​​Sovereign Imperial & Royal House of Ghassan

In Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council
Officially Recognized by the Government of the Lebanese Republic

HIRH Prince Gharios El Chemor of Ghassan Al-Numan VIII's Royal Cypher

Coat of Arms

New Arms of the Sovereign Imperial & Royal House of Ghassan


A modern representation based on European Heraldry. Comprehends and represents all the ruling Ghassanid dynasties from 220 CE in Syria until the 1.747 CE in Mount Lebanon/1921 CE in Jabal Shamar (Chemor) or Ha'il.

At the center the artistic Arabic Calligraphy "Al Ghassassinah" (The Ghassanids) crowned sided by the oldest and newest Ghassanid flags. The scimitar sword and the imperial & royal scepter under the bicephalous Byzantine Imperial eagle. 

Coat of arms ensigned with a representation of the royal and imperial crown of the Sovereign Imperial and Royal House Ghassan on Or with rubies, blue sapphires and pearls, purple velvet and ermine wreath. Supported by a Lion Rampant (representing: Arabia ('Banu Azd' or "the Children of the Lion"),  and an Arabian Horse Rampant 

Motto: "Victrix Fortunae Sapientia" (Wisdom is the Conqueror of Fortune)

"The Knights of Light"

The Sheikhs El Chemor Anthem

Maps

Statement on the Nature of

Modern Royal House of Ghassan

​In my name, in the name of the Ghassanid Dynasty, and the Sovereign Imperial and Royal House of Ghassan, I would like to solemnly declare that since no longer ruling, the Royal House presently is an international, non-profit, apolitical, secular, cultural/educational and charitable "umbrella organization" headquartered in the United States and recognized and accredited by the United Nations and by the Government of the Lebanese Republic, responsible for several affiliated organizations, fraternities, humanitarian and cultural initiatives. 


Above all, we follow the customary monarchical tradition of non-interference in partisan politics. We do not endorse any leader or regime, support any conflict, sectarian group, or militia, condone any use of violence, or actively seek regime change in any country in the Middle East or elsewhere. Our commitment to serving the Middle Eastern people without asking anything in return, and our role as a bridge between the Middle East and the West, remains steadfast.

HIRH Prince Gharios El Chemor of Ghassan Al-Numan VIII
Head of the Sovereign Imperial and Royal House of Ghassan

"The Knights of Light" in Arabic 

The Sheikhs El Chemor Anthem

The name "Ghassan" comes from the first Ghassanid State founded in 220 CE by HM King Jafna Ibn Amr and comprehended parts of modern-day Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia. The Ghassanid Dynasty has ruled several other realms since the fall of the first State in 638 CE. The last Christian Ghassanid States were in modern-day Lebanon from 1211 to 1747 CE. The last Muslim realm was in modern-day Saudi Arabia until 1921 CE.

Purpose


The organization's purpose is to be in line with peremptory norms of general international law and intertwined with its sovereignty:


  • To prevent the imminent exodus and total extinction of Christianity in the Middle East;
  • To serve the Middle Eastern people as a bridge between the Middle East and the Western civilizations, combating antisemitism and islamophobia, and
  • To preserve and promote the historical and cultural Arab heritage, mainly but not limited to the Ghassanid people and the notorious Ghassanid ideals of broad cultural incentives, women's equality, democracy, charity, and chivalric ideals.


The underlying jus cogens of the Organization’s stated purpose in this Convention are so crucial that Membership of this Convention may not derogate from them via treaty or customary international law norms.

Aim and Objectives

The Organization aims to be a “bridge builder” assisting in the solution of all types of diplomatic conflicts, bringing together governments, organizations, and groups to further the objectives of:

  • Preserving and promoting the cultural, educational, scientific, artistic, historical, humanitarian, and chivalric values and patrimony all over the world, 
  • Advocating for ethnic and religious minorities in the Middle East and diaspora, providing humanitarian relief to groups in hostile environments.
  • Building bridges of understanding and mutual support between Eastern and Western Churches, with other official bodies and leaders of the Abrahamic faiths and other world religions.
  • Encouraging and facilitating dialogue among religious leaders, particularly but not limited to those of the great Abrahamic faiths, in conflict zones and promoting their participation in conflict resolution.
  • Support religious and educational institutions seeking to sustain a diverse presence in the Holy Land.
  • Promoting the preservation and restoration of historic buildings, particularly those associated with religious pilgrimage sites.
  • Advocating, through the United Nations and other civil society forums, for human rights, with an emphasis on the status of women, religious freedom, peacebuilding, universal access to education, basic universal health care and access to medical facilities, and the provision of clean water, at an affordable price, for all.
  • We support the United Nations, governments, and other international civil society organizations through our active participation in disaster relief programs, humanitarian aid, peacebuilding, and sustainable development that respect the full range of human diversity.

The Eastern Roman (Byzantine) later representation of the seal of the Imperial House of Nikephoros I (a.k.a. Phocid Dynasty). The head of the Royal House of Ghassan is "ex-officio" head of the Imperial House of Nikephoros I 

Royal Ghassanid banner, formed with the ancient Ghassanid flag mirrored, having the mantled royal coat of arms with a decoration from the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem, since the Sovereign Prince is a knight commander of that ancient order of chivalry

Our Vision

“To stand as a powerful diplomatic agent of dialogue and change to spread equality and justice.”

