History of the Royal House of Ghassan

“A Legacy of Faith, Honor, and Service—From Desert Kingdom to Global Humanitarian Mission”

Origins of the Ghassanids

The Ghassanid Dynasty traces its origins to the early Christian Arab tribes who migrated from Yemen to the Levant in the 3rd century CE. Embracing Christianity, they formed a powerful tribal confederation allied with the Byzantine Empire, eventually establishing the Ghassanid Kingdom across parts of modern-day Syria, Jordan, Palestine, and Lebanon.

Under the leadership of successive kings and Christian Arab princes, the Ghassanids served as protectors of the eastern Byzantine frontier and advocates for Eastern Christianity. They built churches, monasteries, and centers of learning while preserving Arab identity infused with Hellenistic, Roman, and Syriac cultural influences.

The Fall of the First Ghassanid State & Dynastic Continuity

The first Ghassanid State fell during the Islamic conquests of the 7th century, yet the royal family survived. Many descendants remained in Mount Lebanon, where they preserved their Christian faith and cultural heritage as royal descendants and Arab nobility, eventually integrating into the Maronite and Melkite Christian communities.

The El Chemor family, direct descendants of the last sovereign ruling Ghassanid princes, maintained hereditary leadership as royal Sheikhs of Akoura and Kfarhata, exercising autonomous rule until 1747 under the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman authorities recognized their status, and their records are documented in both ecclesiastical archives and civil registers.

Today, six royal Sheikhs El Chemor have been well-documented and are recognized as the rightful claimants to this ancient heritage, and are part of the Royal Council under the Head of House.

Modern Recognition

In the 21st century, the royal House's dynastic legacy has been:

  • Legally affirmed by international arbitration rulings (2012 and 2016) under the New York Convention on the Recognition of Foreign Arbitral Awards (1958)

  • Officially recognized by the Republic of Lebanon by Presidential Decree No. 5800/2019, reaffirming the historical and cultural role of the Royal House of Ghassan

  • Accredited by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) as an NGO in Special Consultative Status, allowing formal participation in UN sessions, policy discourse, and humanitarian coordination

From Royalty and Nobility to Global Service

Under the leadership of HIRH Prince Gharios El Chemor, the Royal House of Ghassan has embraced a new chapter as an international NGO committed to:

  • Cultural preservation of the Christian Arab legacy

  • Humanitarian assistance to displaced and at-risk communities

  • Advocacy for religious freedom, peacebuilding, and human dignity

Though it no longer claims political sovereignty or territorial dominion, the House functions today as a noble, humanitarian institution carrying forward the enduring ideals of Ghassanid leadership: honor, faith, and service to others.

Historical Sources and Documentation

The history of the Royal House of Ghassan is supported by:

  • Church records from the Maronite and Melkite patriarchates

  • Ottoman firmans and Lebanese civil registries

  • Academic studies, including works by Dr. Joseph Kechichian (Senior Fellow at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and international expert on Arab monarchies), and legal opinions from international jurists

  • UN records of NGO accreditation and ECOSOC consultative activities

The Journey Continues

Today, the Royal House of Ghassan stands as a unique bridge between ancient Christian Arab history and modern humanitarian action. It exists not only as a royal lineage preserved through centuries, but as a living institution devoted to serving the global good.

“In honoring the past, we serve the present and secure a future rooted in dignity, peace, and compassion.”