His short life coincided with a time of major political unrest and wars among Tibet's neighbours.

The British Empire, which controlled India, was expanding its influence northwards, while the Qing dynasty, weakened by the Opium Wars and the Taiping Rebellion, lost influence in Tibet, leaving the Tibetans politically adrift.

[citation needed] He was recognised as a reincarnation of the Dalai Lama in 1858 and enthroned in 1860.

During his period of training as a child, Tibet banned Europeans from entering the country due to British wars with Sikkim and Bhutan, both of whom were controlled to a considerable degree by the lamas in Lhasa.

[3][need quotation to verify] Trinley Gyatso was fully enthroned as Dalai Lama on 11 March 1873 but could not stamp his full authority on Tibet because he died of a mysterious illness on 25 April 1875.