The Ghassanids (Arabic: al-Ghasāsinah), also known as Banū Ghassān, meaning "Sons of Ghassān," trace their lineage to a South Arabian Christian people who migrated in the early third century CE from Yemen to the Hauran region in southern Syria, Jordan, and the Holy Land. Their story reflects a rich blend of cultures, as they intermarried with Roman settlers and early Christian communities, evolving into one of the earliest cosmopolitan societies. The Ghassanids are sometimes compared to the Habsburgs of Europe, as they were the longest-reigning Arab dynasty and held dominion over a vast territory.

Origins of the Ghassanids

The Ghassanids are believed to have originated from Ma’rib in Yemen, once the capital of the Kingdom of Sheba (or Saba), a place referenced in several sacred texts. A catastrophic flood caused by the failure of the Ma’rib dam in the early third century forced the tribe, including its royal family, to migrate northward. This migration is commemorated in Arab folklore, including the proverb "They were scattered like the people of Saba." The Ghassanids were part of the southern Arab tribe of Azd, a significant branch of the Qahtani tribes, and were led by Prince Jafna bin 'Amr, one of the sons of the King of Sheba. He and his family eventually settled in the Hauran region, where the Ghassanid state was founded in 220 CE.

The Ghassanid Kingdom and Byzantine Alliance

Prince Jafna bin 'Amr became the first Ghassanid king and established a kingdom that played a critical role as a buffer state between the Byzantine Empire and the Bedouin tribes of the Arabian Peninsula. Their territory spanned much of Syria, Mount Hermon (Lebanon), Jordan, western Iraq, and northern Israel. The capital of their kingdom was located at Jabiyah in the Golan Heights. As early adopters of Christianity, the Ghassanids formed alliances with the Byzantine Empire and served as defenders of vital trade routes.

The Ghassanids prospered under Byzantine patronage and were noted for their contributions to arts and culture. They patronized poets like Nabighah adh-Dhubyani and Hassan ibn Thabit, and their society was advanced, as evidenced by the ruins of palaces, churches, and public baths that still stand in the Hauran region. The Ghassanid kings became known for their sophistication and hospitality, often referred to as "addicted" to poetry and literature.

Decline and the Legacy of the Ghassanids

The Ghassanid kingdom fell in 636 CE following the Battle of Yarmuk, in which Muslim forces defeated the Byzantine Empire. Despite their defeat, the last Ghassanid king, Jabalah IV, refused to convert to Islam and sought refuge within the Byzantine Empire, forming a "government-in-exile" with tens of thousands of Ghassanids. His descendants continued to wield influence, with one son establishing the El Chemor family in Lebanon.

The Ghassanid dynasty's influence extended well into the Byzantine period. The Phocid Dynasty of the Byzantine Empire (802-813 CE), founded by Emperor Nikephoros I, claimed descent from the Ghassanids. The legacy of the Ghassanids also lived on in Lebanon, where the Sheikhs El Chemor ruled Akoura and the Zawiya region until 1747 CE. These titles and their historical significance were recognized by the Ottoman Empire and continue to be validated by the Maronite Church and the Lebanese Republic.

A Diaspora Spanning Continents

Following centuries of Islamic conquest and Ottoman persecution, many Ghassanid descendants dispersed around the world. The Ghassanid diaspora is now estimated to be primarily in the Americas, with significant populations in Brazil, Latin America, and the United States, contributing to a global Ghassanid population that no longer speaks Arabic as its primary language.

Today, the Ghassanid legacy is preserved in the names of prominent families across the Levant, many of whom trace their roots back to the royal lineage. Notable Ghassanid families include Chemor, Ghanem, Haddad, Madi, and Saab, among others.

References

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History

Download the full version of the book & Historical Scientific Research (in Arabic) "Sheikh El Chemor Rulers of Al-Aqoura (1211-1633) and Rulers of Al-Zawiye (1641-1747)"
Beirut, Lebanon, 1947 by Maronite Father Ignatios Tannos El-Khoury in a .PDF file

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​​Sovereign Imperial & Royal House of Ghassan

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Many Christian as well as Muslim families of Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine trace their roots to the Ghassanids. Here are some known Ghassanid families:


Abla, Abou Haidar, Al Ashkar, Aranki, Atiyah, Ayoub, Ammari, Aridah, Azar, Batarseh, Barsa, Barakat, Bayouth, Chakar, Chalhoub, Chemor, Dibh, Fares, Farhat, Farhoud, Gharios, Ghanem, Ghanma, Ghannoum, Ghulmiyyah, Habbaki, Habib, Haddad, Hazboun, Hanna, Hamra, Howayek, Haddadin, Hbeish, Hellou, Hilweh, Ishaq, Jabara (Jebara or Gebara, Gibara), Jarrar, Kakish, Kandil, Karadsheh, Kawar, Khazens, Khoury, Lahd, Maalouf, Madi, Makhlouf, Matar, Moghabghab, Mokdad, Nasir, Nawfal (of Tripoli), Nayfeh, Nimri, Obeid, Oweiss, Rached, Rafeedie/Rafidi, Rahhal, Razook, Saab, Saah, Salama, Saliba, Samara, Sarkis, Sayegh, Saig, Shammas, Semaan (of Kaftoun), Sfeir, Shdid, Smeirat, Soub, Sweiss, Sweidan, Theeba, Tyan, Twal and Qumsieh, among many others.Type your paragraph here.

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