The Attitude of the Maronite community from the French Occupation of Lebanon 1918 - 1920

Abstract

The Maronite community is one of the Christian denominations that inhabited the northern provinces of Lebanon. It is the largest of these communities and has close ties to France, which is considered the mother country. France had ambitions in the Levant and the Maronites were the main tool in Lebanon to implement France's colonial plans. This research aims to demonstrate the position of the Maronite community from the French occupation of Lebanon, which began in 1918 and was completed by imposing the mandate of the state itself in 1920, and with the support of the Maronite community, especially the senior clergy of the Maronite Church.

The study included three studies. The first topic dealt with France's policy towards Lebanon until 1918. It examined the French penetration of Mount Lebanon and the position of the Maronites until 1914, the Maronites and France during the years of the First World War (1914-1918). The second topic dealt with the French occupation of Lebanon and the position of the Maronites 1918- 1920, which highlighted the French occupation of Lebanon in 1918 and the position of the Maronite community and Maronite demands at the Peace Conference in Paris 1919-20. The third study examined the imposition of the French mandate on Lebanon in 1920 and the position of the Maronite community.