In 1920, an independent Arab Kingdom of Syria was established under King Faisal of the Hashemite family, who later became the King of Iraq. However, his rule over Syria ended after only a few months, following the clash between his Syrian Arab forces and regular French forces at the Battle of Maysalun. French troops occupied Syria later that year after the League of Nations put Syria under French mandate.
History of Syria under the Mandateedit
Initial civil administrationedit
Following the San Remo conference and the defeat of King Faisal's short-lived monarchy in Syria at the Battle of Maysalun, the French general Henri Gouraud established civil administration in the territory. The mandate region was subdivided into six states. The drawing of those states was based in part on the sectarian make up on the ground in Syria. However, nearly all the Syrian sects were hostile to the French mandate and to the division it created.
The primarily Sunni population of Aleppo and Damascus were strongly opposed to the division of Syria.
Syrian Federation (1922–24)edit
Arrete No. 1459, which created the Federation of the Autonomous States of Syria, 28 June 1922Map showing the states of the French Mandate from 1921 to 1922
On 28 June 1922, the Syrian Federation was created between three of the states: the State of Damascus, the State of Aleppo and the Alawite State. Jabal Druze and Greater Lebanon were not parts of this federation. The autonomous Sanjak of Alexandretta was added to the state of Aleppo in 1923. The Federation adopted a new federal flag (green-white-green with French canton), which later became the flag of the State of Syria.
State of Syriaedit
Arrete No 2980, which created the State of Syria, 5 December 1924
The Alawite state seceded from the federation in 1924. The states of Aleppo and Damascus were united into the State of Syria, with effect on 1 January 1925.
In 1925, Syrian resistance to French colonial rule broke out in full scale revolt, led by Sultan Pasha el Atrash.
The revolt broke out in Jabal Druze but quickly spread to other Syrian states and became a general rebellion in Syria. France tried to retaliate by having the parliament of Aleppo declare secession from the union with Damascus, but the voting was foiled by Syrian patriots.
Despite French attempts to maintain control by encouraging sectarian divisions and isolating urban and rural areas, the revolt spread from the countryside and united Syrian Druze, Sunnis, Shiites, Alawis, and Christians. Once the rebel forces had besieged Damascus, the French military responded with brutal counter-insurgency techniques that prefigured those that would be used later in Algeria and Indo-China. These techniques included house demolitions, collective punishments of towns, executions, population transfers, and the use of heavy armor in urban neighborhoods. The revolt was eventually subdued in 1926-27 via French aerial bombardment of civilian areas, including Damascus.[1]
On May 14, 1930, the State of Syria was declared the Republic of Syria and a new constitution was drafted.
Governmentedit
While the State enjoyed a certain degree of autonomy as a Mandate, France exercised significant authority over the government. The revolt that began in Jabal Druze led to France easing their hold on Syria and a constitution was drafted but not ratified by the French Chamber of Deputies, and the coming of World War II stopped any progress in Syrian self-determination.[2]
Educationedit
Under French administration, the University of Damascus, known then as Syrian University was established in 1923, teaching in Arabic. It was the first university to be founded in Syria, being established through the merger of the School of Medicine and the Institute of Law, founded 1903 and 1913 respectively during the Ottoman era.
^Michael Provence. The Great Syrian Revolt and the Rise of Arab Nationalism. University of Texas, Austin: University of Texas Press, 2005.
^Peter Mansfield (1991). A History of the Middle East. Viking. p. 199. ISBN9780670815159.
Bibliographyedit
David Kenneth Fieldhouse (2006). Western Imperialism in the Middle East 1914-1958. OUP Oxford. ISBN9780199287376.
Sami M. Moubayed (2006). Steel & silk: men and women who shaped Syria 1900-2000. Cune Press. ISBN9781885942401.
Derek Hopwood (1988). Syria 1945-1986: politics and society. Unwin Hyman.
