THE ROYAL FAMILY

 Since the establishment of the descendants of the last King of Ghassan Chemor Jablah in Lebanon and their consequential rule in the Principality of Al-Aqoura in the Byblos district in 1211 CE until 1633 CE, there’s uninterrupted documented official recognition of the House of Ghassan, especially in modern-day Syria and Lebanon. The last rulers to bear the titles of Royal Ghassanid successors were the Christian Sheikhs Al-Chemor in Mount Lebanon, ruling the small sovereign principality of Akoura (from 1211 until 1641) and Zgharta-Zwaiya (from 1643 until 1747) from Lebanon.

The current El Chemor/Gharios family descends from the last Christian ruler, Prince Sheikh Yousef El Chemor (who ruled in the 18th century), and cousins of Prince Muhammad bin Talal Al Rashid, who was the twelfth and last Emir of Jabal Shammar (Chemor) in Ha’il and ruled until 2 November 1921. From this line, the modern Royal House of Ghassan descends, and the foundation on which HIRH Cheikh Antonios El Chemor passed on to the next generation to build. The fontes honorum of the House has been recognized academically, such as by the Augustan Society, as well as by heads of state and other non-ruling dynastic houses.

The Maronite Church has been crucial in the documentation of the Royal House. The Encyclopedia of  Maronite Families was published by Notre Dame University–Louaize (NDU) and was founded in 1978 by the Maronite Order of the Holy Virgin Mary (OMM). It's one of the most respected Christian  Universities in the Middle East. Their Encyclopedia of the Maronite Families of Lebanon, in volume 4, pp. 2236, 2237, and 2238, mentions the El Chemor family. The text is very concise but confirms the chronicles of Maronite historian Patriarch Stephen Duaihy (1630-1704 CE) and the 1947 book of historian Ignatios Tannos El Khoury, Sheikh El Chemor Rulers of Al-Aqoura (1211-1633) and Rulers of Al-Zawiye (1641-1747), published in Beirut, Lebanon.

Abu Youssef, Sheikh El Chemor, Prince of Zgharta-Zawye

The Sheikhs El Chemor remained autonomous, ruling Akoura from 1211 until 1633 CE. In 1633 CE, the Sheikh El Hachem (related by marriage to the El Chemor family) took power by force in Akoura. According to the Encyclopedia, the Ottoman governor of Tripoli gave to the Sheikhs El Chemor the region of Zgharta-Zawiye, where they ruled for over a century from 1641 until 1747-48 CE. Here, the empire has directly assigned a region to the Sheikhs El Chemor, but due to the titles and prestige they already had. It is very important to point out that they didn’t receive their titles from the Ottomans (or any other authority) like many other Sheikhs in Lebanon. 

“The governor of Tripoli gave them the ruling of Al Zawiya, and the Sheikhs of the Daher household were surprised by it. And so, assassinations took place between the two sides until the Sheikh Youssef El Chemor was murdered in 14/3/1748 CE, and in that death, ended the Chemor’s ruling on Al Zawiya which was handed over to Al Daher.” p. 2236, Encyclopedia of the Maronite Families, v.4, Notre Dame University.

Youssef El Chemor, Sheikh El Chemor, Last sovereign prince of Zgharta-Zawye, 1747 CE Regardless of the end of the rule in the 18th century, the Sheikhs El Chemor never stopped using their Royal titles until the present date. The Encyclopedia also mentions the origins of the Gharios family:

“Four brothers moved from the Chemor family to Beit Habbak, and from there, they spread: The first went to Baskinta and was known by the name Habika, a pet name for the household name Habbak. The second settled in the Habbak house and the family Farjan was made because of him. The last two, Farahat and Gharios, went to the Suburbs of Beirut, Farahat Chemor resided in Al Hadas, and his family name became Farahat, and Gharios’ family name became Gharios after his own first name.” p. 2236, Encyclopedia of the Maronite Families, v.4, Notre Dame University 

The Encyclopedia confirms that the El Chemor brothers, the sons of the assassinated ruler, changed their names due to the lethal persecution from the El Daher family, assigned to the El Chemor properties and estates. Also, the Encyclopedia’s entry for the Gharios Family (page 2912) mentions the first ancestor as “Gharios El Chemor. "

At this point, there are no surprises. However, the Encyclopedia also states that the El Chemor and El Shammar families of Saudi Arabia are the same. The way of writing the family name in Arabic is identical, and there are no other families with this name in the Arab world. If that fact is true, there’s no harm to the Ghassanid Royal Claim since the El Shammar family is Muslim, and there was a prohibition of Ghassanids from even marrying non-Christians. (See Yasmine Zahran, “Ghassan Resurrected”, p. 150).

