What happened during the 1860 massacres of Maronites in Mount Lebanon?

The 1860 massacres in Mount Lebanon were the culmination of escalating tensions between the Maronite Christian and Druze communities, which had worsened significantly following the collapse of the traditional Lebanese political structure in 1842.12

During this period, the Maronites were supported by the French, while the British provided support to a faction of the Druze. The Ottoman government, seeking to impose direct authority, encouraged the breakdown of the existing social and political order. This environment of instability and sectarian competition led to the Druze carrying out massacres against the Maronite population.12

The complacent response of the Ottoman authorities to the violence prompted direct intervention by the French on behalf of the Christians. Following the conflict, international powers imposed the Organic Regulation of 1861 (later modified in 1864). This established the autonomy of Mount Lebanon under a Christian governor appointed by the Ottoman sultan, who was assisted by a council representing the region's various religious communities.12