Hardine, Lebanon

 

 

Hardine was founded by the Hittites around 1250 BC. The name Hardine is a Canaanite word meaning the place that evokes fear. In the Syrian language Hardine translates to pious, witness of justice, and ardent in faith.

Hardine is in the county of Batroun in the republic of Lebanon and its boundaries reach Batroun, Becharry and Al-Koura.  Hardine is surrounded by thick forest and mountain terraces.  The rocky tile is said to be one of the most beautiful in Mount Lebanon. There are also many caverns and caves used by ancient peoples, and rocky temples that are believed to have been used for pagan worship. 

In the 9th century BC, the Sardenas were hired by King Solomon of Israel to aid in the logging and shipping of the cedar trees of Hardine to Israel. Hardine became one of the leading lumber camps in the cedar trade.  It is said that thousands of Hebrew soldiers and citizens were sent to help the loggers of Hardine. 

In Hardine, there is a temple to the God Mercury with 30 majestic pillars built in the rare ionic style. This temple, also known as the Roman Palace of Hardine goes back to the time of Emperor Hadrian Augustus (117-137 AD).

In 270 AD, a Roman official imprisoned his daughter in Hardine for converting to Christianity. She then converted many in Hardine to the Christian faith. Hardine became distinguished by being the first Christian village in the Mountains. For the next 200 years, the Christians flourished, especially the Maronites. Hardine became known as a rock of faith and religion; 30 churches and monasteries were erected throughout the years.

In 1302 AD, the Arab armies of Damascus, Tripoli and Egypt invaded the mountains of Lebanon and were severely beaten by the Lebanese.  Benjamin, the commander (Mouquadam) of Hardine, was instrumental in rallying the 34,000 troops that defeated the Arabs.

After the departure of the Crusaders, the Maronites came under attack from the Mamlouks. They suffered much humiliation, while their Churches were set fire, their villages plundered, and their vineyards destroyed. North Lebanon was devastated.  After this, many Lebanese fled the country.  Over 100,000 Maronites settled in Cyprus. Others settled in Sicily, Malta, Italy, France and England.

In 1860, the Turks Druze Moslems massacred over 20,000 Maronites. Britain and France intervened and pressured the Turks into establishing a new Christian-dominated administration for Lebanon which lasted until World War I. Emigration to the United States began in 1886. The largest population of Hardine immigrants is in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Hardine lost 12 of its citizens on the Titanic on the night of April 15, 1912.