Claimant to the historic throne of Ghassan and Head of the Royal House of Ghassan

Gharios El Chemor Al-Numan VIII

(née. Ahnume Guerios, born 29 September 1973)

The Royal House of Ghassan has been accredited by the UN with Special Consultative Status since 2016, his claim to the headship of the house has been recognized by the Global Imams Council since 2020 and by Dr. Joseph Albert Kechichian, one of the leading scholars in Arabic royal succession. He is also the only secular Christian leader from the Middle East recognized by multiple entities of different backgrounds. The Royal House of Ghassan is also legally authorized to operate in Lebanon by Presidential decree 5,800/2019 and by the Lebanese Ministry of Interior and Municipalities General Directorate of Political Affairs and Refugees – Number: 814/4/2022.

Prince Gharios was heavily influenced by his family, especially his grandmother, Gharios was always interested in charity, volunteering in several non-profit organizations, both in Brazil and the United States. In 2016 Michael Hesemann founded the Prinz Gharios Stiftung, a non-profit organization based in Germany that aims to support Christians in the Middle East, "to provide care, education and training for Christian war orphans, to support persecuted and expelled Christians, and to preserve and promote the culture of oriental Christianity of all denominations." In 2019, Gharios and his supporters started the "One Voice for Christians" initiative, presided by Antoine Kalaydjian with a board composed of Dr. Joseph Albert Kechichian, Michael Hesemann, Khalil Melhem, and Thomas Schirrmacher. The initiative is supported by several religious leaders, including His Holiness Aram I and Paul Youssef Matar. Most recently, Gharios created the World Evolution initiative, which aims to address three major global issues: hunger, “green wealth” and education.

In 2008, when Gharios assumed the headship of the Royal House, he created the first dynastic order, called "The Sacred Order of Saint Michael Archangel", which was later renamed to "The Equestrian Order of Michael Archangel". The order was granted to and accepted by Bujar Nishani, former president of Albania, in a special private meeting at the presidential palace in 2017. The order was also granted to His Holiness Aram I, the Head of the Holy See of Cilicia, in 2018. Other notable members include former Minister of Technology of Brazil and astronaut Marcos Pontes, Hajji Baba Mondi, and Prince Leka II of the Albanians. In 2023 Gharios created two new orders, the Order of Saint Sergius (the patron saint of the Ghassanids) and the Order of Christ Pantokrator, which will be limited to 100 members. The House of Ghassan had its Fons Honorum recognized by the Augustan Society.

It is argued that the Ghassanids were one of the first Christian Knights, fighting to protect the Holy Land under the Byzantine Empire, roughly 500 years before the First Crusade. They were the first Christian combatants to incorporate a code of honor, equivalent to a "chivalric code". The Ghassanid code of honor was based on the Arab concept of "Muru'a", which had basic principles very similar to what later became a synonym of chivalry (bravery in combat, respect for women, protection of the weak, and honor). Since the Ancient Ghassanids were not organized in Orders, these dynastic orders do not claim to be a succession or a continuation of any ancient order. Notable public figures who have received honors and orders from the Royal House of Ghassan since 2016 (See Royal House Gazette).

His Royal Highness has received the foreign honors of: Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (2014); Dragomanov Medal of European Communication, The National Pedagogical Dragomanov University in Kiev, Ukraine (2017); Knight Commander of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (2019); Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of Omukama Chwa II Kabalega (2020); and Grand Collar of the Royal Order of Obeng II (2021). He has been awarded the Kentucky Colonel (2012); AOF Icon Award (2021); inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame for his Martial Arts career (2022); and listed in the Marquis Who's Who in America (2023).

The Legacy

The Ghassanids reached their peak under al-Harith V and al-Mundhir III. Both were militarily successful allies of the Byzantines, especially against their enemies the Lakhmids, and secured Byzantium's southern flank and its political and commercial interests in Arabia proper. On the other hand, the Ghassanids remained fervently dedicated to Miaphysitism, which brought about their break with Byzantium and Mundhir's own downfall and exile, which was followed after 586 by the dissolution of the Ghassanid federation.[31] The Ghassanids' patronage of the Miaphysite Syrian Church was crucial for its survival and revival, and even its spread, through missionary activities, south into Arabia. According to the historian Warwick Ball, the Ghassanids' promotion of a simpler and more rigidly monotheistic form of Christianity in a specifically Arab context can be said to have anticipated Islam.[32] Ghassanid rule also brought a period of considerable prosperity for the Arabs on the eastern fringes of Syria, as evidenced by a spread of urbanization and the sponsorship of several churches, monasteries and other buildings. The surviving descriptions of the Ghassanid courts impart an image of luxury and an active cultural life, with patronage of the arts, music and especially Arab-language poetry. In the words of Ball, "the Ghassanid courts were the most important centres for Arabic poetry before the rise of the Caliphal courts under Islam", and their court culture, including their penchant for desert palaces like Qasr ibn Wardan, provided the model for the Umayyad caliphs and their court.[33]

After the fall of the first kingdom in the 7th century, several dynasties, both Christian and Muslim, ruled claiming to be a continuation of the House of Ghassan.[34] Besides the claim of the Phocid or Nikephorian Dynasty of the Byzantine Empire being related. The Rasulid Sultans ruled from the 13th until the 15th century in Yemen,[35] while the Burji Mamluk Sultans did likewise in Egypt from the 14th to the 16th centuries.[36]

The Modern House of Ghassan

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)[37] from Lebanon.[38][39][40]

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. It is 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.[41] 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.