“Some of them [Chemor/Shammar family] migrated to the north of the Arabian Peninsula, and they founded in year 905 A.D the capital of the Emirate of the Shammar. It remained with the takeover of [king] Abdul-Aziz Al Saud forces on all parts of the region in 2/11/1921 A.D, and the announcement of the establishment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 23/9/1932 …” p. 2236, Encyclopedia of the Maronite Families, v.4, Notre Dame University.

However, such a statement makes the El Chemor family even more prestigious and royal since that would make the Lebanese El Chemors cousins of the Emirs of Jabal Shammar (1836-1921 CE). The family has ruled almost all the Arabian Peninsula: The Christian Family has ruled the whole Levant (today Syria, Jordan, part of Iraq, and Lebanon), and the Muslim family has ruled the majority of today Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Iraq. It is important to note that the El Chemor family of Lebanon (the heirs of all the Christian titles) doesn’t claim the Muslim titles and vice-versa. Also, by that statement, the Sheikhs El Chemor of Lebanon are cousins of several Saudi Princes that descend from Princess Fahda bint Asi Al Shammar (El Chemor) wife of the founder of the Saudi Kingdom, King Abdul-Aziz Ibn Saud. Amongst them is the late King Abdullah (1924-2015) of Saudi Arabia, son of Princess Fahda and King Ibn Saud.

From Father Ignatios Tannos El-Khoury (1947), Sheikh El Chemor Rulers of Al-Aqoura (1211-1633) and Rulers of Al-Zawiye (1641-1747). Beirut, Lebanon:

In 1935, Sheikh Antonius Saleem Chemor (Shammar) and his brother Sheikh Michael visited the “Gharios Habbaqi family” in Chiyah, and both families established friendship and harmony among their relatives and in-laws. Sheikh Michael Saleem, told me that he was invited to the funeral of a person from Al Habbaqi family in Chiyah, where he accepted the condolences with the dead person’s family and after that visit or maybe before it, Gharios Habbaqi family added the name Al Chemor (Shammar) to their surname where now one of them is called Awadh Beik Al Chemor (Shammar): Joseph, George, Antonius, Michael, Elias and finally Nu’man Gharios al Chemor (Shammar) and his son Emil. The researcher  Khoury Esteban Bash’alani told us that Gharios family settled in Chiyah since the year 1757 where the researcher carefully read the baptism, marriage and death documents in Chiyah and found that Gharios family was mentioned for the first time in year 1849 and  the first name was “Fares bin Anton bin Gharios Al Habbaqi” documented on 19/April/1849 and his brother Yousef in 1852. The documents also state the name of the priest “Yousef Gharios” who became the priest of Al Chiyah from 1877. Forth: Habbiqa family: in the summer of 1946 a new book and series of the well-known works of our dear friend and scholar bishop Butros Habbiqa was released under the title of The History of Baskanta and its Families. His works are recognized between the Maronite Patriarch works and he firmly announced {in pages 145-146} that “Al Habbiqa” family is a descendant of the feudal lords of Chemor (Shamar). He then talked about the origin of Al ‘Aqoura heads of tribe, basing his information which was taken from us and he said “we thank the active researcher, Father Aghnatius Tannous, the Lebanese monk, as he generously provided us with this information.” And we thank Mr. Habbaqi very much and we please the Lord to save him and help him through his life. Fifth: Qiddeesi family or Qiddeesi from Rish’ein, which is a descendant of Al Habbiqa family, and Al Qiddeesa family in Tase’ and Shataha in Akkar also belong to the same family. Chapter IX: The Chemori (Shammari) Family Branches Outside Kufur Hata, p. 120-125. Translation: Reham Makhlouf 

Genealogy

Youssef El Chemor, Sheikh El Chemor, Last sovereign prince of Zgharta-Zawye, 1747 CE
Two Sons:

• Abu Issa. Abu Issa and his descendants inherited the royal title Sheikh El Chemor, which is the ​“main” branch.
  
• Dargham. Forefather of four cadet branches of El Chemor.
  
  

Sheikhs El Chemor of Kfarhata
The Chemors of Kfarhata have the title of Sheiks. They were the governors of Akoura in the mountains of Byblos between 1211 and 1633 and the rulers of Zgharta-Zawiya between 1641 and 1747.  Their ancestors were the Ghassanids, a Christian tribe that dwelled in the Arabian Peninsula. After being displaced from Yemen because of a natural disaster, they settled in the Houran region of Syria. They allied themselves with the Byzantines as protectors of the South. Past the Islamic conquest of the area, they sought refuge in Lebanon. Their first stay was in Akoura (Byblos district) then they moved to Kfarhata in 1641. 

