Fakhr al-Din II

Emir Fakhr-al-Din Beik ibn Maan (1572–April 13, 1635) (Template:Lang-ar) was a Lebanese Druze ruler in Mount Lebanon which was self-governed under the Ottoman Empire during the 17th century. Son of Emir Qorqmaz ibn Maan (Template:Lang-ar) and Sit Nasab (Template:Lang-ar), of the Tanukhi family, he was given the title "Emir" or Prince in Arabic because the Maan dynasty had rule over Mount Lebanon in that period. His period was distinguished with economic and cultural prosperity, and he had fought other Lebanese families to unite the people of Mount Lebanon and seek independence from the Ottoman Empire; therefore, he is considered by many to be the first "Man of Lebanon" in history who sought the sovereignty of modern-day Lebanon. However, the Ottomans had discovered his plot and executed him with three of his children on April 13, 1635.

Biography

Fakhreddine II Palace in Deir el Qamar

Born in Baakline, he was raised in the Lebanese village of Ajeltoun by Sheikh Ibrahim Abou Sakr, a prominent Maronite from the Khazin family.

In 1608 Fakhr-al-Din forged an alliance with the Italian Grand Duchy of Tuscany. The alliance had a public economic section and another secret military one.

Fakhr-al-Din's popularity scared the Ottomans who gave authority for Hafiz Ahmed Pasha, Muhafiz of Damascus, to mount an attack on Lebanon in 1613, in order to reduce Fakhr-al-Din's growing power.

Facing Hafez's army of 50,000 men, Fakhr-al-Din chose exile to Italy where in Tuscany he was received by the Medici Family, leaving affairs in the hands of his brother Emir Yunus and his son Emir Ali Beg. Fakhr-al-Din's exile did not prompt the Lebanese army to surrender to Hafiz Ahmed Pasha's army. They maintained their positions while the military operations raged until Emir Yunus managed through negotiations and persuasion to bring an end to the killings, securing the retreat of the Ottoman army.

In Tuscany, Fakhr-al-Din was welcomed by the grand duke Cosimo II, who housed him through his stay. Fakhr-al-Din had wished to plan military operations with Tuscan cooperation to free Lebanon, but was met with a refusal since Tuscany was unable to afford such an expedition, and the prince soon gave up that idea, realizing eventually that such cooperation would only subject Lebanon to new occupation. His stay in Italy at the time though allowed him to explore the era of European cultural revival in the 17th century.

In 1618, political changes in the Ottoman sultanate had resulted in the removal of many enemies of Fakhr-al-Din from power, signaling the prince's triumphant return to Lebanon soon afterwards, upon which he was able quickly to reunite all the lands of Lebanon beyond the boundaries of its mountains; and having revenge from Emir Yusuf Pasha ibn Seyfa, attacking his stronghold in Akkar, destroying his palaces and taking control of his lands, and regaining the territories he had to give up in 1613 in Sidon, Tripoli, Bekaa among others. Under his rule, printing presses were introduced and Jesuit priests and Catholic nuns encouraged to open schools throughout the land.

Fakhreddin castle in Palmyra

In 1623, the prince was betrayed by the Harfouch family who made arrangements with Mustafa Pasha, Mirmiran of Damascus, to launch an attack against him, resulting in the battle at Majdel Anjar where Fakhr-al-Din's forces although outnumbered managed to capture Pacha and secure the Lebanese prince and his allies a much needed military victory.

However, as time passed, the Ottomans seemed uncomfortable with the prince's increasing powers and extended relations with Europe. The promise they had made to the Medici family, regarding the Prince of Lebanon, was ignored. In 1632, Kuchuk Ahmed Pasha was named Muhafiz of Damascus, being a rival of Fakhr-al-Din and a friend of Sultan Murad IV, who ordered Kuchuk Ahmed Pasha and the sultanate's navy to attack Lebanon and depose Fakhr-al-Din.

This time, the prince had decided to remain in Lebanon and resist the offensive, but the death of his son Emir Ali Beg in Wadi el-Taym was the beginning of his defeat. He later took refuge in Jezzine's grotto, closely followed by Kuchuk Ahmed Pasha who caught eventually with him and his family.

Fakhr-al-Din was taken to Istanbul and appeared before the sultan.

Later, the sultan had Fakhr-al-Din and his family killed on 13 April 1635, in Istanbul, bringing an end to possibly one of the greatest eras in the history of Lebanon.

External links

• The Maans