17 Karmapas' History:

• The First Karmapa
  Dusum Khyenpa (1100-1193)
• The Second Karmapa
  Karma Pakshi (1204-1283)
• The Third Karmapa
  Rangjung Dorje (1284-1339)
• The Fourth Karmapa
  Rolpe Dorje (1340-1383)
• The Fifth Karmapa
  Dezhin Shekpa (1384-1415)
• The Sixth Karmapa
  Thongwa Donden (1416-1453)
• The Seventh Karmapa
  Chodrak Gyatso (1454-1506)
• The Eighth Karmapa
  Mikyo Dorje (1507-1554)
• The Ninth Karmapa
  Wangchuk Dorje (1556-1603)
• The Tenth Karmapa
  Choying Dorje (1604-1674)
• The Eleventh Karmapa
  Yeshe Dorje (1676-1702)
• The Twelfth Karmapa
  Changchub Dorje (1703-1732)
• The Thirteenth Karmapa
  Dudul Dorje (1733-1797)
• The Fourteenth Karmapa
  Thekchok Dorje (1798-1868)
• The Fifteenth Karmapa
  Khakhyab Dorje (1871-1922)
• The Sixteenth Karmapa
  Rangjung Rigpe Dorje (1924-1981)
• The Seventeenth Gyalwa Karmapa
  Ogyen Trinley Dorje (1985-Present)

The Third Karmapa Rangjung Dorje (1284-1339)

• Born to a family of tantric practitioners of the Nyingma lineage in central Tibet.
• Received the Black Crown and all the possessions of the second Karmapa at the age of five from Orgyenpa, the main disciple of the second Karmapa.
• Received and realized all the teaching and transmissions of the dzogchen tantras of the Nyingma lineage and found the Karma Nyingtik lineage in his twenties.
• Unified the Kagyu Mahamudra and Nyingma dzogchen through his mastery of the profound Nyingma teaching of Vimalamitra.
• Wrote many treatises including the universally renowned Profound Inner Meaning, one of the most famous Tibetan treatises on Vajrayana.
• Visited China and enthroned his disciple, the emperor, Toghon Temur. Rangjung Dorje later passed away in China.