Timeline of the Era of Fragmentation

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.

Tibet during the Era of Fragmentation

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 [fr] in the west, and Yumtän [nl] 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]
850		Zhang Yichao takes Hami, Ganzhou and Suzhou[3]
851		Zhang Yichao captures Gaochang and Khotan becomes independent[4]
866		Tibetans retreat to the Tibetan plateau[5]

10th century

Year	Date	Event
904		A popular revolt breaks out in Tibet[6]
910		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 [fr][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]
970		Songne becomes king of Purang-Guge Kingdom[8]
975		Songne sends Rinchen Zangpo to study Buddhism in Kashmir[8]
988		Songne abdicates to become a monk and changes his name to Yeshe-Ö; his brother Khore becomes king[8]
996		Yeshe-Ö founds the Tholing Monastery[10]
997		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

11th century

Year	Date	Event
1008		Gusiluo is enthroned at Kuozhou as Tsenpo.[11]
1017		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
1024		King Ode of Purang-Guge expands his realm[8]
1025		Gusiluo relocates to Miaochuan.[12]
1032		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]
1037		King Ode dies in battle against the Kara-Khanid Khanate near Skardu[8]
1042		Atiśa, a Bengali Buddhist master, visits Ngari and stays at Mangnang Monastery for a year[8]
1054		Tsongkha assists the Song army in resolving a dispute among Tibetan tribes.[14]
1058		A Khitan princess marries Gusiluo's son Dongzhan.[15] Dongzhan kills his brothers, Xiazhan and Mozhanjiao.[14]
1065		Gusiluo dies and is succeeded by his son Dongzhan. Mucheng, son of Xiazhan, declares independence in Hezhou.[16]
1070		The monks Jiewuchila and Kangzunxinluojie attempt to enthrone Mucheng's younger brother Donggu at Wushengjun but fail.[16]
1072		The Song dynasty gains control of Wushengjun.[17]
		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]
1230		Khabpa (Prince of Khab) establishes himself as ruler of Mangyül Gungthang[20]
1239		The Khasa Kingdom defeats Mangyül Gungthang[20]
1240		Mongol invasions of Tibet: Doorda Darkhan sacks Reting Monastery; a proxy administration is set up at Drigung Monastery[22]
1252		Mongol invasions of Tibet: Qoridai [fr] invades Tibet as far as Dangquka[23]
1253		Kublai Khan meets Drogön Chögyal Phagpa and promotes the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism[24]