{{about|the administrative district in Lebanon|the historic region of the same place|Kisrawan}} {{use dmy dates |date=March 2024}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Keserwan District | settlement_type = District <!--For Town or Village (Leave blank for the default City)--> | native_name = {{lang|ar|قضاء كسروان}}<!-- for cities whose native name is not in English --> | nickname = | motto = "The Christians' Castle" <!-- images and maps ----------->| image_skyline = Jounieh Bay.jpg | imagesize = 300px | image_caption = Jounieh Bay | image_flag = | flag_size = | image_seal = | seal_size = | image_shield = | shield_size = | image_blank_emblem = | blank_emblem_type = | blank_emblem_size = | image_map = Lebanon districts Keserwan.png | mapsize = 250px | map_caption = Location in Lebanon | image_map1 = | mapsize1 = | map_caption1 = | image_dot_map = | dot_mapsize = | dot_map_caption = | dot_x = | dot_y = | pushpin_map = <!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map --> | pushpin_label_position = bottom | pushpin_mapsize = 300 | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Lebanon <!-- Location ------------------>| subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{Flag|Lebanon}} | subdivision_type1 = Governorate | subdivision_name1 = Keserwan-Jbeil | subdivision_type2 = Capital | subdivision_name2 = Jounieh | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = <!-- Politics -----------------> | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_title1 = <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager --> | leader_name1 = | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 = | leader_title3 = | leader_name3 = | leader_title4 = | leader_name4 = | established_title = <!-- Settled --> | established_date = | established_title2 = <!-- Incorporated (town) --> | established_date2 = | established_title3 = <!-- Incorporated (city) --> | established_date3 = <!-- Area ---------------------> | area_magnitude = | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 336<!-- ALL fields dealing with a measurements are subject to automatic unit conversion--> | area_land_km2 = <!--See table @ Template:Infobox Settlement for details on automatic unit conversion--> | area_water_km2 = | area_total_sq_mi = | area_land_sq_mi = | area_water_sq_mi = | area_water_percent = | area_urban_km2 = | area_urban_sq_mi = | area_metro_km2 = | area_metro_sq_mi = | area_blank1_title = | area_blank1_km2 = | area_blank1_sq_mi = <!-- Population -----------------------> | population_as_of = | population_footnotes = | population_note = | population_est = 182,834 | pop_est_as_of = 31 December 2017 | population_total = | population_density_km2 = 544 | population_density_sq_mi = | population_metro = | population_density_metro_km2 = | population_density_metro_sq_mi = | population_urban = | population_density_urban_km2 = | population_density_urban_sq_mi = | population_blank1_title = Ethnicities | population_blank1 = | population_blank2_title = Religions | population_blank2 = | population_density_blank1_km2 = | population_density_blank1_sq_mi = <!-- General information ---------------> | timezone = EET | utc_offset = +2 | timezone_DST = EEST | utc_offset_DST = +3 | coordinates = | elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use <ref> </ref> tags--> | elevation_m = | elevation_ft = <!-- Area/postal codes & others --------> | postal_code_type = <!-- enter ZIP code, Postcode, Post code, Postal code... --> | postal_code = | area_code = | blank_name = | blank_info = | blank1_name = | blank1_info = | website = | footnotes = }}

'''Keserwan District''' ({{langx|ar|قضاء كسروان}}, transliteration: ''Qaḍā' Kisrawān'') is a district (''qadaa'') in Keserwan-Jbeil Governorate, Lebanon, to the northeast of Lebanon's capital Beirut. The capital, Jounieh, is overwhelmingly Christian, mostly consisting of Maronites. The area is home to the Jabal Moussa Biosphere Reserve.

==Etymology== According to the medieval historian Gabriel ibn al-Qilai, the name “Kesrwan” derives from the Maronite muqadam Kisra of Baskinta.{{sfn|Salibi|1957|p=292, footnote 4}} During the time of the Crusades, Keserwan was the northern frontier of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

==Demographics== According to registered voters in 2014:

{| class="wikitable" |- !rowspan="2"| Year !colspan="6"| Christians !colspan="3"| Muslims !colspan="1"| Druze |- ! Total ! Maronites ! Greek Catholics ! Greek Orthodox ! Armenian Orthodox ! Other Christians ! Total ! Shias ! Sunnis ! Druze |- |2014<ref>{{cite web | title=التوزيع حسب المذاهب للناخبين/ناخبات في قضاء كسروان، محافظة جبل لبنان في لبنان | url=https://lub-anan.com/المحافظات/جبل-لبنان/كسروان/المذاهب/ }}</ref> | {{percentage bar|width=60|96.96}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|82.80}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|5.06}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|3.73}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|1.74}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|3.63}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|2.36}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|1.78}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|0.58}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|0.03}} |- |2018<ref>{{Cite web |title= Critical study in proportional election law |url= https://archive.lebanonfiles.com/news/1301866/?mobile=no |year=2018 |url-status=live|access-date=2018-06-15 |website=Lebanonfiles.com (in Arabic) |language=english}}</ref> | {{percentage bar|width=60|97.53}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|82.70}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|5.08}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|3.79}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|1.69}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|4.27}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|2.42}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|1.83}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|0.59}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|0.03}} |- |2022<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mapping Lebanon: Data and statistics |url=https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1297803/data-and-statistics.html |year=2022 |url-status=live|access-date=2022-10-05 |website=today.lorientlejour.com (in English) |language=english}}</ref> | {{percentage bar|width=60|98.13}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|84.37}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|5.17}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|3.85}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|1.47}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|3.27}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|1.86}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|1.69}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|0.17}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|0.00}} |- |2026<ref>{{Cite web |title=Statify Lebanon|url= https://www.instagram.com/p/DUksfDEjIQX/?igsh=cDdtc2pudmo0YWN0 |year=2022 |url-status=live|access-date=2022-10-05 |website=statisticslebanon.lb (in English) |language=english}}</ref> | {{percentage bar|width=60|98.11}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|90.64}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|2.22}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|0.93}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|1.49}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|2.83}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|1.89}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|1.89}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|0.00}} | {{percentage bar|width=60|0.00}} |}

Number of registered voters (21+ years old) over the years. {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ !Years !Women !Men !Total !Growth (%) |- |2009 |45,778 |43,449 |89,227 |{{N/a}} |- |2010 |46,028 {{increase}} |43,697 {{increase}} |89,725 {{increase}} | +0.55% {{increase}} |- |2011 |45,612 {{decrease}} |43,616 {{decrease}} |89,228 {{decrease}} | -0.56% {{decrease}} |- |2012 |45,887 {{increase}} |43,774 {{increase}} |89,661 {{increase}} | +0.48% {{increase}} |- |2013 |46,428 {{increase}} |44,147 {{increase}} |90,575 {{increase}} | '''+1.01%''' {{increase}} |- |2014 |46,804 {{increase}} |44,531 {{increase}} |91,335 {{increase}} | +0.83% {{decrease}} |- |2015 |47,162 {{increase}} |44,831 {{increase}} |91,993 {{increase}} | +0.72% {{decrease}} |- |2016 |47,503 {{increase}} |45,362 {{increase}} |92,865 {{increase}} | +0.94% {{increase}} |- |2017 |47,906 {{increase}} |45,634 {{increase}} |93,540 {{increase}} | +0.72% {{decrease}} |- |2018 |48,335 {{increase}} |45,875 {{increase}} |94,210 {{increase}} | +0.71% {{decrease}} |- |2019 |48,700 {{increase}} |46,167 {{increase}} |94,867 {{increase}} | +0.69% {{decrease}} |- |2020 |49,086 {{increase}} |46,560 {{increase}} |95,646 {{increase}} | +0.81% {{increase}} |- |2021 |49,231 {{increase}} |46,709 {{increase}} |95,940 {{increase}} | +0.31% {{decrease}} |- |2022 |49,481 {{increase}} |46,938 {{increase}} |96,419 {{increase}} | +0.50% {{increase}} |- |2023 |49,509 {{increase}} |46,831 {{decrease}} |96,340 {{decrease}} | -0.08% {{decrease}} |- |2024 |49,670 {{increase}} |46,902 {{increase}} |96,572 {{increase}} | +0.24% {{increase}} |- |2025 |49,817 {{increase}} |47,075 {{increase}} |96,892 {{increase}} | +0.33% {{increase}} |- |2026 | {{N/a}} | {{N/a}} |97,292 {{increase}} | +0.41% {{increase}} |- | colspan="5" |Source: DGCS [https://www.dgcs.gov.lb/arabic/statistics-map?l=en&y=2025] |}

===Electoral constituency=== The district is part of the Keserwan-Byblos electoral district, with the district of Keserwan being allocated 5 Maronite seats (and the overall constituency having 7 Maronites and 1 Shi'ia).

