Shihab family
Encyclopedia
The "Shihabs", or "Chehabs" (Arabic: شهاب) are a prominent Lebanese noble family. The Chehabs were the traditional princes of the Wadi al-Taym, who traced their lineage to the ancient Quraysh tribe from Mecca
. The Chehabs descended from the Maans through the female line. The Chehabs were originally Sunni Moslems, not Druse, eventhough they intermarried with Druse families such as the Maans and the Arslans. The ruling class of the Chehab family eventually converted to Maronite Christians at the end of the 18th century when the ottoman empire split Mount Lebanon between Druze and Maronites. The Chehab princes area of rule was in the Maronite section of Mount Lebanon and they converted to preserve their hold on power. The Chehabs worked methodically to encourage Christian immigration to Lebanon with the sole purpose of strengthening the family's economic status. They also strove to introduce Western European culture, particularly French culture into this region.
The Chehabs succeeded the Maans in 1697. They originally lived in the Hawran region of southwestern Syria and settled in Wadi at Taim in southern Lebanon. The most prominent among them was Prince Bashir Chehab II, who was much like his predecessor, Fakhr ad Din II. His ability as a statesman was first tested in 1799, when Napoleon besieged Acre
, a well-fortified coastal city in Palestine, about forty kilometers south of Tyre. Both Napoleon and Al Jazzar, the governor of Acre, requested assistance from the Chehab princes; Bashir, however, remained neutral, declining to assist either combatant. Unable to conquer Acre, Napoleon returned to Egypt
, and the death of Al Jazzar in 1804 removed Bashir's principal opponent in the area.
When Bashir II decided to break away from the Ottoman Empire, he allied himself with Muhammad Ali Pacha
, the founder of modern Egypt, and assisted Muhammad Ali's son, Ibrahim Pasha, in another siege of Acre
. This siege lasted seven months, the city falling on May 27, 1832. The Egyptian army, with assistance from Bashir's troops, also attacked and conquered Damascus on June 14, 1832.
In 1840, the principal European powers (Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia), opposing the pro-Egyptian policy of the French, signed the London Treaty with the Sublime Porte (the Ottoman ruler) on July 15, 1840.
According to the terms of this treaty, Muhammad Ali was asked to leave Syria; when he rejected this request, Ottoman and British troops landed on the Lebanese coast on September 10, 1840. Faced with this combined force, Muhammad Ali retreated, and on October 14, 1840, Bashir II surrendered to the British and went into exile. Bashir Chehab III
was then appointed. On January 13, 1842, the sultan deposed Bashir III and appointed Omar Pasha
as governor of Mount Lebanon. This event marked the end of the rule of the Chehabs.
Today, the Chehabs are still one of the most prominent families in Lebanon, and the third president of Lebanon after independence, Fuad Chehab
, was a member of this family, as was former Prime Minister Khaled Chehab. The Chehabs bear the title of Amirs (or Princes). Today, a group of them are Sunni Muslims, and others are Maronite Catholics, though they have common family roots. The 11th century citadel in Hasbaya, South Lebanon, is still a private property of the Chehabs, many of them still living in it. Interestingly, a branch of the family, directly descended from Bashir II, resides in Turkey, known as the Paksoy family, due to Turkish restrictions on non-Turkish surnames.
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
. The Chehabs descended from the Maans through the female line. The Chehabs were originally Sunni Moslems, not Druse, eventhough they intermarried with Druse families such as the Maans and the Arslans. The ruling class of the Chehab family eventually converted to Maronite Christians at the end of the 18th century when the ottoman empire split Mount Lebanon between Druze and Maronites. The Chehab princes area of rule was in the Maronite section of Mount Lebanon and they converted to preserve their hold on power. The Chehabs worked methodically to encourage Christian immigration to Lebanon with the sole purpose of strengthening the family's economic status. They also strove to introduce Western European culture, particularly French culture into this region.
The Chehabs succeeded the Maans in 1697. They originally lived in the Hawran region of southwestern Syria and settled in Wadi at Taim in southern Lebanon. The most prominent among them was Prince Bashir Chehab II, who was much like his predecessor, Fakhr ad Din II. His ability as a statesman was first tested in 1799, when Napoleon besieged Acre
Acre, Israel
Acre , is a city in the Western Galilee region of northern Israel at the northern extremity of Haifa Bay. Acre is one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in the country....