HIRH Cheikh Antonios El Chemor

Born in 1910 Cheikh Antonios El Chemor spent his early years between Kferhata his home town 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 and was very successful in 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 first project he invested in was to create a grid of potable water for the area. He made a mega project with his own money and distributed water to 48 villages and still used to this day. He invested in roads for several villages helping finance churches, mosques, hospitals, etc. on a personal level. Cheikh Antonios had a very good relationship with all political and business people in Lebanon and around the world.[41]

He married HRH Princess Laudy Chehab in 1953 and had 3 children:

·         HIRH Prince Cheikh Selim El Chemor (b. 1954)

·         HIRH Prince Cheikh Michel El Chemor (b. 1956)

·         HIRH Prince Cheikh Khalil El Chemor (b. 1960)

Princess Laudy was active in northern Lebanon as she was directly involved in many humanitarian and tourism projects such as helping the Red Cross acquire different vaccines for the children, the Ehden Festivals as president, Tripoli old city as president of tourism in the North, and she was the one who brought the Nazareth Sisters' School to Kferzaina for the education of girls.[41]

Cheikh Antonios spent most of his life helping the poor the unprivileged and the people in need at all levels, in creating small businesses for them or helping them find work in Lebanon and abroad in the private and governmental sector. Unfortunately, he died at a young age in 1971 leaving behind a long and lasting legacy and still remembered to this day. For his unprecedented humanitarian legacy and his dedication to studying and promoting the Royal family's heritage, he's revered and recognized as the Honorary Founder of the modern Royal House of Ghassan.[41]

HIRH Prince Gharios El Chemor of Ghassan Al-Numan VIII

Cheikh Antonios' oldest son, HIRH the Crowned Prince Cheikh Selim El Chemor, became the de facto Head of the Sovereign Imperial and Royal House of Ghassan. In 2014 there was a renewed interest and support of the family to continue the scholarship, history and culture preservation began by Cheikh Antonios, and renew the House for humanitarian purposes, The family organized and utilized the traditional method of Arab succession, "agnatic rotation," which operates laterally. This means not only the sons compete for the succession but also brothers, uncles, cousins, etc. The “chosen one” must have the “bayah” (oath of allegiance) or support of the heads of the family, as is the system among the princes of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, and Qatar. The family chose the HIRH Crowned Prince Cheikh Selim El Chemor as the Honorary Head, and HIRH Prince Gharios El Chemor of Ghassan Al-Numan VIII as the Head of the Ghassanid Royal Family and the international NGO known as the Sovereign Imperial and Royal House of Ghassan.[42]

Prince Gharios is the 8th great-grandson in the male line of HIRH Sheikh Youssef Chemor the last Ghassanid sovereign prince to rule until 1747 CE in Zgharta-Zawiya (currently Lebanon).  He also inherited the line and titles from his cousin, HRH Prince Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Rashid, the 10th Emir of Jabal Shammar (translates as “Mountain Chemor”) which was a sovereign principality that existed from 1836 until 1921. His lineage has been well documented, such as by His Beatitude Estephan II Boutros El Douaihy Maronite Patriarch of Antioch  (1630-1704 CE),  'Isa Iskandar al Ma'luf (1869-1956),[43] and Maronite historian, Father Ignatios Tannos Al-Khoury.[44] Sworn confirmation was provided by Professor Dr. Abbot Antoine Daou, a modern Maronite historian, and Dr. Joseph Albert Kéchichian, a leading authority on Middle Eastern Royal succession.[45]

·         Youssef El Chemor (last incumbent Ghassanid sovereign prince Zgharta-Zawyie 1747 CE)

·         Dargham El Chemor

·         Gharios Habbaki El Chemor

·         Antoun Gharios (El Chemor)

·         Fares bin Antoun Gharios (El Chemor)

·         Fares Mansour Gharios (El Chemor)

·         Maurice Mansour Gharios (El Chemor) (1910-1979)

·         Carlos Roberto Gharios (El Chemor) (1947 - )

·         Al-Numan VIII Gharios El-Chemor (nee. Ahnume Guerios 1973)[46]

HIRH Prince Gharios El Chemor of Ghassan Al-Numan VIII as of 2022 is internationally recognized as the head of the Ghassanid dynasty [47][48] [49] [50] including the UN in 2016 [51][52] and in 2019 was recognized as such by the government of Lebanon by Presidential decree 5,800/2019, as well as by the Sovereign of the Vatican City State, Pope Francis, and Albanian government and Crown Prince Leka II of Albania.[53]

Current Titled Members of the Royal Family

·         HIRH Crown Prince Cheikh Selim El Chemor of Ghassan and all his descendants (Hon. Head of House and Name)

·         HIRH Prince Gharios El Chemor of Ghassan Al-Numan VIII, married HIRH Princess Consort Cristin Al-Numan El Chemor of Ghassan and all their descendants (Head of House and Name)

·         HIRH Prince Cheikh Michel El Chemor of Ghassan and all his descendants

·         HIRH Prince Cheikh Khalil El Chemor of Ghassan and all his descendants

·         HIRH Prince Cheikh Antoine Majid El Chemor and all his descendants

·         HRH Cheikh Dr. Naji Gharios married to HH Cheikha Sonia Gharios and all their descendants

·         HIRH Prince Cheikh Antonios El Chemor (in Memoriam) and all his descendants

·         HIRH Prince Cheikh Nassif El Chemor (in Memoriam) and all his descendants

·         HIRH Prince Cheikh Youssef Magid El Chemor (in Memoriam) and all his descendants

Notes and references

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