Lebanon In Lebanon, the title had the same princely and royal connotation as in the Arabian peninsula until the Ottoman invasion in 1516, since it represented an indigenous autonomous "sui iuris" ruler or tribal chief.A House of Many Mansions: The History of Lebanon Reconsidered, 2001, Kamal Salibi Examples of some ancient families that hold the title of "sui iuris" sheikh is the Al-Chemor family, ruling since 1211 CE in Koura and Zgharta until 1747 CEAl-Sheikh Al-Chemor Al-Hakum Al-Akoura Al-Hakum Al-Zawyia by Ignatios Tannous Al-Khoury, Beirut, 1948, pg.123"Tārīkh al-ṭāʼifah al-Mārūnīyah (Microform, 1890)". [WorldCat.org]. and the Boudib family (descendants of the Hashemite family) who were Ehdenian rulers of Jebbeh since 1471 CE until 1759 CE. The descendants of this sovereign family now live in Miziara, Mexico and Nigeria. Even the Abu Harmoush family heads, which ruled the Chouf region until the Battle of Ain Dara in 1711 CE, were "sui iuris" sheikhs. After the Ottoman rule and the implementation of the Iltizam system, the title gained a noble instead of royal connotation, since it was bestowed by a higher authority; in this case the Ottoman appointed Emir, who was nothing more than a mültezim or tax collector for the empire.Lebanon's Predicament, 1987, Samir Khalaf Some very influential Maronite families, who had the title bestowed upon them, are (in chronological order): the El Hachem of Akoura (descendants of the Hashemite family, since 1523), the El-Khazen (since 1545), the Hubaysh of Kisrawan and the Douaihy of Zgharta. Other families who are nowadays addressed or known as "sheikhs" were not traditionally rulers of provinces, but instead they were high-ranking officials at the service of the Emir at that time.
Lebanon In Lebanon, the title had the same princely and royal connotation as in the Arabian peninsula until the Ottoman invasion in 1516, since it represented an indigenous autonomous "sui iuris" ruler or tribal chief.A House of Many Mansions: The History of Lebanon Reconsidered, 2001, Kamal Salibi Examples of some ancient families that hold the title of "sui iuris" sheikh is the Al-Chemor family, ruling since 1211 CE in Koura and Zgharta until 1747 CEAl-Sheikh Al-Chemor Al-Hakum Al-Akoura Al-Hakum Al-Zawyia by Ignatios Tannous Al-Khoury, Beirut, 1948, pg123"Tārīkh al-ṭāʼifah al-Mārūnīyah (Microform, 1890)". [WorldCat.org]. and the Boudib family (descendants of the Hashemite family) who were Ehdenian rulers of Jebbeh since 1471 CE until 1759 CE. The descendants of this sovereign family now live in Miziara Mexico and Nigeria. Even the Abu Harmoush f,am.ily heads, which ruled the Chouf region until the Battle of Ain Dara in 1711 CE, were "sui iuris" sheikhs. After the Ottoman rule and the implementation of the Iltizam system, the title gained a noble instead of royal con?notation, since it was bestowed by a higher authority; in this case the Ottoman appointed Emir, who was nothing more than a mültezim or tax collector for the empire.Lebanon's Predicament, 1987, Samir Khalaf Some very influential Maronite families, who had the title bestowed upon them, are (in chronological order): the El Hachem of Akoura (descendants of the Hashemite family, since 1523), the El-Khaz.en (since 1545), the Hubaysh of Kisrawan and the Douaihy o,f Zgharta. Other families who are nowadays addressed or known as "sheikhs" were not traditionally rulers of provinces, but instead they were high-ranking officials at the service of the Emir at that time.