The high commissioner of France in the Levant (French: haut-commissaire de France au Levant; Arabic: المندوب السامي الفرنسي على سورية ولبنان), named after 1941 the general delegate of Free France in the Levant[1] (French: délégué général de la France libre au Levant[2]), was the highest ranking authority representing France (and Free France during World War II) in the French-mandated countries of Syria and Lebanon. Its office was based in the Pine Residence in Beirut, Lebanon (present-day official residence of the French ambassador in Lebanon).

Pine Residence, Horsh district, Beirut

List of high commissioners of France in the Levant

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Portrait Name Term of office Notes
Took office Left office Time in office
  Henri Gouraud 9 October 1919 23 November 1922 3 years, 45 days
Robert de Caix 23 November 1922 19 April 1923 147 days Acting
  Maxime Weygand 19 April 1923 29 November 1924 1 year, 224 days
  Maurice Sarrail 29 November 1924 23 December 1925 1 year, 24 days
  Henry de Jouvenel 23 December 1925 23 June 1926 182 days
  Henri Ponsot August 1926 13 July 1933 6 years, 11 months
  Damien de Martel 16 July 1933 January 1939 5 years, 5 months
  Gabriel Puaux January 1939 November 1940 1 year, 10 months
  Jean Chiappe 24 November 1940 27 November 1940 3 days Died on flight to take office.
  Henri Dentz 6 December 1940 14 July 1941 220 days Dentz was repatriated to Metropolitan France following the Armistice of Saint Jean d'Acre.

List of general delegates of Free France in the Levant

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Portrait Name Term of office Notes
Took office Left office Time in office
  Georges Catroux 24 June 1941 7 June 1943 1 year, 348 days Catroux was also Chief of Free French Forces in Levant states.
Jean Helleu 7 June 1943 23 November 1943 169 days
  Yves Chataigneau 23 November 1943 23 January 1944 61 days
Paul Beynet 23 January 1944 1 September 1946 2 years, 221 days

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Holt, P. M.; Lambton, Ann K. S.; Lewis, Bernard (1977). The Cambridge History of Islam. Cambridge University Press. p. 580. ISBN 9780521291361.
  2. ^ Malsagne, Stéphane (2011). Fouad Chéhab. p. 79.