Me Agtsom

Mes Ag Tshoms (Tibetan: མེས་ཡག་ཚོམས , "Bearded Grandfather"), birth name Tridé Tsuktsen (Wylie: khri lde gtsug btsan , 704–755 CE) was the emperor of the Tibetan Empire and the son of Tridu Songtsen and his queen, Tsenma Toktokteng, Princess of Chim (Wylie: btsan ma thog thog steng ). He is usually known by his nickname Mé Aktsom "Bearded Grandfather", which was given to him later in life because he was so hirsute.

His father, Tridu Songtsen, died in 704 in battle in Mywa territory in the Kingdom of Nanzhao (Wylie: 'jang , modern lowland Yunnan). The Old Book of Tang states he was on his way to suppress tributary kingdoms on the southern borders of Tibet, including Nepal and parts of India.

There was a dispute among his sons but "after a long time" the people put seven-year-old Tridé Tsuktsen on the throne.

Struggle for the throne

It is very unclear, however, from the sources exactly what happened after the death of Tridu Songtsen. According to the Tibetan Annals, "he who would be crowned king" (i.e. Mes-ag-tshoms?) was born in the spring of 704, just a few months before his father died.