His Holiness Yonten Gyatso, the 4th Dalai Lama
Era	1589 -1616
Region	Yonten Gyatso, 4th Dalai Lama
School	Gelug

Yonten Gyatso (1589 – 1616) was the 4th Dalai Lama.
As a grandson of Altan Khan of Tümed, Yonten Gyatso was a Mongolian, making him the only non-Tibetan to be recognized as Dalai Lama other than the 6th Dalai Lama, who was a Monpa—Monpas can be seen either as a Tibetan subgroup or a closely related people.

Yonten Gyatso was controversial because he was appointed by the Mongolians in an apparent attempt to exercise control over Tibet. The Gelugpa-monasteries had decided nevertheless to recognize him. In 1601 he and his many Mongolian advisers were installed in the Drepung Monastery, where he was a student of the Fourth Panchen Lama Lobsang Chökyi Gyaltsen.

Many Tibetans didn't recognize him and tried to retake power, supported by the Kagyupa order. This resulted in a civil war and Yonten Gyatso was forced to leave Lhasa. He died under suspicious circumstances at the age of 28.