Songtsen Gampo was the 33rd King (Tsenpo) of Tibet who ruled from approximately 618 or 629 until his death in 650. He is historically significant as the founder of the Tibetan Empire and served as the first of the "Three Dharma Kings of Tibet."
During his reign, Songtsen Gampo unified the Tibetan Plateau and conquered various adjacent lands. He moved the capital to the Potala Palace in Lhasa and formally introduced Buddhism to the region. Under his rule, the Jokhang was built with the influence of his queen, Bhrikuti, who originated from the Licchavi kingdom of Nepal.
The era of Songtsen Gampo also saw significant cultural developments, including the creation of the Tibetan script and Classical Tibetan. These achievements were facilitated by his minister, Thonmi Sambhota, who established the first literary language of Tibet.