For decades, the Christians of the Levant held a belief that France — “the tender mother,” as it was called — served as their shield. Recently, many prominent Christian figures have raised their voices, accusing Paris and other European capitals of plotting to displace them from their homelands. What has caused such a turnaround and what are the bases of these accusations?
The roots of the protective relationship between France and the Christians of the Levant, particularly Lebanese and Syrian Christians, are deeply engraved in history. France’s role dates back to the era of the Crusades and has been documented throughout the ages. In 1249, the King Louis IX of France had taken it upon himself, through a signed deed, to protect the Maronites. Four centuries later, the king reiterated this undertaking in a letter sent to the Maronite Patriarch in 1649, announcing the safeguard of Maronites. He ordered the consulates and ambassadors of France to the Ottoman Empire to extend their hand to assist the Maronites and protect their interests.
