Battle of Maysalun

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Battle of Maysalun

Part of the Franco-Syrian War

Henri Gouraud on horseback inspecting his French troops at Maysalun

Date	July 23, 1920
Location	Maysalun Pass, Anti-Lebanon mountains (Syria)
Result	French victory

Combatants

Commanders

Strength

9000 (includes tanks and airplanes)

3000 (older light equipment)

Casualties

42 dead and 154 injured

400 dead

The Battle of Maysalun, also called The Battle of Maysalun Pass, took place between Syrian and French forces about 12 miles west of Damascus on July 23, 1920. The battle occurred when the French moved to topple the newly proclaimed nationalist government of Hashim al-Atassi under King Faisal. An independent Kingdom of Syria had recently been proclaimed after an Arab army led by British colonel T. E. Lawrence defeated the Ottomans and captured Damascus. However, as a result of negotiations between the western powers at the Sanremo conference, and the secret Sykes-Picot Agreement between Britain and France, the French were given a mandate over Syria by the League of Nations, which Faisal and his government refused to recognize. Faisal also refused to recognize Lebanese independence from "Greater Syria". The French had set up the republic on the remnants of a former Ottoman Christian-majority autonomous province. The French forces advanced out of Beirut, led by General Gouraud. Some Maronite Lebanese reportedly fought on the French side, unwilling to join a Muslim-dominated Kingdom of Syria.

King Faisal had ordered that the Syrian army not resist the French advance, but Syrian defence minister General Yusuf al-Azmeh, who was 36 years old at the time, insisted on leading his forces to oppose their advance. The French forces easily defeated the Syrian forces, which consisted of a few hundred regular soldiers from the newly formed army and hastily-summoned citizen volunteers from Damascus. Yusuf al-Azmah was killed in the battle, and the French entered Damascus later the next day. Gouraud went to the tomb of Saladdin, kicked it, and said: "Awake Saladin, we have returned. My presence here consecrates the victory of the Cross over the Crescent". King Faisal was exiled. There were open Maronite celebrations at the French victory. The battle ushered in the new era of French colonialism and led to more revolts in North Syria and Damascus.