When did the Tibetan Empire exist?

The Tibetan Empire existed 618–842. On this map it is drawn AD 623–849.

How large was the Tibetan Empire?

At its greatest extent drawn on this map, the Tibetan Empire covered about 3.9 million km². That is the largest area the border data gives it across the years it is drawn, not necessarily its greatest extent in history.

South Asia · The regional kingdoms

Tibetan Empire

Empire · 618–842

See it on the map → Wikipedia ↗

Type: Empire
Existed: 618–842
Shown on the map: AD 623–849
Heartland: the Tibetan Plateau and adjoining regions from the Tarim Basin to the Himalayas and Bengal, and from the Pamirs into Sichuan, Gansu and Yunnan. Population c. 10 million in the 8th century
Peak area: approx. 3.9 million km² (c. 800 estimate: ~4.6 million km² per some estimates)
Region: South Asia

Origins and founding

The empire grew from the Yarlung dynasty (founded, per tradition, in 127 BC in the Yarlung Valley). At Taktsé Castle in Chonggyä, Namri Songtsen overcame neighbouring clans, conquered the Sumpa kingdom, and controlled the Lhasa region before his assassination by poison c. 618; his government had sent embassies to Sui China in 608–609. His son Songtsen Gampo (r. 618–650) founded the empire proper, moving the capital to Lhasa, and is traditionally credited with introducing Buddhism and creating the Tibetan script.

Capitals and territory

Lhasa was the imperial capital (the Red Fort). At its greatest extent under Trisong Detsen and Tritsuk Detsen (Ralpachen), the empire stretched east to Chang'an, west beyond modern Afghanistan, and south into India and toward the Bay of Bengal.

Major rulers and key events

Songtsen Gampo defeated the Tuyuhun (635–636), threatened Songzhou, and obtained the Chinese princess Wencheng (640–641); he conquered Zhangzhung in 645, aided by his sister Sämakar. Under Mangsong Mangtsen (650–676) the Tuyuhun were absorbed (663) and the Four Garrisons of Anxi seized (670–692); the powerful Gar clan ministers dominated until Tridu Songtsen massacred them in 698. Tride Tsuktsen (704–754, "Me Agtsom") received princess Jincheng (710), allied with the Türgesh against the Arabs, lost Little Balur (Gilgit) to Gao Xianzhi in 747–753, but regained influence after the Battle of Talas (751). Trisong Detsen (756–797), exploiting the An Lushan rebellion, pressed into Tang territory and in 763 briefly occupied Chang'an, installing a puppet emperor; the 783 treaty defined the Sino-Tibetan border (Shol Potala Pillar). Nanzhao defected in 794. Under Tride Songtsen (Sadnalegs, 799–815) Tibet fought the Abbasid Caliphate — capturing troops in 801, active as far as Samarkand and Kabul; the Tibetan governor of Kabul submitted and converted to Islam c. 812/815. Ralpachen (815–838), a great patron of Buddhism who sponsored the Sanskrit–Tibetan lexicon Mahavyutpatti, concluded the 821/822 treaty inscribed on the Jokhang pillar; he was murdered by pro-Bön ministers who enthroned his brother Langdarma (838–842).

Government, economy and culture

Administration divided the realm into "horns" (ru) such as the new horn of Sumru; powerful ministers (Lönchen, e.g. Gar Tongtsen) and, later, chief monks (Banchenpo) balanced the Tsenpo. Tibetan soldiers wore fine lamellar and chainmail armour, fought dismounted in ranks with long lances and swords, lived on plunder, and swore annual fealty oaths. Buddhism flourished — Trisong Detsen established Tibetan Buddhism with Padmasambhava; a Church of the East (Christian) presence is also attested by Patriarch Timothy I in 782.

Decline and end

Langdarma persecuted Buddhism and was assassinated by a Buddhist hermit in 842; the succession war that followed collapsed the empire into the "Era of Fragmentation" of regional warlords; Zhang Yichao's victory in 848 ended Tibetan rule in the Dunhuang region.

Legacy and significance

The empire made Tibet a first-rank Eurasian power, fixed its Buddhist identity and script, bequeathed treaty pillars and chronicles that are cornerstones of Tibetan historiography, and shaped the geopolitics of Central and South Asia for two centuries.

Common questions

What was the Tibetan Empire?: The empire grew from the Yarlung dynasty (founded, per tradition, in 127 BC in the Yarlung Valley). At Taktsé Castle in Chonggyä, Namri Songtsen overcame neighbouring clans, conquered the Sumpa kingdom, and controlled the Lhasa region before his assassination by poison c. 618; his government had sent embassies to Sui China in 608–609.
When did the Tibetan Empire exist?: The Tibetan Empire existed 618–842. On this map it is drawn AD 623–849.
How large was the Tibetan Empire?: At its greatest extent drawn on this map, the Tibetan Empire covered about 3.9 million km². That is the largest area the border data gives it across the years it is drawn, not necessarily its greatest extent in history.
Where was the Tibetan Empire?: Lhasa was the imperial capital (the Red Fort). At its greatest extent under Trisong Detsen and Tritsuk Detsen (Ralpachen), the empire stretched east to Chang'an, west beyond modern Afghanistan, and south into India and toward the Bay of Bengal.
Who ruled the Tibetan Empire?: Songtsen Gampo defeated the Tuyuhun (635–636), threatened Songzhou, and obtained the Chinese princess Wencheng (640–641); he conquered Zhangzhung in 645, aided by his sister Sämakar. Under Mangsong Mangtsen (650–676) the Tuyuhun were absorbed (663) and the Four Garrisons of Anxi seized (670–692); the powerful Gar clan ministers dominated until Tridu Songtsen massacred them in 698.
How did the Tibetan Empire end?: Langdarma persecuted Buddhism and was assassinated by a Buddhist hermit in 842; the succession war that followed collapsed the empire into the "Era of Fragmentation" of regional warlords; Zhang Yichao's victory in 848 ended Tibetan rule in the Dunhuang region.
How was the Tibetan Empire governed?: Administration divided the realm into "horns" (ru) such as the new horn of Sumru; powerful ministers (Lönchen, e.g. Gar Tongtsen) and, later, chief monks (Banchenpo) balanced the Tsenpo.
Why does the Tibetan Empire still matter?: The empire made Tibet a first-rank Eurasian power, fixed its Buddhist identity and script, bequeathed treaty pillars and chronicles that are cornerstones of Tibetan historiography, and shaped the geopolitics of Central and South Asia for two centuries.

Sources

Every source below was consulted while writing this entry.

Wikipedia: Tibetan Empire en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_Empire

This entry was written from the sources above and last updated 10 September 2026.

This entry was researched and drafted with AI from the sources above, and has not been reviewed by a historian. How entries are made

Text available under CC BY-SA 4.0: reuse it with a credit to The World Through Time and a link to this page. Passages drawing on the Wikipedia articles listed above are also licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 by their contributors.

Border geometry for the map itself comes from Cliopatria v0.12 (Seshat Global History Databank, CC-BY-4.0).

See the Tibetan Empire in its world

Open the atlas at AD 736 and every neighbour, rival and successor is on screen with it — then drag the slider and watch what happens next.

Open the map at AD 736 →