Sheiks Chemor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chemor (in Arabic الشمرّ pronounced Ach-Chmorr) is the name of one of the most ancient and important families in Lebanon. The Chemors of Kfarhata, a small village in North Lebanon, have the title of Sheikhs. They were the governors of Aaqoura in the mountains of Byblos between 1211 and 1633 and the rulers of Zgharta-Zawiya between 1641 and 1747. Their religion is maronite christian and they are of direct legitimate ascendance of the Christian Ghassanids Banou Choummar.
The Ghassanids are the largest tribe in the Arabic peninsula and they are the direct offspring of Ismael the son of Abraham the father of Humanity. During the second Century After Death, they emigrated from Yemen after a water catastrophe to Syria in search of water sources. They established themselves near the “Ghassan spring” where they took their name. The Ghassanids tribe was Christians and allies to the Byzantines.
Abou Choummar Jabla was one of the first Ghassanid kings around 500 AD. His son was the most prominent King of all the Ghassanids and he was named “the Great Protector” because he defended the Christians against the barbarians with the help and the benediction of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian II. His kingdom included the regions of Houran, Mount Hermon, the Golan, the Jordan valley and Damascus. In 635 AD, the Ghassanid kingdom disappeared after the Islam conquered the area. The Choummar (from Abou Choummar Jabla) had to flee to Lebanon; their first stay was in the Christian Maronite region of Akoura (Byblos district) were geological and historical safety were provided.
The Sheikhs Chemor governed the whole rich agricultural region of Akoura since 1211 AD; they were wealthy and they were respected. In 1631, Hachem arrived at the village coming from Damascus. Troubles occurred between the Hachems (Kaysi) and the Chemors (Yamani) and Hachem killed a Sheikh Chemor. The Chemors had to leave Akoura in 1633 after more than 1000 years of presence. One part of the family emigrated to Marjeyoun in the South but the biggest part took refuge in the village of Ban near Becharré. Seven years later, the Sublime Great (the Ottomans) accorded in 1640 to Sheikh Dargham Chemor for being a good servitor a region extending from Bhennine in Akkar to Bchennine in Zghorta, The Zawiya. The Sheikhs Chemor ruled the Zawiya from 1641 to 1747 and took Kfarhata near Zgharta as their hometown. During this period, many troubles occurred between the Sheikhs Chemor and the Sheikhs Daher which led one of the Chemors to escape from the village and took refuge in a small over sighted village in the uphill of Jbeil, Beit Habbak from where a big ramification of the Chemor family took place (Gharios, Hobeika…)
Kfarhata is still today the hometown of the Sheikhs Chemor. The Chemor family is nowadays spread all over the world and in Lebanon, a great part of the family lives. The sons of Sheikh Antonios Selim Chemor (the Dean of the family) constitute the most direct line in relation with the great history of this eminent family.
