Khazen family

Khazen (also "El Khazen" in some cases Al Khazen or De Khazen, Arabic: الخازن) is the name of a prominent Noble Maronite family based in Keserwan District, Lebanon, who traced their lineage through DNA testing to Jericho, also known as Tell el-Sultan 8500 B.C, several of whose members have played leading roles in politics for many generations. French King Louis XIV elevated the family to French Nobelity of order "Duc" and in many ancient Letters sent to each others referred to them as the Prince of the Maronites

History

Main article: History

The Khazen Cheikhs can trace back their lineage heritage to the 9th century where they were mainly located between Houran, Damascus, Baalbeck and Naplousse. They have started buying and acquiring lands in Mount-Lebanon during the 1400 era and more specifically first in "Jaj" currently under Jbeil district. Then continued their exodus to the Keserwan district where they have bought lands from the Chi'a Tribes. This has caused the Chi'a to move towards what is known today the South of Lebanon and this has brought the Maronites to the Keserwan district.

In 1584 The Khazen were able to hide the princes Fakhreddine and Youness in Ballouneh. At that time their Father cornered by the Ottomans army and losing the fight against them informed Sitt Nossab his wife to send his sons to the Khazen Family a powerful and influencal family at that time. The great Fakhredine when he took power, was greatly influenced by the Khazen family politically and religiously. In return granted them the title of "cheikh" and complete political influence and control of Mount-Lebanon.

During the 15th century the Patriarch main Monastery was in Qannoubine North Of lebanon in the Kadisha valley. The Khazin's Family who were now controlling the Kerserwan district were very influential with the Maronite Church. Mainly this is due because of their financial support to the Church and also helping the expension of the Church by the construction of many Monstateries. They have also offered lands and most importantly supplied security to the Chuuch and the Maronite community overall. In 1656 Cheikh Abou-Nawfal received a papal decoration for his help and expension of the Maronite Faith in Mount-Lebanon on behalf of the Pope itself and the Catholic Faith. The family under their newly granted rights were able to nominate 3 Maronite Archbishops representing the districts of Baalbeck, Damas and Aleppo until the 1858 revolution against them. There were 3 important and influential Patriarch from the Khazen family: Youssef Dargham (1733-1742), Toubia (1756-1766) and Youssef Ragi (1845-1854) and seven Archbishops

In 1858 the Lebanse Paysan led by Tanios Chahine at this time did a revolution against the Khazen family which has caused great loss to Lebanon and their power over the Kerserwan District. The revolution was a result of a power struggle from one side the AbiLamaa family, England and the Ottoman Empire and from the other side the Khazen who wanted to increase their influence. After the revolution the Khazen stayed involved in politics but their work as one Family holding the ulitimate Maronite power has diminished greatly. In modern history they have always represented Keserwan by one Member of the Parliament and in some cases two. They have also been represented in many recent governments, where they have hold the Interior Ministry Post and Ministry of Tourism.

Prominent Past el Khazen family members

Barbar Beik el Khazen: Head of the Lebanese Military during the Mutasarrifiyah a Special Entety for Lebanon under the Ottoman rule
Patriarch Toubia Kaiss el Khazen
Cheikh Bishara Jaffal el Khazen
The Martyrs Cheikh Philippe and Cheikh Farid el Khazen - executed in 1914
Cheikh Nawfal el Khazen - French Council (French Council in Lebanon) He was the first non-French citizen to ever be a council in Mount-Lebanon representing the Monarchy at this time
Cheikh Hossun el Khazen (French Council)
Patriarch Toubia el Khazen
Cheikh Abou-Nawfal el Khazen (consul de France)
Cheikh Francis Abee Nader and his son Yousef
Cheikh Abou-Kanso el Khazen (consul de France)
Cheikh Abou-Nader el Khazen Confidence of Fakhredine el Maan - Commander of the Army 1600 and also created relation with the Tuscanany family in Italy
Cheikh Chafic el Khazen Director of the Interior Ministry mid 1900's
Cheikh Keserouan el Khazen governor
Cheikh Serhal el Khazen
Cheikh Rafiq el Khazen

Current Member of the family

Cheikh Walid el Khazen: Ambassador of The Sovereign Order of Malta to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Prominent Lawyer
Cheikh Amine el Khazen: Ambassador Of Lebanon In the United Nations
Cheikh Fouad el Khazen: Business Typhoon
Cheikh Fady el Khazen: Lebanese Agriculture Department
Cheikh Farid Elias el Khazen: Lebanese Member of Parliament
Leeza-Maria el Khazen: Founder of Lynx
Cheikh Jean-Philippe el Khazen: Prominent Architect
Cheikh Farid Haykal el Khazen: Lebanese Member of Parliament, Lebanese Secretary of Tourism
Cheikh Farouk el Khazen: Founder of Lebanese-Ski club (Les Skieurs Libanais)
Cheikh Wadih el Khazen: President of the Central Maronite Council,President of The Racing Club,Interior Secretary of The National Bloc Party (Bloc National), Lebanese Minister of Tourism
Karen el Khazen: Lebanese Model
Cheikh Elias Choukrallah el Khazen: Lebanese interior minister, Lebanese Member of Parliament
Cheikh Richard Rahil el Khazen: Lebanese-American Actor
Cheikh Malek el Khazen Founder of khazen.org, Software Engineer at IBM
Cheikh Chafic el Khazen Founder of SkyBar: Top and most prestigious bar worldwide

References

• Notables and Clergy in Mount Lebanon - The Khāzin Sheikhs and the Maronite Church (1736-1840)

External links

• el Khazen website
• Malek el Khazen