Thrimalö

Empress Thrimalö (in the Tibetan language, Khri-ma-lod) was an unofficial co-ruler of the Tibetan empire, 676-677 to 712 CE.

Thrimalö was married to emperor Mangsong Mangtsen (Trimang Löntsen' or Khri-mang-slon-rtsan). The emperor died in the winter of 676-677, and in the same year she gave birth to the emperor's son Tridu Songtsen (Khri 'dus-srong btsan or Khri-'dus-srong-rtsan).[1]

The Zhangzhung revolted early in her son's reign. She shared power with the Gar (Mgar) clan. When her son Tridu campaigned in the northeast 700-4 CE, she resumed her administrative regency at home.[2]

Thrimalö gave birth to Gyältsugru (Rgyal-gtsug-ru) in 704. Upon the death of Tridu Songtsen that year, Thrimalö ruled as regent again for his half-brother.[2] The following year the elder son of Tridu Songtsen, Lha Balpo (Lha Bal-pho) apparently contested the succession of his one-year-old brother, but was "deposed from the throne" at Pong Lag-rang.[2][3]

Thrimalö had arranged for a royal marriage of Gyältsugru to a Chinese princess. The Princess Jincheng (金成) (Tibetan: Kyimshang Kongjo) arrived in 710, but it is somewhat unclear whether she married the seven-year-old Gyältsugru[4] or the deposed Lha Balpo.[5]

Thrimalö died in 712. Gyältsugru was then officially enthroned with the royal name Tride Tsuktsän.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Beckwith, Christopher I. (1987). The Tibetan Empire in Central Asia. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-02469-3. pp. 14, 48, 50.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Petech, Luciano (1988). "The Succession to the Tibetan Throne in 704-5". Orientalia Iosephi Tucci Memoriae Dicata, Serie Orientale Roma 41 (3): 1080–1087.
  3. ↑ Beckwith, C. I. (1983). "The Revolt of 755 in Tibet". In Ernst Steinkellner and Helmut Tauscher. Weiner Studien zur Tibetologie und Buddhismuskunde, Nos. 10-11, Proceedings of the Csoma de Kőrös Symposium Held at Velm-Vienna, Austria, 13–19 September 1981 1–2. Vienna. pp. 1–14.
  4. ↑ Zuiho Yamaguchi (1996). "The Fiction of King Dar-ma’s persecution of Buddhism". De Dunhuang au Japon: Etudes chinoises et bouddhiques offertes à Michel Soymié (Geneva: Librarie Droz S.A.)., 232
  5. ↑ Beckwith 1983: 276.