Maronite

Early modern period

In 1516, after the Ottomans had conquered Egypt and Syria, the areas inhabited by the Maronites became part of the Tripoli Eyalet which was placed under the authority of the governor of Damascus. Around the same time, the Maronites started reaching out to European states in order to seek a protective power, which finally resulted in France taking the role as protector of the Maronites in 1649. During the papacy of Pope Gregory XIII (1572–1585), steps were taken to bring the Maronites still closer to Rome. The Pontifical Maronite College (Pontificio Collegio dei Maroniti) was founded by Pope Gregory XIII in 1584. The Lebanese Council of 1736 was a major turning point for the Maronite Church that brought the Maronites closer to the Latin Church and was the only major Maronite council in modern times to elaborate rules and canons.