The Gar Ratsang clan claims descent from Gar Tongtsen, the eminent minister of the seventh century King Songtsen Gampo. During Gar Tongtsen's time, the office became hereditary. The Gar clan became very powerful and started to threaten the power of the Yarlung dynasty. In 698, the Empress Trimalo and her son Tridusong defeated Gar Tongtsen's son, who escaped to China with his followers, and the reign of the councillors of the Gar clan came to an end.