The House of Bunnag () was a powerful Siamese noble family of the Persian descent of the early Rattanakosin. By the nineteenth century, their power reached the zenith, as they were favored by Chakri monarchs and monopolized high-ranking titles. Three Somdet Chao Phrayas came from the Bunnag family - Prayurawongse, Pichaiyat, and Sri Suriyawongse. They played a key role in government and foreign relations of Early Rattanakosin. However, after the Front Palace Crisis, the Bunnags gradually withdrew from Siamese politics as Chulalongkorn sought to undo the power of nobility and pursued centralization, though the Bunnags continued to fill important official ranks.

History

Sheikh Ahmad

Sheikh Ahmad the Persian merchant, along with his brother Muhamad Sa-id and his subdornates, settled in Siam around 1600. Sheikh Ahmad was native to Qom, Safavid Iran, south of Tehran. Sheikh Ahmad established himself as a rich merchant in Ayutthaya. Then, he came under the service of Songtham, who appointed him as Lord of the Right Pier (เจ้ากรมท่าขวา) who supervised the traders that came from the West i.e. the Persians, the Indians, the Europeans, and Chularachamontri (จุฬาราชมนตรี) - who oversaw all Shiites in Siam.

After subjugating a Japanese revolt (under Yamada Nagamasa), Sheikh Ahmad became Samuha Nayok (First Prime Minister). Descendants of Sheikh Ahmad exerted control over Siamese politics, trade, and foreign affairs. Many of them became Samuha Nayok. They also monopolized the post of Chularachamontri. Some of them even converted to Buddhism.

Settlement in Thonburi

A man called Bunnag was a Buddhist descendant of Sheikh Ahmad. Bunnag married the sister of Nak, who was the wife of Thong Duang. He was then kinsmen to Thong Duang. Though Thong Duang emerged as a powerful noble in Thonburi, Bunnag stayed far from the bureaucracy due to his childhood conflicts with Taksin.

Thong Duang then became Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke, the first king of Chakri dynasty in 1782. During the Nine Armies War, Bunnag led the Siamese forces against the Burmese. Bunnag was then awarded the higher rank and eventually became the Samuha Kalahom as Chao Phraya Akka Mahasena.

Rise of Prayurawongse

Akka Mahasena was, of course, the primogenitor of the House of Bunnag. He sent his sons, including Dis and That, into the palace as the royal pages of Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke as an entrance to Siamese bureaucracy. Dis quickly rose to higher official ranks as Buddha Loetla Nabhalai favored the nobles from the Bunnag and Bangchang (his mother's family) family. Dis then became the minister of Krom Tha, supervising trade and foreign affairs under Jessadabodindra - a powerful post.

He was offered the position of Samuha Kalahom (Second Prime Minister) by the king but Dis said that the Prime Ministers died early. Dis then became Samuha Kalahom instead.

During the Siamese-Vietnamese Wars, Dis led the Siamese forces to Vietnam and imposed the naval blockade on Saigon. However, the campaigns was not so successful and the war was negotiated in 1845. With the death of Bodindecha in 1849, Dis remained as the sole powerful nobility in the court.

Dis was, indeed, played a key role in the ascension of Mongkut, whether or not Jessadabodindra intended to give the throne to his half-brother. There is a legend said that Jessadabodindra had intended the throne to be passed to his son Prince Annop. He even gave the bracelet passed down from his grandfather Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke. However, Dis switched the bracelet for a forged one, so the genuine one was not passed to Prince Annop. Mongkut, who had been in ecclesiastic status for 27 years, was lobbied by Dis to succeed the throne.

In 1851, when Mongkut had succeeded the throne, he appointed his main supporter as Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha Prayurawongse and Regent in the kingdom. Prayurawongse's brother, That, became Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha Pichaiyat and Regent in Bangkok. The Somdet Chao Phraya title was highest among the nobility and rivaled that of royalty. The first Somdet Chao Phraya - Maha Kshatriyaseuk - had become the first monarch of Chakri dynasty.

So Mongkut gave off much of his power to the Regents he appointed. As a Bunnag, Prayurawongse was also competent in trade and foreign affairs. The Bowring Treaty was indeed negotiated by Prayurawongse.

Sri Suriyawongse

Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha Sri Suriyawongse (Thai: สมเด็จเจ้าพระยาบรมมหาศรีสุริยวงศ์) (personal name Chuang Bunnag) December 23, 1808 - January 19, 1883) was a prominent 19th century Thai figure and served as the regent during the early years of the reign of King Chulalongkorn.

A member of a family originally of Persian origin, Sri Suriyawongse was born the eldest son of Dis (ดิศ) Bunnag (Prayurawongse, สมเด็จเจ้าพระยาบรมมหาประยูรวงศ์) and Tan Poo-Ying Chan. Chuang was well educated for the time. King Mongkut made him Samuha Kalahom, one of the two Prime Ministers of old Siam.

After the death of King Mongkut in 1868, his young son Prince Chulalongkorn became the new monarch. However, as the new king was underage, Sri Suriyawongse was named as regent, a post he held until 1873.

He died in 1883 in Ratchaburi.Sri Suriyawongse was also the first Thai to have a life insurance policy, after King Rama V granted foreign companies permission to extend their insurance business into Siam.

His son Won Bunnag succeeded him as Samuha Kalahom and also held the title Chao Phraya Surawongse.
Category:Thai familiesCategory:Bunnag familyde:Bunnagth:ราชินิกุลบุนนาค