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When did the Dalai Lamas first gain political control of Tibet?

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14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, 2008.

The Dalai Lamas first gained temporal and spiritual rule of Tibet in 1642.1

Prior to this, the Dalai Lamas served primarily as the head abbots of the Dge-lugs-pa (Gelukpa) order. The transition to political authority occurred under the fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobzang Gyatso, often called the "Great Fifth". With the military assistance of the Khoshut Mongols, led by Güüshi Khan, the Dge-lugs-pa sect defeated rival factions, including the Gtsang king and the Karma-pa sect.12

In 1642, Güüshi Khan enthroned the fifth Dalai Lama as the ruler of Tibet, establishing a system of joint control where the Dalai Lama held religious and temporal authority, while the Mongol leader acted as the military protector. This period marked the beginning of the Dalai Lama's role as the political head of a unified Tibetan government, with Lhasa serving as the capital.3