Bhutan's early history is interwoven with folklore and religion. Buddhism was introduced to the region in the 8th century by the legendary Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), who is credited with subduing local demons and establishing the spiritual foundation of the nation. For centuries, the region was a patchwork of warring fiefdoms.
The unification of Bhutan occurred in the 17th century under the leadership of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, a Tibetan lama and military leader who fled to Bhutan. He established a unique dual system of government—sharing power between a secular leader and a religious head—and ordered the construction of the formidable dzongs that still serve as administrative and religious centers today.
After a period of internal conflict following the Zhabdrung's death, stability was restored in 1907 when Ugyen Wangchuck was unanimously elected as the first hereditary King of Bhutan, establishing the Wangchuck dynasty. For much of the 20th century, Bhutan remained highly isolated to protect its sovereignty and culture.
Modern history began taking shape under the Third King, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, who opened the country to the outside world in the 1960s, joined the United Nations in 1971, and began planned development. In 2008, under the guidance of the Fourth King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck (who coined Gross National Happiness), Bhutan peacefully transitioned from an absolute monarchy to a democratic constitutional monarchy, holding its first parliamentary elections.