Depa Norbu

Depa Norbu (Wylie: sde pa nor bu), also known as Nangso Norbu (nang so nor bu), was born in the Central Tibetan province of Ü around the end of the 16th century. His last recorded activity was in 1660. In 1659 he rose briefly to the position of Desi (Regent, Administrative Ruler or Prime Minister of Tibet) of Lobzang Gyatsho, the Fifth Dalai Lama's Ganden Phodrang government of Tibet, acting as de facto Ruler of Tibet.

From the 1620s until 1642 Norbu was a close aide to his elder brother Sonam Rapten (1595-1658) who was the top official of the Ganden Phodrang when this was the Fifth Dalai Lama's establishment at Drepung Monastery near Lhasa. In 1642, after a major civil war the Ganden Phodrang became the Government of Tibet. The Fifth Dalai Lama was its titular head and Sonam Rapten its Desi with Norbu retained as his close aide. In 1644 Rapten appointed Norbu Governor of Tibet's second city, Shigatse, from where he commanded Tibetan forces in three unsuccessful military invasions of Bhutan.

After Sonam Rapten died Norbu was promoted to succeed him as Desi by the Fifth Dalai Lama but he soon rebelled against the latter's authority. After four months Norbu fled from the capital, Lhasa, to Shigatse, seized the castle there with his accomplices and tried to raise an army to overthrow and supplant the Ganden Phodrang government. The Dalai Lama was ready, however; he foiled the plot, the rebellion failed within a few months and in 1660 Norbu fled once more into obscurity.