Chiefdom of Bathang
Chiefdom of Bathang, or Chiefdom of Batang, was an autonomous Tusi chiefdom ruled Bathang during Qing dynasty.
Bathang belonged to Chiefdom of Lijiang during Ming dynasty. Later, it was occupied by Khoshut Khanate. In 1703, Lha-bzang Khan appointed two desi to govern here. In 1719, a Chinese army under Yue Zhongqi marched to conquer Tibet, two desi surrendered to Chinese. They were appointed chieftain and vice chieftain by Chinese respectively.
Bathang, Lithang, Chakla and Derge were called "Four Great Native Chiefdom in Kham" by Chinese. In 1725, Bathang was separated from Tibet. From then on, it was under the jurisdiction of Sichuan. Bathang chieftains were appointed by Chinese emperors directly.
Under the inspiration of Guangxu's expansion policy, many Chinese migrated to Kham. It irritated the local Tibetan. In 1905, Bathang murdered a Chinese official Fengquan. Then Bathang revolted against Qing China. The rebellion was put down by Zhao Erfeng in the same year. The last chieftain and vice chieftain were captured by Zhao, and tortured to death. Bathang was annexed by China in the next year.
