Kingdom of Bhutan

The Kingdom of Bhutan is a Puppet State of the Empire of Japan located in Nipponwestland. It was formerly a protectorate of the British Empire and a Princely State of British India within the Assam Province. The Kingdom borders the Kingdom of Sikkim to the East and the Holy Kingdom of Tibet to the South.

## History

### Origin

Since the early 17th century, Bhutan has been nominally ruled over by the descendants of Tibetan lama Ngawang Namgyal, with this Zhabdrung being aided by the temporal Druk Desi, elected by the regional governors (penlops) and the spiritual Je Khenpo, leading the Drukpa Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.  However, the de-facto rule of the Zhabdrung died with Ngawang Namgyal, and Bhutan has since seen centuries of violent in fighting and a lack of any true central leadership.  The weakness of the Zhabdrungs has been magnified by his two nominal deputies, with the reincarnation lineage purposely split into three different “incarnations,” with the Zhabdrung Thuktrul (or mind incarnation) widely regarded as the most legitimate.

Throughout the late 19th and early 20th century, the various independent penlops have been unified by force under the rule of the penlops of Trongsa, the House of Wangchuck. In 1907, following a series of bloody engagements and the destruction of the penlop of Paro, his primary rival, Ugyen Wangchuck was crowned the Druk Gyalpo of Bhutan, beginning an era of hereditary monarchs.  Present for this declaration were all of the major penlops of the nation, as well as a political officer representing the interests of the British Empire.

The relationship between Bhutan and the British behemoth was one colored by both conflict and cooperation.  Following the Duar Wars, in which Bhutan blooded their British opponents but were ultimately forced to negotiate, the British occupied the Assam and Bengalese Duars and Deothang, in return for recognition of Bhutanese sovereignty and a yearly stipend.  This relationship was expanded under the rule of King Ugyen Wangchuck, who signed the Treaty of Punakha in 1910, effectively making Bhutan a British protectorate in return for an increased stipend and favorable trading agreements.  Ugyen would accompany the British in their missions to Tibet, and met King George V during his 1911 visit to Delhi. The king taught his son and successor Jigme English and Hindi, and his close political allies, the Dorji family, were granted land in Bengal, where they met and befriended several Indian leaders, notably Mohandas Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.

### Becoming a Japanese Puppet State

Bhutan was annexed by the Japanese Empire during it's conquest of Asia. It was easy for the Japanese due to the fact the Japanese used the help of Pan Asian Members from Bhutan to overthrow the pro-British Government and replace it with a Pro-Japanese Government ruled by the Pro Japanese King Jigme Wangchuck. After the war Bhutan was declared a Puppet State of Japan who will have no contact with anyone unless it is Japan.

## Government

Bhutan is only advanced within the Army and Foreign Ministry which has contact with Japan, Otherwise Bhutan is much like a looking glass back to the medieval period. The kingdom’s governance is handled through a complex web of feudal relationships between temporal nobles and religious figures. Domestically, the monarchy of Bhutan is in a position of weakness. King Jigme is left to rely on the support and cooperation of his governors and ministers, all while facing off against the rising threat of a spiritual leader with a strong claim on the rule of the nation. On the back of the Second Treaty of Punakha the Dorji family has remained on the forefront of those loyal to the King, but are very powerful and could install their own candidate for king should they see an opportunity. The latest Zhabdrung incarnation, Zhabdrung Thuktrul Jigme Dorji, has begun marshaling support among the people and penlops of Bhutan.

## Military

The Military of Bhutan only consists of the Army which is nothing more than 12 Infantry Brigades trained by Imperial Japanese troopers trained to fight in mountainous regions. The Army is armed with Artillery Pieces, Gun Cars and Tanks manufactured by the Japanese Army and built to master the Mountainous terrain of Bhutan. Bhutan has no navy due to the fact they are a landlocked country and no Air Force due to the fact they are still stuck in a Medieval economy.

## Foreign Relations

* Colonial Relations with the Empire of Japan
* Great Relations with Nipponwestland, Holy Kingdom of Tibet and the Kingdom of Sikkim.