Jumblatt Family of Lebanon
Encyclopedia
The Jumblatt family is an influential Druze
family who settled in the Lebanon
mountains (coming from Syria
) around the 15-16th century, fleeing persecution from the Ottoman
governor.
Walid Jumblatt mentioned that his family is related to the Kurdish
Janboulad family. Tradition holds the Jumblatt family to be the leaders of the Kaysi Arabs who fought a bitter war with the Yemeni Druze
in the Battle of Ain Darra
of 1711.
Today, Walid Jumblatt
is one of two principal leaders of the Druzes (an influential religious community found in the Arab World
, known for its internal solidarity, the highly spiritual and philosophical orientation, and its influential position in Lebanese politics). His son, Taymoor, is being prepared to follow his father's footsteps in the political scene in the future. After the assassination of the Lebanese prime-minister Rafik Al Hariri, Walid Jumblatt preventively protected his children by sending them to France.
Walid's father, Kamal Jumblatt
, a major political, cultural, and philosophical figure in the Arab World, and a prominent Arab nationalist, was assassinated in 1977 in the Lebanese mountains. Kamal's own father, Fouad Jumblatt
, was himself assassinated on August 6, 1921.
Kamal Jumblatt was a highly respected political leader. Allegedly, on his bedroom wall he held the pictures of Jesus
and Mahatma Gandhi
. He was a rebellious figure and despite his descent from an aristocratic family, he supposedly lived a simple life neglecting the wealthy lifestyle that other political figures boasted at the time. Kamal Junblat was well-educated and quite attracted by the arcanes of Far Eastern philosophy; he wrote many books, touching on very diverse subjects from philosophy, spirituality, macrobiotics etc. It is claimed that he embraced meditation and practiced it often.
There are also many Jumblatt characters that played a very significant role in Lebanese history. Mrs. Nazira Jumblatt (mother of Kamal), a smart and capable lady, played an important role in keeping the dynasty alive, in a time when it was hard for women to play a political role. Before that, Sheikh Bashir Jumblatt was assassinated, during times of confrontation with the prince Bashir II, where a saying had spread at the time: El Chouf ma betse3 bashirein, which means the Chouf province cannot handle two opposing leaders.. In addition, Khaled Jumblatt, a distant cousin of Walid Jumblatt, held the position of minister of economy and was a prominent politician in Lebanon for many years until his death in 1993.
Druze
The Druze are an esoteric, monotheistic religious community, found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, which emerged during the 11th century from Ismailism. The Druze have an eclectic set of beliefs that incorporate several elements from Abrahamic religions, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism...
family who settled in the Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
mountains (coming from Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
) around the 15-16th century, fleeing persecution from the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
governor.
Walid Jumblatt mentioned that his family is related to the Kurdish
Kurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
Janboulad family. Tradition holds the Jumblatt family to be the leaders of the Kaysi Arabs who fought a bitter war with the Yemeni Druze
Druze
The Druze are an esoteric, monotheistic religious community, found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, which emerged during the 11th century from Ismailism. The Druze have an eclectic set of beliefs that incorporate several elements from Abrahamic religions, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism...
in the Battle of Ain Darra
Battle of Ain Darra
The Battle of Ain Dara took place in the town of Ain Dara in 1711 between the Qaysi and Yemeni Druze, with the Qaysis victorious.-Background:Traditionally there had been two Druze socio-political branches living in the Jabal ash-Shuf region: the Yemeni were headed by the Harmouche and Alam ed-Din...
of 1711.
Today, Walid Jumblatt
Walid Jumblatt
Walid Jumblatt is a Lebanese politician and the current leader of the Progressive Socialist Party . He is the most prominent leader of Lebanon's Druze community.-Family:...
is one of two principal leaders of the Druzes (an influential religious community found in the Arab World
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
, known for its internal solidarity, the highly spiritual and philosophical orientation, and its influential position in Lebanese politics). His son, Taymoor, is being prepared to follow his father's footsteps in the political scene in the future. After the assassination of the Lebanese prime-minister Rafik Al Hariri, Walid Jumblatt preventively protected his children by sending them to France.
Walid's father, Kamal Jumblatt
Kamal Jumblatt
Kamal Jumblatt ; was an important Lebanese politician. He was the main leader of the anti-government forces in the Lebanese Civil War until his assassination in 1977. He is the father of the present Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt.-Family background and education:Kamal Jumblatt was born in...
, a major political, cultural, and philosophical figure in the Arab World, and a prominent Arab nationalist, was assassinated in 1977 in the Lebanese mountains. Kamal's own father, Fouad Jumblatt
Fouad Jumblatt
Fouad Jumblatt was a powerful director of the Chouf District in Lebanon. He was the father of Kamal Jumblatt, and grandfather of the current Druze political leader, Walid Jumblatt. He was assassinated on August 6, 1921....
, was himself assassinated on August 6, 1921.
Kamal Jumblatt was a highly respected political leader. Allegedly, on his bedroom wall he held the pictures of Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
and Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
. He was a rebellious figure and despite his descent from an aristocratic family, he supposedly lived a simple life neglecting the wealthy lifestyle that other political figures boasted at the time. Kamal Junblat was well-educated and quite attracted by the arcanes of Far Eastern philosophy; he wrote many books, touching on very diverse subjects from philosophy, spirituality, macrobiotics etc. It is claimed that he embraced meditation and practiced it often.
There are also many Jumblatt characters that played a very significant role in Lebanese history. Mrs. Nazira Jumblatt (mother of Kamal), a smart and capable lady, played an important role in keeping the dynasty alive, in a time when it was hard for women to play a political role. Before that, Sheikh Bashir Jumblatt was assassinated, during times of confrontation with the prince Bashir II, where a saying had spread at the time: El Chouf ma betse3 bashirein, which means the Chouf province cannot handle two opposing leaders.. In addition, Khaled Jumblatt, a distant cousin of Walid Jumblatt, held the position of minister of economy and was a prominent politician in Lebanon for many years until his death in 1993.