In November 1950 15-year-old Tenzin Gyatso was enthroned as the 14th Dalai Lama, becoming chief of state of the semi-independent kingdom, and the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists worldwide.
Born as Lhamo Thondup in 1935 and identified as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, who had died in 1933, Thondup arrived at Lhasa when he was four years old, and was installed on the Lion’s Throne four months later.