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1 Preamble to Maronite history

As long ago as 1908, the Catholic Encyclopedia outlined the issues surrounding the Maronite Church and the status of its orthodoxy in the following neutral terms:

All competent authorities agree as to the history of the Maronites as far back as the sixteenth century, but beyond that period the unanimity ceases. They themselves assert at once the high antiquity and the perpetual orthodoxy of their nation; but both of these pretensions have constantly been denied by their Christian -- even Catholic -- rivals in Syria, the Melchites, whether Catholic or Orthodox, the Syrian Orthodox, and the Catholic Syrians. Some European scholars accept the Maronite view; the majority reject it. So many points in the primitive history of the nation are still obscure that we can here only set forth the arguments advanced on either side, without drawing any conclusion.

2 History

Apparently Maronites originated from the Syrian Orthodox Church and were separated and excommunicated in the 5th century because of their support of Monothelite doctrine (the Monothelite heresy did not exist in the 5th century. it was condemned in the 6th council in 680). They gained some military help from Constantine IV and harassed the forces of Umayyad Dynasty so that in 677 the caliphCaliph is the term for the Islamic leader of the Ummah or community of Islam. Selected by committee, the holder of this title claims rulership over all Muslims. The Sunnis and Shiites differ as to whom was the first Caliph of Islam. According to Sunni tho decided to pay tributeA tribute (from Latin tribulum contribution) is wealth one party gives to another as a sign of respect or, as was often case in historical contests, of submission or allegiance. Various ancient states exacted tribute from areas they had conquered or threa to them in return for peace.

In 678 Maronites found themselves isolated from ByzantiumByzantium was the original name of the modern city of Istanbul. Byzantium was originally settled by Greek colonists from Megara in 667 BC and named after their king Byzantas. The name "Byzantium" is a Latinization of the original Greek name Byzantion . and decided to appoint their own patriarchSee Patriarchs (Bible) for details about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob of the Book of Genesis in the Hebrew Bible. Originally a patriarch is a man who exercises autocratic authority over an extended family. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are referred to as the thre, John Maron, who had been a bishop of BatrounThe coastal city of Batroun is located in North of Lebanon. It is one of the oldest cities of the world. The origin of the name, Batroun derives from Botrus or Botrys. According to historians, Batroun was founded by the Phoenicians on the coast some miles. Emperor Justinian IIJustinian II known as Rhinotmetus (the Split-nosed) ( 669- 711) was Byzantine emperor from 685 to 695 and again from 704 to 711. He succeeded his father, Constantine IV, at the age of sixteen. His reign was unhappy both at home and abroad. After a success accused them of heresy. In 694 Maronites defeated Justinian's forces in Mount LebanonMount Lebanon is the mountain range that extends across the whole country of Lebanon about 160 km (100 mi) parallel to the Mediterranean coast and rising to 3,090 m (10,131 ft). Lebanon is historically defined from the mountains, which have provided for p. They also proceeded their raids against Muslims and in 707 Caliph al-Walid I sent a force to occupy Jarjuma and destroy it. The Maronites retreated to the mountains. In 759 forces of the new Abbasid dynasty defeated the Maronites in Baalbek.

During the Crusades in the 12th century, Maronites assisted the Crusaders and reestablished their affiliation with Catholicism in 1182. From this point the Maronites can prove an unbroken orthodoxy and unity with Rome. For example, in 1100 Maronite Patriarch Youseff Al Jirjisi received the crown and staff from Pope Paschal II. In 1131 Maronite Patriarch Gregorious Al Halati received letters from Pope Innocent II. That affiliation was to cost them dearly after Muslim rule returned. Anti-Christian Mamelukes destroyed their fields, houses and churches alongside with those of Druzes and Shiites. Connection to Rome was arduously maintained and a Maronite college established at Rome in July 5, 1584.

At first, the Ottoman Empire left Maronites to their own devices in their mountain strongholds. However, from 1585-1635 Maronite warlord Fakhr-al-Din II conquered and ruled the Greater Lebanon until he was defeated by Ottoman forces and executed at Constantinople on April 13, 1635.

In 1638, France declared that it would protect the Catholics - including the Maronites - in the Ottoman Empire. In 1860 Maronites clashed with Druze until French intervention and Ottoman diplomacy stopped that. In 1866 Youssef Karam led a Maronite uprising in Lebanon against governor Dawood Pasha . European intervention led to his exile to Algeria.

Maronites gained self-rule under the French mandate of Lebanon in 1920 and secured their position in the independent Lebanon in 1943. They were one of the three main factions in the Lebanese Civil War.