Osseiran family
Encyclopedia
The Osseiran Family of Lebanon
, like the Haidar and Suleiman families of the Bekaa region, are descended from the Bani Assad tribe of Southern Iraq.
According to the late Lebanese writer and historian Ahmed Abu Saad, the distant ancestors of the Osseiran family migrated to the Levant
and first settled in the ancient city of Baalbeck in the 17th century. After a feud with the Emirs of the Harfush clan, who were in control of Baalbeck, the direct ancestor of the Osseirans migrated to Sidon, where he started the family known by his name, Osseiran.
Little is known of the early generations of the Osseiran family, except that they were generally in trade. In the mid-19th century, they acquired large fortunes through commerce and gradually bought vast lands throughout what is now Southern Lebanon
, or Jabal Amel
. They also acquired (in 1849) the consulate of the Kingdom of Persia in Sidon
.
Al-Hajj Ali Osseiran, grandfather of the co-founder of modern Lebanon
Adel Osseiran
, was at once the consul of Persia and Effendim of the Ottoman Empire
, a title granted him by the Turkish Sultan.
Al-Hajj Hassan Osseiran, a cousin of al-Hajj Ali, was a man of learning and philanthropy
, and had several children who took up diplomatic posts in different Levantine cities. All this is mentioned by Abu Saad in his book about the families of Lebanon.
Of the five sons of the Effendim, Abdullah, Rashid, Rida, Najib, and Kamil, three died of the plague during World War I
. They had been implicated in the Great Arab Revolt against the Ottomans.
It is said, though not proven, that during the famine of the Great War the Osseirans opened up their storehouses of grain to feed the hungry people.
In the 1930s, most of the Osseirans gave up their Persian nationality to become Lebanese citizens. The descendants of the Osseirans who were abroad at the time continued to carry Iranian passports until the early 1990s.
The Osseirans were distinguished by the fact that they were generally better educated than most of their contemporaries, having attended missionary schools and having knowledge of foreign languages, including Persian
, Turkish
, and French
.
The Osseiran family has produced a number of pioneers and distinguished professionals in different fields including politics
(e.g., Najib Osseiran, Rashid Osseiran, Adel Osseiran, Samih Rashid Osseiran and Ali Adel Osseiran, religion
(e.g., Sheikh Mohamad Osseiran) and (Père Afif Osseiran). In medicine, there was Dr. Sharif Osseiran and Dr. Fouad Osseiran. Other Osseirans distinguished themselves in law, journalism, like Zouhair Osseiran, literature such as Leila Osseiran, education and in art, as well as many other disciplines. Today, important figures among them are not only in Lebanon but are found in all of the Arab world, Europe, Canada and the United States.
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, like the Haidar and Suleiman families of the Bekaa region, are descended from the Bani Assad tribe of Southern Iraq.
According to the late Lebanese writer and historian Ahmed Abu Saad, the distant ancestors of the Osseiran family migrated to the Levant
Levant
The Levant or ) is the geographic region and culture zone of the "eastern Mediterranean littoral between Anatolia and Egypt" . The Levant includes most of modern Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, the Palestinian territories, and sometimes parts of Turkey and Iraq, and corresponds roughly to the...
and first settled in the ancient city of Baalbeck in the 17th century. After a feud with the Emirs of the Harfush clan, who were in control of Baalbeck, the direct ancestor of the Osseirans migrated to Sidon, where he started the family known by his name, Osseiran.
Little is known of the early generations of the Osseiran family, except that they were generally in trade. In the mid-19th century, they acquired large fortunes through commerce and gradually bought vast lands throughout what is now Southern Lebanon
Southern Lebanon
Southern Lebanon is the geographical area of Lebanon comprising the South Governorate and the Nabatiye Governorate. These two entities were divided from the same province in the early 1990s...
, or Jabal Amel
Jabal Amel
Jabal Amel or Amil is a mountainous region of Southern Lebanon.The region is named after the Banu 'Amilah, a Yemenite tribe who, along with the kindred tribes of Hamadan, Lakhm, and Judham, settled in Syria, Palestine, parts of Jordan, and Lebanon. The area was known in ancient times as Jabal...
. They also acquired (in 1849) the consulate of the Kingdom of Persia in Sidon
Sidon
Sidon or Saïda is the third-largest city in Lebanon. It is located in the South Governorate of Lebanon, on the Mediterranean coast, about 40 km north of Tyre and 40 km south of the capital Beirut. In Genesis, Sidon is the son of Canaan the grandson of Noah...
.
Al-Hajj Ali Osseiran, grandfather of the co-founder of modern Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
Adel Osseiran
Adel Osseiran
Adel Osseiran was a prominent Lebanese politician and statesman, a former Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, and one of the founding fathers of the Lebanese Republic....
, was at once the consul of Persia and Effendim of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, a title granted him by the Turkish Sultan.
Al-Hajj Hassan Osseiran, a cousin of al-Hajj Ali, was a man of learning and philanthropy
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
, and had several children who took up diplomatic posts in different Levantine cities. All this is mentioned by Abu Saad in his book about the families of Lebanon.
Of the five sons of the Effendim, Abdullah, Rashid, Rida, Najib, and Kamil, three died of the plague during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. They had been implicated in the Great Arab Revolt against the Ottomans.
It is said, though not proven, that during the famine of the Great War the Osseirans opened up their storehouses of grain to feed the hungry people.
In the 1930s, most of the Osseirans gave up their Persian nationality to become Lebanese citizens. The descendants of the Osseirans who were abroad at the time continued to carry Iranian passports until the early 1990s.
The Osseirans were distinguished by the fact that they were generally better educated than most of their contemporaries, having attended missionary schools and having knowledge of foreign languages, including Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
, Turkish
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
, and French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
.
The Osseiran family has produced a number of pioneers and distinguished professionals in different fields including politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
(e.g., Najib Osseiran, Rashid Osseiran, Adel Osseiran, Samih Rashid Osseiran and Ali Adel Osseiran, religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
(e.g., Sheikh Mohamad Osseiran) and (Père Afif Osseiran). In medicine, there was Dr. Sharif Osseiran and Dr. Fouad Osseiran. Other Osseirans distinguished themselves in law, journalism, like Zouhair Osseiran, literature such as Leila Osseiran, education and in art, as well as many other disciplines. Today, important figures among them are not only in Lebanon but are found in all of the Arab world, Europe, Canada and the United States.
See also
- Bani Assad
- Adel OsseiranAdel OsseiranAdel Osseiran was a prominent Lebanese politician and statesman, a former Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, and one of the founding fathers of the Lebanese Republic....
- Ali OsseiranAli OsseiranAli Adel Osseiran is former Lebanese government minister and a current member of the Parliament of Lebanon. He represents the Zahrani district of South Lebanon...
- Sheikh Mohamad OsseiranSheikh Mohamad OsseiranSheikh Mohamad Osseiran is the Jaafari mufti of Saida and Zahrani districts of South Lebanon, Lebanon. Sheikh Osseiran is famous as a highly moderate Shi'a-Muslim Lebanese politician who focuses much of his efforts on interfaith dialogue...
- Ayad Allawi
- Ahmed ChalabiAhmed ChalabiAhmed Abdel Hadi Chalabi is an Iraqi politician. He was interim oil minister in Iraq in April-May 2005 and December-January 2006 and deputy prime minister from May 2005 until May 2006. Chalabi failed to win a seat in parliament in the December 2005 elections, and when the new Iraqi cabinet was...