External linksedit
(in French) Mandat Syrie-Liban ... (1920–1946)
(in French) La Syrie et le mandat français (1920–1946)
(in French)
(in French)
. Time. January 30, 1933. Archived from the original on March 3, 2009. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
January 01, 1970
state, syria, 1925, 1930, state, syria, french, État, syrie, arabic, دولة, سوريا, dawlat, sūriyā, french, mandate, state, created, decree, december, 1924, with, effect, from, january, 1925, from, union, state, aleppo, state, damascus, successor, syrian, federa. The State of Syria French Etat de Syrie Arabic دولة سوريا Dawlat Suriya was a French Mandate state created by decree of 5 December 1924 with effect from 1 January 1925 from the union of the State of Aleppo and the State of Damascus It was the successor of the Syrian Federation 1922 1924 which had been created by providing a central assembly for the State of Aleppo the State of Damascus and the Alawite State The Alawite State did not join the State of Syria State of SyriaEtat de Syrieدولة سوريا1925 1930FlagStatusMandate of FranceCapitalDamascusCommon languagesFrenchArabicSyriacArmenianKurdishTurkishReligionIslamChristianityJudaismDruzismYazidismPresident 1925 first Subhi Bey Barakat 1928 1930 last Taj al Din al HasaniHistorical eraInterwar period State declared5 December 1924 Established1 January 1925 Great Syrian Revolt1925 1927 Republic declared14 May 1930CurrencyLebanese Syrian poundPreceded by Succeeded by Syrian Federation First Syrian RepublicToday part ofSyria Israel Northern District disputed Turkey Contents 1 Background 2 History of Syria under the Mandate 2 1 Initial civil administration 2 2 Syrian Federation 1922 24 2 3 State of Syria 2 4 General revolt 2 5 Republic of Syria 3 Government 3 1 Education 4 See also 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External linksBackground editIn 1920 an independent Arab Kingdom of Syria was established under King Faisal of the Hashemite family who later became the King of Iraq However his rule over Syria ended after only a few months following the clash between his Syrian Arab forces and regular French forces at the Battle of Maysalun French troops occupied Syria later that year after the League of Nations put Syria under French mandate History of Syria under the Mandate editInitial civil administration edit Following the San Remo conference and the defeat of King Faisal s short lived monarchy in Syria at the Battle of Maysalun the French general Henri Gouraud established civil administration in the territory The mandate region was subdivided into six states The drawing of those states was based in part on the sectarian make up on the ground in Syria However nearly all the Syrian sects were hostile to the French mandate and to the division it created The primarily Sunni population of Aleppo and Damascus were strongly opposed to the division of Syria Syrian Federation 1922 24 edit nbsp Arrete No 1459 which created the Federation of the Autonomous States of Syria 28 June 1922 nbsp Map showing the states of the French Mandate from 1921 to 1922 On 28 June 1922 the Syrian Federation was created between three of the states the State of Damascus the State of Aleppo and the Alawite State Jabal Druze and Greater Lebanon were not parts of this federation The autonomous Sanjak of Alexandretta was added to the state of Aleppo in 1923 The Federation adopted a new federal flag green white green with French canton which later became the flag of the State of Syria State of Syria edit nbsp Arrete No 2980 which created the State of Syria 5 December 1924 The Alawite state seceded from the federation in 1924 The states of Aleppo and Damascus were united into the State of Syria with effect on 1 January 1925 General revolt edit Main article Great Syrian Revolt In 1925 Syrian resistance to French colonial rule broke out in full scale revolt led by Sultan Pasha el Atrash The revolt broke out in Jabal Druze but quickly spread to other Syrian states and became a general rebellion in Syria France tried to retaliate by having the parliament of Aleppo declare secession from the union with Damascus but the voting was foiled by Syrian patriots Despite French attempts to maintain control by encouraging sectarian divisions and isolating urban and rural areas the revolt spread from the countryside and united Syrian Druze Sunnis Shiites Alawis and Christians Once the rebel forces had besieged Damascus the French military responded with brutal counter insurgency techniques that prefigured those that would be used later in Algeria and Indo China These techniques included house demolitions collective punishments of towns executions population transfers and the use of heavy armor in urban neighborhoods The revolt was eventually subdued in 1926 27 via French aerial bombardment of civilian areas including Damascus 1 Republic of Syria edit Main article First Syrian Republic On May 14 1930 the State of Syria was declared the Republic of Syria and a new constitution was drafted Government editWhile the State enjoyed a certain degree of autonomy as a Mandate France exercised significant authority over the government The revolt that began in Jabal Druze led to France easing their hold on Syria and a constitution was drafted but not ratified by the French Chamber of Deputies and the coming of World War II stopped any progress in Syrian self determination 2 Education edit Under French administration the University of Damascus known then as Syrian University was established in 1923 teaching in Arabic It was the first university to be founded in Syria being established through the merger of the School of Medicine and the Institute of Law founded 1903 and 1913 respectively during the Ottoman era See also editHistory of Syria French Colonial Empire List of French possessions and coloniesReferences edit Michael Provence The Great Syrian Revolt and the Rise of Arab Nationalism University of Texas Austin University of Texas Press 2005 Peter Mansfield 1991 A History of the Middle East Viking p 199 ISBN 9780670815159 Bibliography editDavid Kenneth Fieldhouse 2006 Western Imperialism in the Middle East 1914 1958 OUP Oxford ISBN 9780199287376 Sami M Moubayed 2006 Steel amp silk men and women who shaped Syria 1900 2000 Cune Press ISBN 9781885942401 Derek Hopwood 1988 Syria 1945 1986 politics and society Unwin Hyman External links editTimeline of the French Mandate period in French Mandat Syrie Liban 1920 1946 in French La Syrie et le mandat francais 1920 1946 in French Les Relations franco libanaises dans le cadre des relations Internationales in French Mandat francais au Proche Orient No Yo Yo Time January 30 1933 Archived from the original on March 3 2009 Retrieved August 19 2009 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title State of Syria 1925 1930 amp oldid 1222045598, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