Youssef El Chemor, Sheikh El Chemor, Last sovereign prince of Zgharta-Zawye, 1747 CE Abu Issa 

Sheikh El Chemor of Kfarhata

Issa Sheikh El Chemor of Kfarhata

Youssef Sheikh El Chemor of Kfarhata

Selim Sheikh El Chemor of Kfarhata

Mikhael Saleem Sheikh El Chemor of Kfarhata

• Mentioned above in Father Ignatios Tannos El-Khoury (1947), Sheikh El Chemor Rulers of Al-Aqoura (1211-1633) and Rulers of Al-Zawiye (1641-1747). Beirut, Lebanon,

Antonios Sheikh El Chemor of Kfarhata

•  b. 1910, Lebanon under the Ottoman Empire; d. 1971, Lebanon.
•  Cheikh Antonios El Chemor spent his early years between Kferhata, his hometown, and his boarding school at the prestigious Aintoura, one of the best schools of that time in Lebanon. Once school finished, he was sent to Marseille, France, to continue his education. Meeting with other Lebanese Fellows and discussing business in Africa, he decided to move to Lagos, Nigeria, and start his career in trading and commerce. He spent around 15 years successfully trading meat and clothes for the army. Back in Lebanon in the mid-forties, he became involved in the political and social life in Beirut and Kferhata. The north was very poor and needed more water, electricity, roads, hospitals, etc. The first project he invested in was creating a potable water grid for the area. He made a mega project with his money and distributed water to 48 villages, which is still used today. He invested in roads for several villages, helped finance churches, mosques, hospitals, etc.… and all these projects on a personal level. Cheikh Antonios had a very good relationship with all political and businesspeople in Lebanon and worldwide. Cheikh Antonios spent most of his life helping the poor, the unprivileged, and the people in need at all levels, creating small businesses for them or helping them find work in Lebanon and abroad in the private and governmental sectors. Unfortunately, life was not fair to him as he died at a young age in 1971, leaving behind a long legacy that is still remembered to this day. He is revered and recognized as the Honorary Founder of the modern Royal House of Ghassan for his unprecedented humanitarian legacy and dedication to studying and promoting the Royal family's heritage. His oldest son, HIRH Prince Cheikh Selim El Chemor, is the current Honorary Head of the Sovereign Imperial and Royal House of Ghassan.
• He married Her Royal Highness Princess Laudy Chehab in 1953 and had three children:
  
  • Selim Sheikh El Chemor, b. 1954
    
  • Michel Sheikh El Chemor, b. 1956
    
  • Khalil Sheikh El Chemor, b. 1960
    
• HRH Princess Laudy Chehab Al-Chemor was a Princess and a Shariffa in her own right, descending from HRH Prince Bashir Chehab II "the Great," the Emir (or Prince) of Mount Lebanon from 1788 till 1840. She also descends from the Quraysh, which is related to the Hashemite Royal Family of Jordan and the Alouite Royal Family of Morrocco. Therefore, the Al-Chemor Family (Prince Gharios') is related by marriage to some of the more important Arab Royal Families. As for social life, his wife Princess Laudy made a big difference in the North as she was directly involved in many humanitarian and tourism projects, such as helping the Red Cross acquire different vaccines for children, the Ehden Festivals as President Tripoli Old City as president of tourism in the North and bringing the Nazareth Sisters school to Kferzaina for girls. All these projects were executed with the help and blessing of her late husband. 
  
• The family is known in Lebanon for the El Chemor palace in Kferhata, a landmark in northern Lebanon.
  

Sheikhs Gharios Habbaki Sheikh El Chemor Branch 

The family Gharios of Cheyah is formally called “Gharios Habbaki Chemor” due to the village of Beit Habbak in the region of Byblos. This Habbaki family descends from the same prestigious “Chemor” family of Kfarhata-Zgharta, as Father Ignatios Tannos El-Khoury notes in his book as mentioned earlier, Sheikh El Chemor Rulers of Al-Aqoura (1211-1633) and Rulers of Al-Zawiye (1641-1747).

Dargham El Chemor
Four Sons, according to p. 2236, Encyclopedia of the Maronite Families, v.4, Notre Dame University. Sons first settled in Beit Habbak, then migrated to other regions of modern day Lebanon.

