Beirut under Russian rule Part 1. The eve of the occupation (1772-1773)

During the Russian-Ottoman war of 1768-1774 Russia became the fi rst European country that invaded Middle East in the Modern times and even for the short period occupied its part: the town of Beirut. The events that preceded the assault and capture of the town were fi xed by the local chroniclers and Russian offi cers; as well they were refl ected in the messages of Arab rulers and the reports of the diplomats residing in Syria. As a result the volumetric picture of the society is emerging that for the first time faced the colonial expansion of the modernized Europe. The fi rst part of presented article is devoted to the analysis of the socio-political situation in the region on the eve of the arrival of the Russian squadron at the Syrian coast. Special attention is paid to the situation in Beirut before and during the fi rst assault of the town in June 1772, and to the subsequent change in the balance of power in Lebanon.