in Choekhor valley in 1856. Wangducholing Palace was the main residence of the Royal Family from Desi Jigme Namgyal's time to that of the Crown Prince Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (1929-1972). It was the political epicentre of the country for over a century, from the late 1850s to the early 1950s. Death In 1881, Desi Jigme Namgyal died, aged 55–56, at Semtokha Dzong in the Thimphu valley (first built in 1629) from a fall from a yak. His 21-year-old son, then the Paro Penlop, Ugyen Wangchuck (1862-1926), conducted the grandest funeral Bhutan had ever seen for his father. Notable descendants Jigme Namgyal is the father of the first Druk Gyalpo King Ugyen Wangchuck, who founded the Bhutanese monarchy in 1907 after besting his rivals, the Penlop of Paro and allies, ending protracted civil war. Jigme Namgyal is thus the forefather of all subsequent Kings of Bhutan: Jigme Wangchuck, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, and Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. Several monarchs of the House of Wangchuck have borne Jigme Namgyal's names. Crown Princes of Bhutan traditionally take the title Penlop of Trongsa (also called "Chhoetse" Penlop), reflecting the hereditary position and historical significance of the office of Jigme Namgyal. Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck, the current Crown Prince of Bhutan, is named after him. Ancestry {{ahnentafel |collapsed=yes |align=center |boxstyle_1=background-color: #fcc; |boxstyle_2=background-color: #fb9; |boxstyle_3=background-color: #ffc; |boxstyle_4=background-color: #bfc; |boxstyle_5=background-color: #9fe; |1= 1. Jigme Namgyal |2= 2. Pila Gonpo Wangyal |3= 3. Sonam Pedzom |4= 4. Padma |5= |6= |7= |8= 8. Rabgyas |9= |10= |11= |12= |13= |14= |15= |16= 16. Padma Rigyas |17= |18= |19= |20= |21=}} See also Penlop of Trongsa History of Bhutan References External links Wangchuck dynasty Bhutanese politicians Bhutanese monarchs 1825 births 1881 deaths