During the 18th century , the western approaches were covered with attractive groves of walnut trees , but the town itself suffered badly during the 1759 earthquakes , after which it was held by the Metawali , who again feuded with other Lebanese tribes . Their power was broken by Jezzar Pasha , the rebel governor of Acre , in the last half of the 18th century . All the same , Baalbek remained no destination for a traveller unaccompanied by an armed guard . Upon the pasha 's death in 1804 , chaos ensued until Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt occupied the area in 1831 , after which it again passed into the hands of the Harfushes . In 1835 , the town 's population was barely 200 people . In 1850 , the Ottomans finally began direct administration of the area , making Baalbek a kaza under the Damascus Eyalet and its governor a kaymakam
1759 earthquakes
Near East earthquakes of 1759
Baalbek