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Jabal el Druze (state)
Encyclopedia
Jabal al-Druze was an autonomous state in the French Mandate of Syria
from 1921 to 1936, designed to function as a government for the local Druze
population under French oversight.
, but in 1927 it was renamed Jabal al-Druze or Jabal Druze State. The name comes from the Jabal al-Druze mountain.
The Druze state was formed on May 1, 1921 in former Ottoman
territory, while other statelets were installed in other parts of the Syrian mandate (e.g. the Alawite State
in the Lattakia region). Jabal al-Druze was home to about 50,000 Arab Druze. It was the first, and remains the only, autonomous entity to be populated and governed by Arab Druze. The 1925 Syrian Revolution began in Jabal al-Druze under the leadership of Sultan al-Atrash
, and quickly spread to Damascus
and other non-Druze areas outside the Jabal al-Druze region. Protests against the division of Syrian territory into statelets were a main theme of Syrian anticolonial
nationalism, which eventually won the victory to reunite the entire French-mandated territory, except Lebanon
(which had become independent) and Alexandretta, which was annexed to Turkey as the Hatay Province
. As a result of nationalist pressure, under the Franco-Syrian Treaty
of 1936, Jabal al-Druze ceased to exist as an autonomous entity and was incorporated into Syria
.
French Mandate of Syria
Officially the French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon was a League of Nations mandate founded after the First World War and the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire...
from 1921 to 1936, designed to function as a government for the local Druze
Druze
The Druze are an esoteric, monotheistic religious community, found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, which emerged during the 11th century from Ismailism. The Druze have an eclectic set of beliefs that incorporate several elements from Abrahamic religions, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism...
population under French oversight.
Nomenclature
On March 4, 1922 it was proclaimed as the State of Souaida, after the capital As-SuwaydaAs-Suwayda
As Suwayda , also spelt Sweida, is a mainly Druze city located in southwestern Syria, close to the border with Jordan.It is the capital of Muhafazat as Suwayda, one of Syria's 14 governorates, bordering Jordan in the South and the governorates of Daraa in the West and Rif Dimashq in the North and...
, but in 1927 it was renamed Jabal al-Druze or Jabal Druze State. The name comes from the Jabal al-Druze mountain.
History
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
territory, while other statelets were installed in other parts of the Syrian mandate (e.g. the Alawite State
Alawite State
The Alawite State , also known in French as Alaouites, after the locally dominant Alawite sect of Shi'a, was a French mandate territory in the coastal area of present-day Syria after World War I.-History:...
in the Lattakia region). Jabal al-Druze was home to about 50,000 Arab Druze. It was the first, and remains the only, autonomous entity to be populated and governed by Arab Druze. The 1925 Syrian Revolution began in Jabal al-Druze under the leadership of Sultan al-Atrash
Sultan al-Atrash
Sultan al-Atrash, Commonly known as Sultan Pasha al-Atrash was a prominent Arab Druze leader, Syrian nationalist and Commander General of the Syrian Revolution . He fought against the Ottomans, French, and even against the Syrian government in its days of dictatorship...
, and quickly spread to Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
and other non-Druze areas outside the Jabal al-Druze region. Protests against the division of Syrian territory into statelets were a main theme of Syrian anticolonial
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
nationalism, which eventually won the victory to reunite the entire French-mandated territory, except Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
(which had become independent) and Alexandretta, which was annexed to Turkey as the Hatay Province
Hatay Province
Hatay Province is a province in southern Turkey, on the Mediterranean coast. It is bordered by Syria to the south and east and the Turkish provinces of Adana and Osmaniye to the north. The province is part of Çukurova, a geographical, economical and cultural region that covers the provinces of...
. As a result of nationalist pressure, under the Franco-Syrian Treaty
Franco-Syrian Treaty of Independence (1936)
The Franco-Syrian Treaty of Independence was a treaty negotiated between France and Syria to provide for Syrian independence from French authority, which had been imposed under a League of Nations Mandate.- Explanation :...
of 1936, Jabal al-Druze ceased to exist as an autonomous entity and was incorporated into Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
.
Governors
- Amir Salim Pasha al-Atrash (May 1, 1921 - September 15, 1923)
- Trenga (provisional) (September 1923 - March 6, 1924)
- Gabriel Marie Victor Carbillet (March 6, 1924 - October 14, 1925), provisional to October 1, 1924
- Sultan Pasha al-Atrash (July 18, 1925 - June 1, 1927), chief of state; in dissidence
- Charles Andréa (October 15, 1925–1927)
- Marie Joseph Léon Augustin Henry (1927)
- Abel Jean Ernest Clément-Grancourt (1927–1932)
- Renaud Massiet (February 3, 1932 - January 28, 1934)
- Devicq (1934–1935)
- Tarit (1935 - December 2, 1936)
Sources and external links
See also
- DruzeDruzeThe Druze are an esoteric, monotheistic religious community, found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, which emerged during the 11th century from Ismailism. The Druze have an eclectic set of beliefs that incorporate several elements from Abrahamic religions, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism...
- French Mandate of SyriaFrench Mandate of SyriaOfficially the French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon was a League of Nations mandate founded after the First World War and the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire...
- Alawite StateAlawite StateThe Alawite State , also known in French as Alaouites, after the locally dominant Alawite sect of Shi'a, was a French mandate territory in the coastal area of present-day Syria after World War I.-History:...
- List of French possessions and colonies
- French colonial empireFrench colonial empireThe French colonial empire was the set of territories outside Europe that were under French rule primarily from the 17th century to the late 1960s. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the colonial empire of France was the second-largest in the world behind the British Empire. The French colonial empire...
- French colonial flagsFrench colonial flagsSome of the colonies, protectorates and mandates of the French Colonial Empire used distinctive colonial flags. These most commonly had a French Tricolour in the canton....