Editing Sheikh (section)

===Lebanon===
In Lebanon, the title had the same princely and royal connotation as in the Arabian peninsula until the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] invasion in 1516, since it represented an [[indigenous peoples|indigenous]] autonomous "[[sui iuris]]" ruler or tribal chief.<ref>A House of Many Mansions: The History of Lebanon Reconsidered, 2001, Kamal Salibi</ref> Examples of some ancient families that hold the title of "sui iuris" sheikh is the [[Al-Chemor]] family, ruling since 1211 CE in [[Koura District|Koura]] and [[Zgharta]] until 1747 CE<ref>''Al-Sheikh Al-Chemor Al-Hakum Al-Akoura Al-Hakum Al-Zawyia'' by Ignatios Tannous Al-Khoury, Beirut, 1948, pg.123</ref><ref>"Tārīkh al-ṭāʼifah al-Mārūnīyah (Microform, 1890)". [WorldCat.org].</ref> and the Boudib family (descendants of the [[Hashemite]] family) who were [[Ehden]]ian rulers of [[Hadath El Jebbeh|Jebbeh]] since 1471 CE until 1759 CE. The descendants of this sovereign family now live in [[Miziara]], Mexico and Nigeria.<ref>{{Cite book|title=A glimpse into the History of Ehden The Most Legendary Ehdenian Battles (2000BC - 1976)|last=El - Doaihi}}</ref> Even the Abu Harmoush family heads, which ruled the [[Chouf]] region until the [[Battle of Ain Dara]] in 1711 CE, were "sui iuris" sheikhs. After the Ottoman rule and the implementation of the [[Iltizam]] system, the title gained a [[Nobility|noble]] instead of royal connotation, since it was bestowed by a higher authority; in this case the Ottoman appointed [[Emir]], who was nothing more than a mültezim or tax collector for the [[empire]].<ref>Lebanon's Predicament, 1987, Samir Khalaf</ref> Some very influential [[Maronite]] families, who had the title bestowed upon them, are (in chronological order): the El Hachem of Akoura (descendants of the [[Hashemite]] family, since 1523), the [[El-Khazen]] (since 1545), the Hubaysh of [[Kisrawan]] and the [[Douaihy]] of [[Zgharta]]. Other families who are nowadays addressed or known as "sheikhs" were not traditionally rulers of provinces, but instead they were high-ranking officials at the service of the Emir at that time.