Historical Links The Cedars of Lebanon Symbol of holiness, peace and eternity La Marianne, national symbol of the French Republic. She is the allegory of liberty France became a democracy after the French Revolution in 1792. First civilizations of the world emerged in Lebanon, with the Phoenicians. During the Middle Age, Christian minorities helped the Crusaders, creating tight bonds between them and the French. After WWII, Lebanon was placed under French mandate. Later, France gave Lebanon a parliamentary system: each government office was apportioned to a representative of the country's main sects, with the presidency re...