The Khazen Cheikhs and Emir Fakhr Al Din Al Maa’n
22 March 2008
Emir Fakhr Al Din Al Ma’an was the biggest Lebanese Emir of all times, taking into consideration his power, good management, and good morals. His power expanded beyond Lebanon, large parts of Syria, and else where. His influence is still seen.
He was known for helping the Christians especially the Catholic and releasing them from the oppression that they were put under. Add to that, most of the Emir’s army was made of the Christians especially the Maronites. He also allowed Christian missionaries to spread around the Mediterranean defending them and their faith. He also treated the Christian mission tolerantly granting Abbeys of Nazareth and Sidon.
A biography of the Emir was written by Father Jean Roger, telling in a book he published in year 1664 in Paris, that he was a Muslim (Druze) in public but Christian in secret. He spoke about the Ottoman Sultan’s order to kill him by being strangled and before that was done, he turned his face towards the East and marked himself a Cross. They also found on his body a small gold Cross he was wearing. His death occurred on 14.March.1635.