The policy of the Emir of the Druze in Lebanon Bashir al-Shihabi II towards the Egyptian rule of the Levant 1246-1256 AH / 1831-1841 AD

The period during which Muhammad Ali Pasha established his rule in Egypt, after the Ottomans displaced the French, is considered one of the important historical events which casted a shadow over the Arab world and, at the same time, affected the Ottoman power and its geographical boundaries.
The most important events in which Muhammad Ali Pasha has changed the movement of Arab history at the beginning of the thirteenth century AH/ 19th century AD were his military operations in the Arabian Peninsula and the Levant. He dreamt of establishing his state in the Ottoman regions of the Arab world. During his rule, the political entities in that period in the Levant in particular took a stand against the Egyptian government and its military operations through the governors, leaders, chiefs/leaders of tribes, social classes and sects.
Among these political entities that allied with Muhammad Ali in the Levant and one of the most important was the emirate of Bashir al-Shehabi II in southern Lebanon, who changed his loyalty from the Ottoman state to the governor of Egypt, after fully understanding the events of his time. Accordingly, he was of great help to Muhammad Ali and his son Ibrahim Pasha in their wars in the Levant because he believed that his political destiny was linked to their existence and strength.
Prince Shihabi's policies had an impact on his relationship with members of his Druze community and clan in their mountainous regions, where his position towards Mohammed Ali caused their hostility and rejection of his control. Therefore, he used his strong relationship with the governor of Egypt to eliminate one of his important Druze allies: Sheikh Bashir Jumblatt.