Here’s a more elaborate explanation on the reasons that led to the so-called Revolution against the Khazens in 1858. We will discuss briefly the reasons in Part1 and dig deeper in Part2. You can read the original article [Here].
Reasons behind the 1858 Revolution against the Khazens
The revolution started towards the end of the year 1858. However, before tackling it, it is important to point out the primary and secondary causes behind it as few historians have claimed that those behind the Revolution were all of the Keserwan’s population, which is very far from the truth and utterly wrong. In fact, Keserwan’s people had indeed few demands but never had in mind to change the Khazen rule or revolt against it, unlike the Ottomans who were always thriving to take control of Keserwan and put an end to the Khazen governance. Indeed, Prince Bashir Ahmad, appointed governor of the Christians in Lebanon, was very much hated due to his actions and was a sworn enemy to the the Khazens back then. Consequently, the Khazen family members encouraged villages all over Keserwan to work against him.
It was under those circumstances that the Ottomans saw an opportunity to defeat the Khazens and integrated those groups and incited them through various means to ask for the abolishment of the Khazenite rule. In order to fulfill this task, a man from Zouk Mikhael called Elias Mounayyar was appointed and given instructions to brainwash people and convince them the Khazens are abusing their positions and enslaving them. “We in Keserwan are enslaved to one large family, the Khazen family which has assumed unilateral power by taking over all key positions and it’s time to demote them and stop all Sheikhs from confiscating power and appoint one of them to rule”, he said.
This was a political farce from the Ottomans to weaken the Khazens and limit their influence over Keserwan and few individuals and groups fell to it or exploited it for pure materialistic purposes and not to achieve their demands. In fact, the main instigator behind this revolution, Elias Mounayyar, was promised land and coins from Prince Bashir Ahmad and as soon as the Ottoman plans were revealed and exposed to all, many of the Keserwani people who took part in the revolution at early stages stepped back and resigned from their positions. To name few, Habib el Jamati, Semaan Abi Haidar from Zouk Mikhael, as well as Saleh Geryes. This is where Tanios Chahine came out of nowhere, helped by the absence of moderates and intellectuals, and fell into the Ottoman trap and led a revolution inspired by the French Revolution of 1789.
The three main reasons behind Tanios Chahine’s revolution are as follows:
1- Overpopulation in Keserwan
2- French Revolution
3- Conflicting English-French politics
1- Overpopulation in Keserwan
Keserwan had witnessed at the time a considerable increase in its population and the number of feudal lords and the distribution of lands was no longer appealing to the working populace. Indeed, hard-working people were frustrated by the taxes few undisciplined feudal lords imposed and the humiliation and minimal rewards they received for their work.
2- French Revolution
The French Revolution left an impact all over the world, and the revolts of the French population over feudalism gave hope to many populations to attempt and do the same, such as in Lebanon.
3- Conflicting English-French politics
French and British foreign policies were at conflict at the time in the East. While the British supported the Khazen against the rule of Prince Bashir Ahmad Al Maani, the French and Ottomans were working to keep him in power. After the Khazens managed to keep him away from Keserwan, he decided to come back with the help of Ottomans to ignite a revolution against the Khazen family.
In summary and as noted by historian Youssef Yazbeck: “It is worth mentioning that the misbehavior of few Khazen lords and their abuse of power were not the only reasons behind the revolution, as the conflicting colonial interests were the main instigators of the revolution, and the Ottoman regime was the one leading the conspiracy and adding fuel to the fire to engage the Lebanese in a civil war. This was the only way for the Ottomans to take full control of Lebanon, that is by dividing its people and removing one of the key families in Keserwan and Lebanon as a whole, the Khazen family”.
Source: Al Moukata3a el Keserwaniyya