The high commissioner of France in the Levant (French: haut-commissaire de France au Levant; Arabic: المندوب السامي الفرنسي على سورية ولبنان, romanized: almandub alsaami alfaransiu ealaa suriat walubnan), named after 1941 the general delegate of Free France in the Levant (French: délégué général de la France libre au Levant), 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).
| High Commissioner of the Levant | |
|---|---|
| |
Longest serving Henri Ponsot August 1926 – 13 July 1933 | |
| Seat | Pine Residence, Horsh district, Beirut |
| Formation | 9 October 1919 |
| First holder | Henri Gouraud |
| Final holder | Paul Beynet |
| Abolished | 1 September 1946 |
List of officeholders
High commissioners of France in the Levant
| 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 | 22 October 1938 | 5 years, 3 months | ||
| Gabriel Puaux | 22 October 1938 | November 1940 | 2 years | ||
| 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. | |
General delegates of Free France in the Levant
| 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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