High Commissioner of the Levant

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

PortraitNameTerm of officeNotes
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
Henri Gouraud9 October 191923 November 19223 years, 45 days
Robert de Caix23 November 192219 April 1923147 daysActing
Maxime Weygand19 April 192329 November 19241 year, 224 days
Maurice Sarrail29 November 192423 December 19251 year, 24 days
Henry de Jouvenel23 December 192523 June 1926182 days
Henri PonsotAugust 192613 July 19336 years, 11 months
Damien de Martel16 July 1933January 19395 years, 5 months
Gabriel PuauxJanuary 1939November 19401 year, 10 months
Jean Chiappe24 November 194027 November 19403 daysDied on flight to take office.
Henri Dentz6 December 194014 July 1941220 daysDentz was repatriated to Metropolitan France following the Armistice of Saint Jean d'Acre.

List of general delegates of Free France in the Levant

PortraitNameTerm of officeNotes
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
Georges Catroux24 June 19417 June 19431 year, 348 daysCatroux was also Chief of Free French Forces in Levant states.
Jean Helleu7 June 194323 November 1943169 days
Yves Chataigneau23 November 194323 January 194461 days
Paul Beynet23 January 19441 September 19462 years, 221 days

See also

References