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Baakleen holds an important place in Lebanon’s history.
The roots of Lebanon as we know it today go back to
Baakleen. Around the year
1120 A.D., Amir Maan Ibn Rabeaah, the great grandfather of Amir Fakher
Eddine Al Maani the second who established “Lubnan Al Kabeer”, settled
in Baakleen with his tribe. He was supported by his in-laws, the
Tanoukhyeen. Amir Maan was married to the daughter of Amir Noaaman Al
Tanoukhy. Historians agree that Baakleen was the capital
of the Maani Emirate.
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Due to water shortages in Baakleen, the Maani
Amirs were attracted to Neighboring Deir Al Kamar (according to Druze
archives, called Dar Al Kamar), where they built many palaces and a mosque
(see photo) that still stands in the middle of the town square carrying the name of
Amir Fakher Eddine Ibn Othman Ibn Al Hajj Younis Al Maani (1493 AD).
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The last of the Maan family Amirs was Amir
Ahmad who died in 1697 A.D. and with his death, the rulers of the Emirate
became the Shihab family who were tied to the Maan family through
intermarriages and alliances.
Under the Ottoman rule, Baakleen came back to
the forefront as one of the “Qasabat”
or major towns. It served as
the summer home for the Druze “Qaem Makqam” or the local governor in
the name of the Ottoman Sultan. |
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The
“Qaem Maqams” were mostly from the Areslan family. Among them were
Amir Amin Areslan, Amir Mustapha Areslan, and Amir Shakeeb Areslan.
Amir Mustapha Areslan built the Grand
Serail (see photo) in 1902.
Nasseib
Pasha Jumblat was appointed Qaem Maqam in 1902 and he constructed “Ain
Eldaya'h" (see photo) to provide water to the public. |
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Article
by Mr. Ghassan Ghoussaini |
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