Modern Ghassanid flag

Royal banner of The Sheikhs El Chemor, formed with the Ghassanid Crown with the calligraphy "Al-Ghassassinah" with the calligraphy "Sheikhs El Chemor" and an Arab sword 

Background


The Sovereign Imperial & Royal House of Ghassan is the dynastic, historical, legal, and cultural representative of the Royal Ghassanids and the Ghassanid people (in Arabic, "Banu Ghassan" or "Al-Ghassassinah"). It comprises and represents all the dynasties ruled by Ghassanid Christian sovereigns from 220 CE until 1747 CE. The Muslim branch of the family ruled until 1921 CE, the Principality of Jabal Shammar (Chemor) or Hail in today's Saudi Arabia.


Since no longer ruling, the House presently is an international, non-profit, apolitical, secular, cultural/educational, and charitable "umbrella organization" recognized and accredited by the United Nations and by the Government of the Lebanese Republic, responsible for several affiliated organizations, fraternities, and initiatives with the specific purposes of the promotion of the historical and Cultural Arab heritage, especially but not limited to the Ghassanid people, the notorious Ghassanid's ideals such as the broad cultural incentive, women's equality, democracy, the promotion charity, and the chivalric ideals. Also, the promotion and application of the principles of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948, at Palais de Chaillot, Paris.


The Ghassanids are currently estimated to number around ten million people worldwide. Although originally from the Middle East, the vast majority live in South and North America, victims of the ongoing exodus since the 19th century. Even though they are a minority in Arab countries, the Ghassanid presence is still very strong and evident.


The Sovereign Imperial & Royal House of Ghassan is headed by HIRH Prince Gharios El Chemor of Ghassan Al-Numan VIII, a direct descendant of the last ruling Ghassanind princes, the prestigious El Chemor family, the sovereigns of Akoura and Zgharta-Zawyie (current Lebanon) until the 18th century. According to several historians and the Maronite Catholic Church, The El Chemor (or Shummar, or Shammar) family is proven to be the direct descendants of the last King of the first Ghassanid State in Syria. 


HIRH Prince Gharios received the Arab traditional Bay'ah from his cousin in 2016 to be the Head of the International House and organization, with HIRH Sheikh Salim El Chemor as Crown Prince and Head of the Lebanon branch of the family.


The International House also includes the Muslim Branch of the family. in the 1950s, HRH Prince Shiekh Amtonios El Chemor, with his wife, HRH Princess Lodi Shihab-El Chemor (descendant of HRH Bashir Shihab II of the Emirate of Mt Lebanon), visited with the last princes of Jabal Shammar, and established a mutual recognition as “cousins.” Therefore, the modern Royal House of Ghassan also represents its Muslim kindred of the former Emirate of Jabal Shammar, which was removed from rule in 1921 (however, the Christian Shiekhs do not claim their Muslim cousins’ titles and vice-versa).


The Royal House of Ghassan (as an NGO) is in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.  Also it was officially recognized by the government of the Lebanese Republic by a unanimous vote of the cabinet of ministers expressed on the Presidential Decree number 5,800/2019, signed by the President and the Prime Minister. 


In 2020, the Global Imams Council, the world's largest non-governmental body of Muslim leaders (both Sunni and Shia), recognized the sovereignty and titles, of the modern HHouse of Ghassan with the participation of over 1,000 (one thousand) Muslim clerics worldwide.    


HIRH Prince Gharios El Chemor of Ghassan Al-Numan VIII's Arabic Royal Cypher

"The Lion's Roar"

Royal Ghassanid Anthem

Core Values

  • We seek a world of equality and tolerance, where every human being’s dignity is valued,
  • We abide by the human rights principles, alleviating individuals' and communities suffering,
  • We believe that every human should be treated with dignity and respect,
  • We enhance the effective presence of minorities and envision a society where individuals live safely and in unity,
  • We operate on creating awareness to diminish all kinds of possible conflicts and struggles between communities,
  • We advocate and operate for peace-building, non-violence, and dialogue among all generations by using applicable tools, alternative diplomatic channels, and workshops.

​Statement on Honors and Awards of the Modern Royal House of Ghassan

It's vastly documented that the Ghassanids were one of the first Christian knights 500 years before the first Crusade and the creation of the first orders of chivalry. However, they weren’t organized in orders ‘per se’ as the European crusader orders would be, even though they fought under banners of religious icons like Christ Pantokrator, Michael Archangel, and Saint Sergius, their patrons. They also held to a code of ethics, Muru’a, which included honor, loyalty, generosity, forgiveness, and protecting women, children, the elderly, and the infirm. Therefore, although the Royal House of Ghassan has ancient authority as pioneers of Christian knights (in Arabic, Faris, and Farisa), it doesn’t claim any legatary connection with any historical order of chivalry or merit.


All honors and awards for the ancient dynastic House of Ghassan are those of the modern House. The honors related to the historic calvary of the House and the banners under which it was organized, namely Christ Pantokrator, Michael Archangel, and Saint Sergius, are "new" honors and awards of a chivalric character founded by the head of a formerly reigning dynasty... or in the case of the House of Ghassan as an Arab Christian House, by the Head of House with the council of the royal sheiks. More information...

Ancient Ghassanid flag with the image of Saint Sergius, the patron of the Ghassanids