Greater Lebanon

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This article is part of the series on: History of Lebanon
Ancient History
Phoenicia
Ancient history of Lebanon
Foreign Rule
Assyrian Domination
Babylonian Domination
Persian Domination
Greek Domination
Armenian Domination
Roman Domination
Byzantine Domination
Arab Domination
Ottoman Domination
French Domination
Modern Lebanon
1958 Lebanon crisis
Lebanese Civil War
1982 Lebanon War
2005 Lebanon bombings
Cedar Revolution
2006 Lebanon War
Present political crisis
Topical
Military history
Economic history
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The flag of Greater Lebanon (1920-1943)

The State of Greater Lebanon is the name of a territory that was created by France and is the precursor of modern Lebanon. By that time, Lebanon and neighboring Syria were known as the "French Mandate of Syria and Lebanon". The State of Greater Lebanon 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.