==Cities, towns, and villages== {{div col|colwidth=10em}} *Aazra *Adma *Adonis *Ain-bzil *Ain El Delbeh *Ain el-Rihaneh *Aintoura *Ajaltoun *Akaybeh *Aramoun *Ashqout *Attine *Azra & Ozor *Ballouneh *Batha *Bekaata Ashqout *Bekaata Kenaan *Bezhel *Bezhel & Mradyeh *Bkerké *Bouar *Bqaatouta (Bkaatouta) *Bzoummar *Chahtoul *Chnaniir *Dafne *Daher Sarba *Daraoun *Daraya *Dlebta *Faitroun *Faqra *Faraya *Fatqa *Ghadir *Ghbaleh *Ghidras *Ghineh *Ghosta *Harissa *Harharaya *Hiyata *Hosein *Hrajel *Jdaidet Ghazir *Jeita *Jounieh *Jouret Bedran *Jouret Mhad *Jouret el-Termos *Jwar El Hous *Kaslik *Kattine *Kfardebian *Kfaryassine *Kfour *Kleiat *Maarab *Maaysra *Mayrouba *Nammoura *Okaibe *Raachine *Rayfoun *Safra *Sahel Alma *Sarba *Sehaileh *Tabarja *Wata El Jawz *Yahchouch *Zaaytre *Zeytoun *Zouk Mikael *Zouk Mosbeh {{div col end}}

==Notable families==

*Assaf dynasty Sultan Selim I assigned the Assafs as his chief agents in the region between Beirut and Tripoli, confirming their control of Keserwan, and awarding them tax farms in the ''nawahi'' of Byblos and Beirut.{{sfn|Harris|2012|pp=88–89}} While Emir Assaf had lived in Aintoura in the winter and elsewhere along the Nahr al-Kalb ridge prior to the Ottoman conquest, in 1517, he moved his headquarters to Ghazir. {{sfn|Salibi|1967|p=152}} * Khazen family<ref>Antoine Khoury Harb, ''The Maronites: History and Constants'', p. 116. Quote: "When Prince Ahmad Maan died, the Shehabs, relatives of the Maan, took over. When the regent Prince Bashir I passed away in 1706, Prince Haidar reigned, and moved the seat of the emirate from Hasbaya to Deir el-Qamar. The Ottoman Wali of Sidon deposed the Shehabi Prince and replaced him by the leader of the Yamani party, Prince Yussef Alam - Eddin. Haidar fled with his two sons and some of his followers to Ghazir in Kisrawan where his allies, the Khazen and Hobeish families from the Qaysi party, were in control. When the army of Prince Yussef Alam-Eddin conquered and burnt Ghazir, Haidar left his sons in Kisrawan and took refuge in Hermel. The sheikhs of the Khazen family offered hiding-places to the prince's family."</ref><ref>Matti Moosa, ''The Maronites in History'', p. 283. Quote: "We have also seen earlier that the Maronite community had been placed under the protection of France and that the French kings began to choose their consuls from among the Maronite dignitaries. Through the power and prestige of France the consuls then exercised authority over the Maronite Church and its clergy. The Maronites were so proud to be under the protection of France that some Maronites called themselves, 'the French of the East.' Thus, through France, the Shihabi amirs, who will be discussed shortly, realized the importance of Maronite rule and power, and they and the Maronites became united in a common interest. In 1697, Amir Ahmad died without an heir, and the Druze notables chose his nephew Bashir al-Shihabi as their new ruler. He was succeeded in 1707 by the young Amir Haydar al-Shihabi, grandson of Amir Ahmad al-Ma'ni. Haydar recognized the authority of the Maronite al-Khazins and the Hubayshis of Kisrawan and Ghazir and treated these two families as equal to the feudalistic Druze families." [https://books.google.com/books?id=8Ogp94y8CJgC&pg=PA283]</ref> *Sfeir<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fahd |first=Butros |date=1974 |title=Arcivescovo Pietro Sfair grande orientalista e predicatore, vita e opere |trans-title=Archbishop Pietro Sfair great orientalist and preacher, life and work |url=https://www.librarycatalog.usj.edu.lb/ |language=Italian |location=Rome |publisher=Matabi al-Karim al-Hadithath |archive-date=18 January 2025 |access-date=13 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250118221941/https://librarycatalog.usj.edu.lb/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Roberts |first=Sam |work=The New York Times | date=May 15, 2019 | title=Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir, 98, a Voice for Lebanese Christians, Dies |url=https://www.nytimes.com?2019/05/15/obituaries/cardinal-nasrallah-sfeir-}}</ref> The clan legend is that a Crusader King, most likely Godfrey of Bouillon, granted to the Sfeir clan a portion of what is today the Keserwan District of Mount Lebanon, which was the northern frontier of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, as a reward for their loyalty to his reign and bravery in battle.

