The Origins of the Druze People and Religion

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Relation to World Events:—There have been only a few occasions in their history when the Druzes attracted international attention. The first was during the Crusades, when Moslems original: "Moslems"; modern: "Muslims" entrusted them with the military task of guarding the coastal plains against the Franks A general term used by medieval Muslims for Western Europeans.. During that time, they fought under the banner of Islam and participated in attacks against the garrisons of Belfort (Qal’at al-Shaqîf) Arabic for "Castle of the High Rock." and Montfort (Qal’at Qurayn) Arabic for "Castle of the Little Horn." in Galilee.

The second occasion was in the early seventeenth century under their great leader, Fakhr-al-Dîn II (1585–1635). Under his rule, Druze power reached its highest point. He eventually appeared as a refugee from the Sultan of Turkey at the court of the Medicis in Florence.

The third occasion followed their 1860 civil wars with their Christian neighbors to the north—the Maronites. In response to these disturbances, the French landed troops to restore order. This intervention resulted in Lebanon gaining complete autonomy, which was recognized by the great Powers of Europe.

Finally, they gained attention for the fourth time during the recent armed uprising against the French mandate in Syria.

Minor Episodes:—In the local history of Syria and Lebanon, the Druzes have always been known as a unified and warlike community. They have managed to enjoy a high degree of security and independence within the strongholds of their mountains.

The Latin Kingdom of the Crusades consisted of a long strip of land along the sea, widening at Edessa in the north and Moab in the south. However, this kingdom narrowed significantly near Mt. Hermon, the home of the Druzes. Throughout the Ottoman period (1516–1918), the Druzes and their fellow mountaineers, the Maronites, were a constant source of trouble original: "a thorn in the side" for the Turks. During most of this time, Lebanon enjoyed local self-government. Even the Druzes of Hawrān—the region called Bashan in the Bible—were not forced into military service and repeatedly refused to pay taxes to the Sublime Porte The central government of the Ottoman Empire..

When Napoleon invaded Egypt and Syria in 1798–1799, he sought help from the governor of Lebanon, al-Amīr Bashīr. Later, Druze resistance to the Egyptian army under Ibrahīm Pasha (1831–1838) was one of the key factors that forced that army to withdraw from Syrian territory.