Prayurawongse
Encyclopedia
Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha Prayurawongse or Dis Bunnag
was a prominent political figure of Siam during the mid-19th century as a regent for Mongkut
kingdom-wide. He led Siamese fleets in the Siamese-Vietnamese Wars and became a Somdet Chao Phraya - the highest title the nobility could attain with equal honor to that of royalty.
Dis Bunnag was born in 1788 to Bunnag and Lady Nuan (who was Queen Amarindra
's sister). His father, Bunnag, or Chao Phraya Akkaramahasaena, was the Samuha Kalahom and Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke
's trusted general.
Dis entered the palace as one of the royal pages - the traditional way to Siamese bureaucracy. Dis swiftly rose in ranks and became the Minister of Krom Tha and emerged as a powerful noble under the government of Buddha Loetla Nabhalai
.
During the Siamese-Vietnamese Wars, in 1833 Dis led the Siamese fleet to imposed the naval blockade upon Saigon but without achieving fruitful results. Jessadabodindra
then offered him the title of Chao Phraya Akka Mahasena but he turned it down saying that the Chao Phraya Akka Mahasena died early. He then became the Samuha Kalahom.
As Dis had played a great role in the ascension of Mongkut, he was bestowed the title of Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha Prayurawongse and became Mongkut's regent kingdom-wide along with his brother Tat Bunnag who became Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha Pichaiyat and Mongkut's regent in Bangkok. Prayurawongse was granted the right to use the Solar-charioteer Seal Prayurawongse was noted for his role in the negotiation of the Bowring Treaty
. To distinguish him from his brother, Prayurawongse was also called the Greater Somdet Chao Phraya while his brother was called the Lesser Somdet Chao Phraya .
His notable sons included;
Prayurawongse died in 1855. His son, Kam Bunnag, succeed the Ministry of Krom Tha.
Bunnag
The House of Bunnag was a powerful Siamese noble family of the Persian descent of the early Rattanakosin. By the nineteenth century, its power and influence reached its zenith. The family was favored by Chakri monarchs and monopolized high-ranking titles. Three Somdet Chao Phrayas came from the...
was a prominent political figure of Siam during the mid-19th century as a regent for Mongkut
Mongkut
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramenthramaha Mongkut Phra Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama IV, known in foreign countries as King Mongkut , was the fourth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 1851-1868...
kingdom-wide. He led Siamese fleets in the Siamese-Vietnamese Wars and became a Somdet Chao Phraya - the highest title the nobility could attain with equal honor to that of royalty.
Dis Bunnag was born in 1788 to Bunnag and Lady Nuan (who was Queen Amarindra
Amarindra
Queen Amarindra ,was the Queen Consort of King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke , the founder of the Chakri Dynasty. Her birth name was Nak . She was a daughter of a wealthy Mon from Bang Chang, in Samut Songkhram Province.-Biography:...
's sister). His father, Bunnag, or Chao Phraya Akkaramahasaena, was the Samuha Kalahom and Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke
Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Chakri Borommanat Phra Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke , posthumously titled "the Great", or Rama I , was the founder and the first monarch of the reigning House of Chakri of Siam . He ascended the throne in 1782, after defeating a rebellion which had deposed King...
's trusted general.
Dis entered the palace as one of the royal pages - the traditional way to Siamese bureaucracy. Dis swiftly rose in ranks and became the Minister of Krom Tha and emerged as a powerful noble under the government of Buddha Loetla Nabhalai
Buddha Loetla Nabhalai
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramenthramaha Isarasundhorn Phra Buddha Loetla Nabhalai , or Rama II , was the second monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 1809-1824. In 1809, Isarasundhorn succeeded his father Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke, the founder of Chakri dynasty, as Buddha Loetla Nabhalai...
.
During the Siamese-Vietnamese Wars, in 1833 Dis led the Siamese fleet to imposed the naval blockade upon Saigon but without achieving fruitful results. Jessadabodindra
Jessadabodindra
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Jessadabodindra Phra Nangklao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama III , was the third monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 21 July 1824 to 2 April 1851. He succeeded his father, Buddha Loetla Nabhalai, as the King of Siam...
then offered him the title of Chao Phraya Akka Mahasena but he turned it down saying that the Chao Phraya Akka Mahasena died early. He then became the Samuha Kalahom.
As Dis had played a great role in the ascension of Mongkut, he was bestowed the title of Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha Prayurawongse and became Mongkut's regent kingdom-wide along with his brother Tat Bunnag who became Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha Pichaiyat and Mongkut's regent in Bangkok. Prayurawongse was granted the right to use the Solar-charioteer Seal Prayurawongse was noted for his role in the negotiation of the Bowring Treaty
Bowring Treaty
The Bowring Treaty is the name given to an agreement signed on April 18, 1855 between the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Siam that liberalized foreign trade in Siam....
. To distinguish him from his brother, Prayurawongse was also called the Greater Somdet Chao Phraya while his brother was called the Lesser Somdet Chao Phraya .
His notable sons included;
- Chuang Bunnag; later Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha Sri Suriyawongse - regent for ChulalongkornChulalongkornPhra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Chulalongkorn Phra Chunla Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama V was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was known to the Siamese of his time as Phra Phuttha Chao Luang . He is considered one of the greatest kings of Siam...
- Kam Bunnag; later Chao Phraya Thipakornwongse - the Minister of Krom Tha
- Tuam Bunnag; later Chao Phraya Panuwongse - the Minister of Krom Tha for Chulalongkorn and the first Minister of Foreign Affairs of Siam
- Thet Bunnag; later Chao Phraya Suraphan Phisut
- Porn Bunnag; later Chao Phraya Bhasakornwongse
Prayurawongse died in 1855. His son, Kam Bunnag, succeed the Ministry of Krom Tha.