• Habika El Chemor of Baskinta
• Farjan El Chemor of Habbak
  
• Farahat El Chemor of Al Hadas
  
• Gharios Habbaki El Chemor of Chiyah (settled there in 1757)
  
  

Gharios Habbaki El Chemor of Chiyah

• Mentioned on p. 2236, Encyclopedia of the Maronite Families, v.4, Notre Dame University.
• Chiyah (Arabic: الشياح) is situated in the western region of the Lebanese capital of Beirut and is part of Greater Beirut. However, before 1956, it used to cover a larger area that included the current districts of Karm el Zeitoun, Hayy el Knissé, Bir Abed, and Haret el Mjadlé, as well as Jnah, Ghobeiry, Furn-el-check, Bir Hassan, and Ain El Remanneh. Before the 1860 civil war, Chiyah was largely inhabited by Shia Muslims, but many Christian refugees settled in the town following the chaos that ensued. Before the 1960s, Chiyah was a predominantly Christian town with a significant local Shiite minority, but the town's Shia Muslim population soon swelled due to migration. The significant surnames or families in Chiyah are Naïm, Kanj, Rahme, Mahmoud, Nasr, Srouji, Maarouf, Kassem, Farraj, Sous, and El-Khatib. There was only one Gharios (El Chemor) family of Chivah. Between the Sheiks of Kfarharta and the royal Habbak El Chemor branch, there are only about 100 people or less in the world that compose these two branches of the El Chemor of House Ghassan. Chiyah is currently in the Baabda District.
  

Antoun Gharios, El Chemor

He had two sons, which are recorded in the Maronite church records as having been confirmed.

• Fares bin Antoun Gharios (confirmed on the 19 April 1849)
  
• Father Youssef bin Antoun Gharios (confirmed in 1852), Maronite Priest, ord. 1877 (as noted by Father Ignatios Tannos El-Khoury).
  
  • The manor house of the family Gharios was situated at the Boulevard Camille Chamoun in front of today’s lead statue. This mansion was owned by the village parish priest, Youssef Gharios, who was born between 1830 and 1850 and directed the church of Saint Michael of Chiyah since 1877. He is now survived by his descendants, who remained attached to their land, and some immigrated to Colombia, Chile, and the United States. Today, the Gharios family plays a vital role at the forefront of Lebanese society; their businesses are spread nationwide and distributed in very different sectors. Current day Baabda District, a southern suburb of Beirut, in the Shiah/Chiyah quarter. Descendants include Sheikh Antoine Majid El Chemor and Sheikh Dr. Naji Gharios.
    
    

Fares bin Antoun Gharios, Al Habbaqi (El Chemor)

• Son, Feres Mansour Gharios, El Chemor.
• 1860 Maronite Christians began openly opposing the power of the Ottoman Empire
  

​

Feres Mansour Gharios, (El Chemor)

• Married Baljouth Mansur Gharios
  
• Son, Maurice Mansour Gharios, El Chemor
  
• Recognized as part of the royal Sheikhs El Chemor by the Kfarhara branch
  

Maurice Mansour Guerios (Gharios), El Chemor (recognized cousin to Prince Cheikh Antonios El Chemor of Kfarhata).

• b. November 11, 1910, Lebanon under the Ottoman Empire; d. 1979, Brazil. Married Helena Gharios (born Cecy). Maurice and Helena immigrated to Brazil.
• Great Famine in Lebanon, 1915–1918. About half the population of the Mount Lebanon subdivision, overwhelmingly Maronites starved to death (200,000 killed out of 400,000 of the total populace) throughout the years of 1915–1918 during what is now known as the Great Famine of Mount Lebanon as a consequence of a mixed combination of crop failure, punitive governance practices, naval blockade of the coast by the Allies, and an Ottoman military ban on exports from Syria into Lebanon, during World War I.
  
• Modern-day Lebanon was created under French and British mandate in 1920.
  
• Under the Modern Brazilian Constitution, no foreign or domestic titles were to be recognized.
  

Carlos Roberto Guerios (Gharios El Chemor)

• b. in Brazil. Married Sylvia Regina Baccin Guerios (born Walvy)
• Son, Ahnume Guerios.
  
  

Ahnume Guerios (El Chemor), aka in Arabic: Al-Nu'Man Gharios El Chemor (ibn Jafna Al-Ghassani) 

• b. 29 Sept 1973 in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.​ 

Click HERE for the scholarly article "Understanding the Royal Ghassanid family tree"