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''Somdet Chao Phraya'' Borom Maha Prayurawongse ( th, สมเด็จเจ้าพระยาบรมมหาประยูรวงศ์; ; 1788 - 26 April 1855) or Dit Bunnag ( th, ดิศ บุนนาค; ) was a prominent political figure of Siam during the mid-19th century as a regent for King
Mongkut Mongkut ( th, มงกุฏ; 18 October 18041 October 1868) was the fourth monarch of Siam (Thailand) under the House of Chakri, titled Rama IV. He ruled from 1851 to 1868. His full title in Thai was ''Phra Bat Somdet Phra Menthora Ramathibod ...
kingdom-wide. He became a '' Somdet Chao Phraya'' — the highest rank a Siamese noble had attained during the Rattanakosin Era, with honor equal to that of royalty. He was known colloquially as Somdet Chao Phraya Ong Yai ( th, สมเด็จเจ้าพระยาองค์ใหญ่). He was also known as ''Chao Phraya'' Phraklang ( th, เจ้าพระยาพระคลัง), or Minister of Trade, and dominated Western affairs of Siam during the reign of King Rama III. He held the post of ''Samuha Kalahom'' ( th, สมุหกลาโหม), the Prime Minister of Southern Siam, from 1830 to 1855.


Life

Dit Bunnag was born in 1788 to Bunnag and ''Chao Kun'' Nuan (who was Queen Amarindra's sister) at his father's residence off the southern side of the
Grand Palace The Grand Palace ( th, พระบรมมหาราชวัง, Royal Institute of Thailand. (2011). ''How to read and how to write.'' (20th Edition). Bangkok: Royal Institute of Thailand. .) is a complex of buildings at the heart of Ban ...
Wall near modern Wat Pho. His father, Bunnag, or ''Chao Phraya'' Akkamahasena ( th, เจ้าพระยาอรรคมหาเสนา), had served as ''
Samuha Kalahom Chatusadom or Catustambha ( th, จตุสดมภ์ , literally "Four Pillars" from Sanskrit ''Catur'' "Four" + ''Stambha'' "Pillars") was the Thai system of central executive governance during the Ayutthaya Kingdom, Thonburi Kingdom and Ra ...
'' the Prime Minister of Southern Siam during the reign of King Phutthayotfa Chulalok. Dit had an younger brother That who later became Somdet Chao Phraya Phichaiyat. Prayurawongse was a member of
Bunnag family The House of Bunnag ( th, บุนนาค; ) was a powerful Siamese noble family of Mon-Persian descent influential during the late Ayutthaya kingdom and early Rattanakosin period. Originally of Persian Islamic descent, they converted en masse ...
who descended from Sheikh Ahmad, a Persian minister during the reign of King Prasat Thong (His lineage had converted to Theravada Buddhism in mid-eighteenth century.). Dit entered the palace as one of the royal pages - the traditional way to Siamese bureaucracy. He rose through ranks as one of the royal pages of King
Phutthaloetla Naphalai Phra Phutthaloetla Naphalai ( th, พระพุทธเลิศหล้านภาลัย, 24 February 1767 – 21 July 1824), personal name Chim ( th, ฉิม), also styled as Rama II, was the second monarch of Siam under the Chakri ...
. In 1818, the Grand Palace expanded south and the Bunnags moved to new residence on the West bank of
Chao Phraya River The Chao Phraya ( or ; th, แม่น้ำเจ้าพระยา, , or ) is the major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial plain forming the centre of the country. It flows through Bangkok and then into the Gulf of Thailand. Et ...
in the Kudi Chin district. In 1819, Carlos Manoel de Silveira, Portuguese delegate from Macau, arrived in Bangkok and established first Western contact of Rattakosin period. Dit was in charge of the receiving Portuguese envoys. Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Halim Shah II of Kedah turned against Siamese domination culminating in Siamese invasion of Kedah in 1821. Siamese forces took
Alor Setar Alor Setar ( Jawi: الور ستار, Kedahan: ''Loqstaq'') is the state capital of Kedah, Malaysia. It is the second-largest city in the state after Sungai Petani and one of the most-important cities on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia ...
and Siam took direct control over Kedah. The British on the island of
Penang Penang ( ms, Pulau Pinang, is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia, by the Malacca Strait. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay ...
