How did the 5th Dalai Lama strengthen the Gelukpa school’s rule in Tibet?

The 5th Dalai Lama, known as the "Great Fifth," solidified the Gelukpa school’s rule in Tibet through a combination of military support, administrative reform, and the centralization of power in Lhasa.12

His efforts to strengthen the order included:

• Military Alliance: With the military assistance of the Khoshut Mongols—specifically Güüshi Khan, who acted as his military protector—he established the supremacy of the Gelukpa sect over rival orders, notably imposing special severity toward the Karma-pa.12
• Administrative Consolidation: He appointed a minister for administrative affairs and reorganized the district administration, which effectively reduced the power of the lay nobility.2
• Political and Religious Prestige: He transformed Lhasa into the political capital of Tibet and enhanced the regime's authority by reviving ancient ceremonies and expanding major monasteries, such as Drepung, Sera, and Ganden.2
• Symbolic Architecture: He commissioned the construction of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, which served as a majestic symbol of the Dalai Lama's temporal and religious authority.12

These actions resulted in a unified government that exerted control over a wider region than Tibet had seen in eight centuries.2