History of Tripoli, Lebanon

Evidence of settlement in Tripoli dates back as early as 1400 BCE. In the 9th century, the Phoenicians established a trading station in Tripoli and later, under Persian rule, the city became the center of a confederation of the Phoenician city-states of Sidon, Tyre, and Arados Island. Under Hellenistic rule, Tripoli was used as a naval shipyard and the city enjoyed a period of autonomy. It came under Roman rule around 64 BCE. The 551 Beirut earthquake and tsunami destroyed the Byzantine city of Tripoli along with other Mediterranean coastal cities.

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Ancient Prehistory Canaan/Phoenicia (2500–333 BC) Egyptian rule (1550–1077 BC) Hittite rule (1600–1178 BC) Assyrian rule (883–605 BC) Babylonian rule (605–538 BC) Persian rule (538–332 BC)
Classical Hellenistic rule (332–64 BC) Roman rule (64 BC–646 AD) Sassanid interlude (610s–628 AD)
Medieval Rashidun Caliphate (636–661) Umayyad Caliphate (661–750) Abbasid Caliphate (750–1258) Tulunids (868–905) Hamdanid dynasty (890–1004) Fatimid Caliphate (909–1171) Ikhshidid dynasty (935–969) Mirdasid dynasty (1024–1080) Seljuk Empire (1037–1194) County of Tripoli (1099–1291) Kingdom of Jerusalem (1099–1291) Zengid dynasty (1127–1250) Mamluk Sultanate (1291–1515) Assafs (1306–1591) Ma'anids (1490–1697) Harfushids (1493–1860)
Colonial Ottoman rule (1516–1918) Emirate of Mount Lebanon (1516–1840) Tripoli Eyalet (1579–1864) Sidon Eyalet (1660–1864) Shihabs (1697–1842) El Assaad Family (1749–1957) Double Qaim-Maqamate of Mount Lebanon (1843-1861) Mount Lebanon Mutasarrifate (1861–1918) Beirut Vilayet (1888–1917) Allied administration (1918–1920) French rule (1920–1943)
Republic of Lebanon 1958 Lebanon crisis Chehabist era Palestinian insurgency Lebanese Civil War (Aftermath) Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon Syrian occupation of Lebanon 2005 Lebanon bombings Cedar Revolution 2006 July War 2006–08 political protests 2007 North Lebanon conflict 2008 conflict in Lebanon Syrian Civil War spillover in Lebanon Lebanese presidential crisis Maritime boundary dispute Liquidity crisis (Reaction) 2020 Beirut explosion
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During Umayyad rule, Tripoli became a commercial and shipbuilding center. It achieved semi-independence under Fatimid rule, when it developed into a center of learning. The Crusaders laid siege to the city at the beginning of the 12th century and were able finally to enter it in 1109. This caused extensive destruction, including the burning of Tripoli's famous library, Dar al-'Ilm (House of Knowledge), with its thousands of volumes. During the Crusaders' rule the city became the capital of the County of Tripoli. In 1289, it fell to the Mamluks and the old port part of the city was destroyed. A new inland city was then built near the old castle. During Ottoman rule from 1516 to 1918, it retained its prosperity and commercial importance. Tripoli and all of Lebanon was under French mandate from 1920 until 1943 when Lebanon achieved independence.