The Bunnag Family or House of Bunnag (; ) was a powerful Siamese noble family of Mon-Persian descent influential during the late Ayutthaya kingdom and early Rattanakosin period. The family was favored by Chakri monarchs and monopolized high-ranking titles. By the nineteenth century, its power and influence reached its zenith. Three of the four Somdet Chao Phraya came from the Bunnag family — Dis, styled Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha Prayurawongse; his younger brother Tat, styled Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha Pichaiyat; the eldest son Chuang, styled Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Si Suriyawongse. They played key roles in government and foreign relations until after the Front Palace crisis. As Chulalongkorn sought to undo the power of the nobility and pursue centralization, the Bunnags gradually withdrew from prominent roles in Siamese politics but continued to fill important official ranks. History Sheikh Ahmad Sheikh Ahmad, a Persian merchant, along with his brother Muhamad Said and subordinates, settled in Siam around 1600. Sheikh Ahmad was a native of Qom in Safavid Iran, south of Tehran. He established himself as a rich merchant in Ayutthaya. There he entered the service of King Songtham (1611–1628) who appointed him as Chao Kromma Tha Khwa (; Lord of the Right Pier) to supervise traders from the West, i.e. Persians, Indians and Europeans. He was also appointed Chularatchamontri (จุฬาราชมนตรี; Minister of Islamic affairs) to oversee all Shiites in Siam. After subjugating a Japanese revolt under Yamada Nagamasa in 1611, 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. Settlement in Thonburi A man called Bunnag was a descendant of Sheikh Ahmad. Bunnag married to Nuan, a daughter of wealthy Mon family from Bang Chan, situated near the mouth of Maeklong River. Her sister Nak 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 Phutthayotfa Chulalok (Rama I), the first king of the Chakri dynasty in 1782. During the Nine Armies' Wars, Bunnag led the Siamese forces against the Burmese. He was then promoted and eventually became the Samuha Kalahom as Chao Phraya Akkaramahasaena. Rise of Prayurawongse Chao Phraya Akkaramahasaena was the primogenitor