The Sun
The Moon
Sri Suriyawongse
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| The Bunnag family must be the largest family in Thailand at present, descended from the most important non-royal people in Ayudhya and Siam. The clan had more than their fair share of the titles of Somdetch Chao Prayas and Chao Prayas in the land, leaving the lesser titles to other families! | |
| The ancestor of the Bunnag family was Sheik Ahmad, a Persian who came to Ayudhya and worked for King Narai (1656-1688). He became Chao Praya Bavorn Rajanayok, and his descendents all subsequently held the titles of Chao Prayas and Prayas, and the daughters became consorts of different Kings of Siam. To go into details about this family would require a setting up of a new website altogether! So, I will pick a few to illustrate how rich and powerful this family was in the past. | |
The Sun |
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| The two most important individuals in recent history was Somdetch Chao Praya Borom Maha Prayurawongse (1788-1855) and Somdetch Chao Praya Borom Maha Pijaiyati (1791-1857); the former known as the sun, and the latter as the moon, hence named from their crests given by King Rama IV when they became Somdetch Chao Prayas. These two were brothers, and were of the sixth generation of the Bunnag family, working in civil service directly under Kings Rama I, II, III and IV. The Sun worked his way up until he became Minister of Defence and finally Regent of Siam, and was the third most powerful man with full power after Kings Rama IV and Second King Pinklao. The fourth most powerful man was his brother the Moon, who was in charge of the kingdom's finance, and was made another Regent of Siam. | |
The Moon |
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| The Sun's son was Somdetch Chao Praya Borom Maha Sri Suriyawongse (1808-1882), was a bright child and worked in both the financial and diplomatic departments of the land. He was also King Rama III's most trusted aid, and was with the king at his deathbed, and was one of the mighty Bunnags to have an audience with the new King Rama IV while he was still in the monkhood. He also learned to built warships, and built the first Siamese warship named Suriyamonthon for HM King Rama IV. He was named Regent of Siam by the cabinet of 20 most senior members of the land, and ruled Siam (1868-1873) until King Rama V could take over the throne. Hence, he was bestowed the title of Somdetch Chao Praya by King Rama V, and was the last person in Siamese history to receive this title. | |
Sri Suriyawongse |
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| For more information on the family, please visit their website at www.bunnag.in.th/english/index.html | |
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