The Shabdrung as warlord

The time of the unification was marred by bloody wars and civil wars - after his arrival in Bhutan, Ngawang Namgyel had no real time to live a peaceful life. All men who lived in the areas controlled by the Shabdrung had to do military service. On top of this the Shabdrung also commanded an army of mercenaries.

The Shabdrung's newly created state not only had to assert itself, on the one hand, against the Tibetan armies of the Tsang leader, who continuously tried to invade Bhutan, but also against an internal foe - a group of lamas from other Buddhist schools who were against the Drukpa hegemony - on the other.