, a well-fortified coastal city in Palestine, about forty kilometers south of Tyre. Both Napoleon and Al Jazzar, the governor of Acre, requested assistance from the Chehab princes; Bashir, however, remained neutral, declining to assist either combatant. Unable to conquer Acre, Napoleon returned to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, and the death of Al Jazzar in 1804 removed Bashir's principal opponent in the area.
When Bashir II decided to break away from the Ottoman Empire, he allied himself with Muhammad Ali Pacha
Muhammad Ali of Egypt
Muhammad Ali Pasha al-Mas'ud ibn Agha was a commander in the Ottoman army, who became Wāli, and self-declared Khedive of Egypt and Sudan...
, the founder of modern Egypt, and assisted Muhammad Ali's son, Ibrahim Pasha, in another siege of Acre
Acre
The acre is a unit of area in a number of different systems, including the imperial and U.S. customary systems. The most commonly used acres today are the international acre and, in the United States, the survey acre. The most common use of the acre is to measure tracts of land.The acre is related...
. This siege lasted seven months, the city falling on May 27, 1832. The Egyptian army, with assistance from Bashir's troops, also attacked and conquered Damascus on June 14, 1832.
In 1840, the principal European powers (Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia), opposing the pro-Egyptian policy of the French, signed the London Treaty with the Sublime Porte (the Ottoman ruler) on July 15, 1840.
According to the terms of this treaty, Muhammad Ali was asked to leave Syria; when he rejected this request, Ottoman and British troops landed on the Lebanese coast on September 10, 1840. Faced with this combined force, Muhammad Ali retreated, and on October 14, 1840, Bashir II surrendered to the British and went into exile. Bashir Chehab III
Bashir III
Prince Bashir Chehab III was considered one of the weakest rulers of Lebanon . After Prince Bashir II was banished from Lebanon, the Ottoman authorities in Asitana appointed Prince Bashir III from the Chehab family to replace him.- Early life :Also known as Bashir Qasim al-Chehab, he was born in...
was then appointed. On January 13, 1842, the sultan deposed Bashir III and appointed Omar Pasha
Omar Pasha
Omar Pasha Latas was a Ottoman general and governor. He was a Serb convert to Islam, who managed to quickly climb in Ottoman ranks, crush several rebellions throughout the Empire and defeat Russia the Crimean War.-Early life:...
as governor of Mount Lebanon. This event marked the end of the rule of the Chehabs.
Today, the Chehabs are still one of the most prominent families in Lebanon, and the third president of Lebanon after independence, Fuad Chehab
Fuad Chehab
Fuad Chehab Fuad Chehab Fuad Chehab (name also spelt Fouad Shihab, or Chehab, depending on transliteration from the original Arabic, (March 19, 1902 - April 25, 1973) was the President of the Lebanese Republic from 1958 to 1964...
, was a member of this family, as was former Prime Minister Khaled Chehab. The Chehabs bear the title of Amirs (or Princes). Today, a group of them are Sunni Muslims, and others are Maronite Catholics, though they have common family roots. The 11th century citadel in Hasbaya, South Lebanon, is still a private property of the Chehabs, many of them still living in it. Interestingly, a branch of the family, directly descended from Bashir II, resides in Turkey, known as the Paksoy family, due to Turkish restrictions on non-Turkish surnames.
List of Rulers
| Name | Reign |
|---|---|
| Bashir I | 1697-1707 |
| Haydar | 1707-1732 |
| Mulhim | 1732-1754 |
| Mansur | 1754-1770 |
| Yusuf | 1770-1788 |
| Bashir II Bashir Shihab II Bashir Chehab II was a Lebanese emir who ruled Lebanon in the first half of the 19th century.-Life:Bashir was born 2 January 1767 , son of Emir Qasim ibn Umar Chehab of the noble Chehab family which had came to power in 1697... |
1788-1840 |
| Bashir III Bashir III Prince Bashir Chehab III was considered one of the weakest rulers of Lebanon . After Prince Bashir II was banished from Lebanon, the Ottoman authorities in Asitana appointed Prince Bashir III from the Chehab family to replace him.- Early life :Also known as Bashir Qasim al-Chehab, he was born in... |
1840-1842 |