, which had been leased by Kedah to the British in 1786, suspected the Siamese invasion of Penang. Marquess of Hastings, the Governor-General of India, sent
John Crawfurd John Crawfurd (13 August 1783 – 11 May 1868) was a Scottish physician, colonial administrator, diplomat, and author who served as the second and last Resident of Singapore. Early life He was born on Islay, in Argyll, Scotland, the son of S ...
to Bangkok in April 1821. Dit was assigned to deal with Crawfurd mission. Dit gave a place near his home in Thonburi for Crawfurd to reside. After the Crawfurd mission, Dit was made Chao Phraya Phraklang the Minister of Trade. In November 1825,
Henry Burney Henry Burney (27 February 1792 – 4 March 1845) or Hantri Barani ( th, หันตรีบารนี) in Thai, was a British commercial traveller and diplomat for the British East India Company. His parents were Richard Thomas Burney (1768 ...
arrived in Bangkok. Phraklang was one of three Siamese delegates who took part in the conclusion of
Burney Treaty The treaty between Kingdom of Siam and Great Britain commonly known as the Burney Treaty was signed at Bangkok on 20 June 1826 by Henry Burney, an agent of British East India Company, for Britain, and King Rama III for Siam. It followed an earlie ...
in June 1826. In 1828, Phraklang commissioned the construction of Wat Prayurawongse in the Kudi Chin district. In 1830, King Rama III proposed to elevate Phraklang to the post of ''Samuha Kalahom''. Phraklang refused, saying that the holder of the title of Chao Phraya Mahasena usually "passed away prematurely". King Rama III then assigned the post of ''Samuha Kalahom'' to Phraklang without officially investing him with the title. Phraklang then became responsible in both ''Kalahom'' (Southern Siam) and the ''Kromma Tha'' Ministry of Trade. In 1831, Tunku Kudin, nephew of Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Halim Shah II, staged a revolt in Kedah, took control of Alor Setar and was joined by Patani. King Rama III assigned Phraklang to put down rebellions in Kedah and Patani. Both sultans of Kelantan and Terengganu sent forces to support Patani. Phraklang arrived at
Songkhla Songkhla ( th, สงขลา, ), also known as Singgora or Singora (Pattani Malay: ซิงกอรอ), is a city (''thesaban nakhon'') in Songkhla Province of southern Thailand, near the border with Malaysia. Songkhla lies south of Ba ...
in March 1832 and Chao Phraya
Nakhon Noi Nakhon Noi briefly occupied the throne of Lan Xang from 1582 to 1583 on the death of his father Sen Soulintha, who himself had been appointed as a vassal to the Toungoo Empire from 1580 to 1582.Several problems arise when reconstructing a historic ...
the governor of Ligor had already taken Alor Setar so Phraklang went on to take Patani. Tuan Sulung the governor of Pattani fled to Kelantan. When Phraklang had pursued Tuan Sulung to Kelantan, Sultan
Muhammad I of Kelantan Muhammad ( ar, مُحَمَّد;  570 – 8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious, social, and political leader and the founder of Islam. According to Islamic doctrine, he was a prophet divinely inspired to preach and confirm the monothe ...
, who was a relative of Tuan Sulung, surrendered and gave Tuan Sulung to Siamese authority. Edmund Roberts led an American mission to Bangkok in March 1833. Roberts handed the letters of President Andrew Jackson to Phraklang and took residence in Phraklang's estate in Thonburi. This led to the conclusion of
Siamese–American Treaty of Amity and Commerce The Treaty of Amity and Commerce between His Majesty the Magnificent King of Siam and the United States of America, or Roberts Treaty of 1833, was the first treaty between the United States and an Asian nation. It established peaceful and friend ...
in April. During the Siamese-Vietnamese Wars, in 1833, Phraklang led the Siamese fleet with the aim to attack
Saigon , population_density_km2 = 4,292 , population_density_metro_km2 = 697.2 , population_demonym = Saigonese , blank_name = GRP (Nominal) , blank_info = 2019 , blank1_name = – Total , blank1_ ...
. Phraklang quickly took
Hà Tiên Hà Tiên is a Provincial city in Kiên Giang Province, Mekong Delta in Vietnam. Its area is and the population as of 2019 is 81,576. The city borders Cambodia to the west. Hà Tiên is a tourist site of the region thanks to its beaches and la ...
and proceeded through
Vĩnh Tế Canal The Vĩnh Tế Canal (, km, ព្រែកជីក ''or'' ) is an canal in southern Vietnam, designed to give the territory of Châu Đốc a direct access to the Hà Tiên sea gate, Gulf of Siam. Background Construction of the Vĩnh T ...
to take Châu Đốc. Phraklang was joined at Châu Đốc by Chao Phraya
Bodindecha ''Chao Phraya'' Bodindecha ( th, เจ้าพระยาบดินทรเดชา, km, ចៅ ឃុន បឌិន, 13 January 1776 – 24 June 1849), personal name Sing Sinhaseni (), was a prominent military figure of the early Rat ...