==Gallery== <gallery> File:Our Lady of Lebanon church, Harissa, Jounieh, Lebanon.jpg|Our Lady of Lebanon church, Keserwan District File:Harissa Cathedral From Bat'ha.jpg|Cathedral of Our Lady of Lebanon, Harissa </gallery>

==See also== *Assaf dynasty *Kisrawan *Mount Lebanon revolts of 752 and 759

==Bibliography==

* {{cite journal |last=Crawford |first=Robert |date=April 1955 |title=William of Tyre and the Maronites| url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2848470 |journal=Speculum |volume=30 |issue=2 |pages=222–228 |publisher=The University of Chicago Press |jstor=28448470 |access-date=September 12, 2024}} * {{Cite book |last=Fahd |first=Butros |date=1974 |title=Arciescovo Pietro Sfair grande orientalista e predicatore, vita e opere |trans-title=Archbishop Pietro Sfair great orientalist and preacher, life and work |url=https://www.librarycatalog.usj.edu.lb/ |language=Italian |location=Rome |publisher=Matabi al-Karim al-Hadithath |archive-date=18 January 2025 |access-date=13 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250118221941/https://librarycatalog.usj.edu.lb/ |url-status=dead }} * Antoine Khoury Harb, ''[https://www.amazon.com/MARONITES-History-Constants-ANTOINE-KHOURY/dp/B000B0F6NU/ The Maronites: History and Constants]'' (ASIN B000B0F6NU) * Matti Moosa, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=8Ogp94y8CJgC&pg=1 The Maronites in History]'' ({{ISBN|1-59333-182-7}}) * Richard Van Leeuwen, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=IFDkfiE-ZUcC&pg=1 Notables and Clergy in Mount Lebanon: The Khāzin Sheikhs and the Maronite Church (1736-1840)]'' ({{ISBN|90-04-09978-6}}) * Farid el-Khazen, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=TQdheeeXQCgC&pg=1 The Breakdown of the State in Lebanon, 1967-1976]'' ({{ISBN|0-674-08105-6}}) * {{cite book |last=Harris |first=William |date=2012 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J-EvNaeh6gsC |title=Lebanon: A History, 600-2011 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-518111-1}} * {{cite journal|last=Salibi|first=Kamal|author-link=Kamal Salibi|date=September 1957|title=The Maronites of Lebanon under Frankish and Mamluk Rule (1099-1516)|journal=Arabica |volume=4 |issue=3 |pages=288–303 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4055054|publisher=Brill|doi=10.1163/157005857X00057 |jstor=4055054 |url-access=subscription}} *{{cite book |last1=Salibi |first1=Kamal S. |author-link=Kamal Salibi |title=Maronite Historians of Medieval Lebanon |date=1959 |publisher=American University of Beirut |location=Beirut }} *{{cite journal |last1=Salibi |first1=Kamal |title=Northern Lebanon under the Dominance of Ġazīr (1517–1591) |journal=Arabica |date=June 1967 |volume=14 |issue=2 |pages=144–166 |doi=10.1163/157005867X00029 |jstor=4055631 }} *{{cite book |last1=Salibi |first1=Kamal S. |title=A House of Many Mansions: The History of Lebanon Reconsidered |date=1988 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=9780520071964 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4vOJ15vTZV4C }} * ''[http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/ Catholic-Hierarchy]'' * [http://khazen.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3132:the-sword-of-the-maronite-prince&catid=70:de-khazen-overview&Itemid=181 The sword of the Maronite Prince] * [http://khazen.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3011:origins-of-the-qprince-of-maroniteq-title&catid=72&Itemid=44 Origins of the "Prince of Maronite" Title] * [http://www.khazen.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1881&catid=141:khazen-blog&Itemid=213 National Geographic Magazine DNA sample from Khazen member] * [http://catholicanalysis.org/2014/07/28/an-interview-with-cheikh-malek-el-khazen/ An Interview with Cheikh Malek el-Khazen]

==References==

{{reflist}}

{{Keserwan District}} {{Districts of Lebanon}}

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Category:Keserwan District Category:Districts of Lebanon Category:Maronites Category:Kingdom of Jerusalem Category:Lebanese noble families