Firman replaces Bashir Shihab II as Emir of Mount Lebanon; his surrender to the Ottomans

Background. Bashir Shihab II, the only Maronite ruler of the Mount Lebanon Emirate, governed from 1788 until 1840. His administration relied on Maronite clergy. The 1838 Druze revolt in Hauran weakened Muhammad Ali's position, attracting support from local sheikhs. This instability allowed the Ottomans and British to exploit Egypt's weakened military status, setting the stage for political shifts in Mount Lebanon.

Political Shift. The Oriental Crisis of 1840 saw European powers intervene to save the Ottoman Empire, restoring its territories in Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine. A rebellion against Bashir and Ibrahim Pasha was launched in May 1840 by an alliance of sheikhs backed by British-Ottoman support. European powers sought to persuade Bashir to defect from Muhammad Ali, leading to significant diplomatic pressure on the region.

Succession. Prince Bashir bin Qasim bin Melhem al-Shihabi, known as Bashir Chehab III, was appointed as the country's emir in 1840. He was among the Shehab princes who had converted to Christianity, causing tension with the Druze community, who viewed him as an apostate. This appointment occurred during the era of Tanzimat reforms initiated by Sultan Abdulmejid I, aiming to address internal Ottoman problems.