How did the Organic Regulation of 1861 govern Mount Lebanon?

Following the 1860 massacre of Maronites by the Druze, European powers and the Ottoman Empire intervened to stabilize the region by imposing the Organic Regulation of 1861, which was later modified in 1864.12

This regulation fundamentally restructured the governance of Mount Lebanon by granting the axial mountain region autonomous status. Under this system:12

• Leadership: The region was placed under the authority of a Christian governor, who was appointed by the Ottoman sultan.12
• Administration: The governor was assisted by a council that provided representation for the various religious communities residing in the area.12

This administrative framework successfully fostered a period of prosperity for Mount Lebanon that lasted until the outbreak of World War I, at which point the Ottoman government revoked this autonomy and imposed strict direct control.12