Greater Lebanon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The State of Greater Lebanon is the name of a territory that was created by France and is the precursor of modern Lebanon.
It existed between September 1, 1920 till 23 May 1926. Despite its short life, it has multiple significance for contemporary Lebanon. Greater Lebanon set precedent for the recognition of these borders. France carved its territory from the Levantine land mass the League of Nations mandated to France, from the former Ottoman Empire, in order to create a "safe haven" for the local Maronite population.
It was the first distinct political entity to exist in this area since the Crusader states. It was the first autonomy to exist in this area since ancient Phoenicia.
In September 1920 France declared the creation of the "State of Greater Lebanon", declaring Beirut as its capital. The new territory was granted a flag, merging the French flag with the Lebanese symbol, the cedar, in the flag's center.
The name given to it refers to it incorporating more than the geographic region of Mount Lebanon and also being larger than the Mount Lebanon autonomous Maronite region.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
How it all began - A concise history of Lebanon
Library of Congress - Research - Country Studies - Lebanon- The French Mandate
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