punakha on March 14, 1927. He primarily focused his energies on internal construction and infrastructure projects: for instance, Jigme oversaw the renovation of dzongs and monasteries in eastern Bhutan, and founded and renovated several schools in the country. He also built several royal residences, including the Kuenga Rabten winter palace in Trongsa and additional residences at Samdrupcholing and Domkhar. Jigme was interested in other infrastructural projects, such as improving roads and modernizing medical facilities, but was unable to pursue those projects due to a lack of revenue. Jigme also paid close attention to the administration of Bhutan's laws. He discouraged capital punishment for all crimes besides murder, reduced the judicial fees on the citizenry, and allowed citizens to call on him to appeal the judgments of lower officials.

In foreign policy, Jigme was primarily an isolationist, though he followed his father in maintaining friendly relations with the British Raj. When World War II broke out, Jigme sent 100,000 rupees to the Raj as a gesture of goodwill; in return, the Raj protected Bhutan's isolation by preventing Westerners from visiting the country. After India became independent, Jigme sent a delegation to initiate diplomatic relations between India and Bhutan; this meeting led to the 1949 friendship treaty between the two nations, in which Bhutan agreed to let India "guide" its foreign policy. This treaty also saw India paying an annual subsidy to Bhutan, as well as handing over 32 square miles of land in Dewangiri.

Early in 1952, Jigme fell ill, and witnessed omens that convinced him he would die. Consequently, he resolved to spend his last days practicing archery, which was one of his favorite pastimes; however, his condition deteriorated during this time, and after ten days he had become too sick to continue with archery. He retired to the Kuenga Rabten Palace, where he died on March 30.

Children

The Second King, Jigme Wangchuck, had five children with his two cross cousins, Ashi Phuntsho Choden and her sister, Ashi Pema Dechen:

  • The Third King (Druk Gyalpo) Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (by his first wife).
  • Princess (Druk Gyalsem) Choki Wangmo Wangchuck (by his second wife).
  • Prince (Druk Gyalsey) Namgyel Wangchuck, 26th Penlop of Paro (by his second wife).
  • Princess (Druk Gyalsem) Deki Yangzom Wangchuck (by his second wife).
  • Princess (Druk Gyalsem) Pema Choden Wangchuck (by his second wife).

Princess Choki Wangmo Wangchuck has two daughters, Ashi Deki Choden and Ashi Sonam Yulgyal.

Princess Pema Choden Wangchuck has five children; Ashi Lhazen Nizal Rica, Dasho Jigme Namgyal, Dasho Wangchuck Dorji Namgyal, Ashi Yiwang Pindarica and Ashi Namzay Kumutha.

Princess Deki Yangzom Wangchuck has four children; Ashi Namden, Dasho Namgyel Dawa (Tulku Namgyel Rinpoche), Dasho Wangchen Dawa (Kathok Situ Rinpoche) and Dasho Leon Rabten.

Honours

National honours

  •  Bhutan:
    • Maharaja Ugyen Wangchuck Medal.gif Maharaja Ugyen Wangchuck Medal 1st class in gold (17/11/1909).

Foreign honours

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Jigme Wangchuck para niños

  • House of Wangchuck
kids search engine
Jigme Wangchuck Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.