who led land armies. Both Phraklang and Bodindecha marched along the Bassac River towards Saigon and met Vietnamese fleet at Vàm Nao. During the battle of Vàm Nao, the Siamese fleet refused to engage with Vietnamese vessels, even though Phraklang himself had personally boarded a small boat to urge his fleet to attack. Phraklang and the Siamese fleet retreated to Châu Đốc, Hà Tiên and eventually to Chantaburi. In March 1847, the Teochew societies, known as ''Tōa Hia'', of Samut Sakhon rose in rebellion and kill one of the royal guards. Phraklang and his son Kham marched royal guard regiment to subjugate the Chinese at Samut Sakhon. Next month in April, another Teochew insurrection occurred at Chachoengsao and the governor of Chachoengsao was killed. Phraklang then had his son Kham guarded Samut Sakhon and himself led another force to put down the Chinese rebellion in Chachoengsao with his another son Chuang. Phraklang met Bodindecha, who had been returning from Cambodia, again at Chachoengsao. After the rebellions had been over, they both returned to Bangkok. With the demise of Chao Phraya Bodindecha in 1849, Phraklang became the most powerful political figure in court. Phraklang had played a great role in the ascension of King
Mongkut Mongkut ( th, มงกุฏ; 18 October 18041 October 1868) was the fourth monarch of Siam (Thailand) under the House of Chakri, titled Rama IV. He ruled from 1851 to 1868. His full title in Thai was ''Phra Bat Somdet Phra Menthora Ramathibod ...
. In 1851, King Mongkut bestowed Phraklang with the title of ''Somdet'' Chao Phraya Borom Maha Prayurawongse and became Mongkut's regent kingdom-wide along with his brother Phraya Sripipat (That Bunnag) who became Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha Phichaiyat and Mongkut's regent in Bangkok. Prayurawongse's honor was equal to that of a prince. Prayurawongse was granted the right to use the ''Solar-charioteer Seal'' ( th, ตราสุริยมณฑลเทพบุตรชักรถ) To distinguish him from his brother, Prayurawongse was known colloquially as "Somdet Chao Phraya Ong Yai" ( th, สมเด็จเจ้าพระยาองค์ใหญ่ "The Elder ''Somdet Chao Phraya''") while his brother was called the "Somdet Chao Phraya Ong Noi" ( th, สมเด็จเจ้าพระยาองค์น้อย "The Younger ''Somdet Chao Phraya''"). During the reign of King Mongkut, Prayurawongse officially held the post of both ''Samuha Kalahom'' and ''Kromma Tha''. However, the ''de facto'' duties were already distributed to his sons. His son Chuang, who was made Chao Phraya Sri Suriyawongse (later Somdet Chao Phraya Sri Suriyawongse), was the deputy of ''Kalahom''. His another son Kham was deputy of ''Kromma Tha'' (he was later made ''Chao Phraya'' Thipakornwongse) the Ministry of Trade. Prayurawongse was one of the plenipotentiaries during the negotiation of the Bowring Treaty in April 1855. Bowring had demanded free trade and to end the monopoly of Siamese royal court in Western trade. The Bowring Treaty was concluded and free trade was established. A month after the Bowring Treaty, Prayurawongse died at his residence near Wat Prayurawongse in modern Thonburi District on 26 April 1855, aged 67. His funeral and cremation were held in the manner and ceremonies of royalty at Wat Prayurawongse in October 1855. His sons and descendants continued to dominate Siamese politics in the later part of nineteenth century.


Family and descendants

Prayurawongse had many wives, in accordance to contemporary social practices. His main wife was Lady Chan who was a daughter of ''Phraya'' Pollathep Thongin. Princess Praphaiwadi (daughter of King Rama I and sister to King Rama II) had given two of her ladies-in-waitings Lady Rod and Lady Inyai to be Prayurawongse's wives. Queen
Sri Suriyendra Sri Suriyendra ( th, ศรีสุริเยนทร, , ; 1767–1836) was the queen of Siam, wife of Phutthaloetla Naphalai, who was her cousin, and mother of Mongkut and Pinklao. She was later named, upon the coronation of her son Mongkut, ...
had given Lady Peung to be his wife. He had total of twenty-four wives and forty-four children. His notable sons included; * Chuang Bunnag, born to Lady Chan, later became Somdet Chao Phraya Sri Suriyawongse (1808 - 1882). Succeeded his father as ''Samuha Kalahom'' in 1855. Became the Regent during the minority of King
Chulalongkorn Chulalongkorn ( th, จุฬาลงกรณ์, 20 September 1853 – 23 October 1910) was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, titled Rama V. He was known to the Siamese of his time as ''Phra Phuttha Chao Luang'' (พร ...
from 1868 to 1873. A major historical figure. * Kham Bunnag, born to Lady Rod, later became Chao Phraya Thipakornwongse (1813 - 1870). Succeeded his father as the Minister of Trade (''Kromma Tha'') in 1855. * Chum Bunnag, born to Lady Chan, later became Phraya Montri Suriyawongse (1820 - 1866). Leader of Siamese mission to London in 1857. * Tuam Bunnag, born to Lady Peung, later became Chao Phraya Panuwongse (1830 - 1913). Succeeded his brother Thipakornwongse as the Minister of ''Kromma Tha'' in 1869. Became the first Minister of Foreign Affairs of Siam in 1875. * Porn Bunnag, born to Lady In, later became Chao Phraya Bhasakornwongse (1849 - 1920). First Minister of Agriculture from 1892 to 1894. First Minister of Education from 1892 to 1902.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Prayurawongse Chaophraya Bunnag family Thai people of Iranian descent 1788 births 1855 deaths Ministers of Defence of Thailand Samuhakalahom