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This is a brevity of the
Saleeby-Saliba history which goes back to the centuries before Christ
up to the second century A.D. Beginning from Prince Petronious Amiries son
of Polithictos, son of Epocratos, the Hellinc of Tibbanous family which
ruled in Sparta during that time. This Amiries was born in a ship while his
mother Aghrist with his uncle Emofaratis fled from Sparta after his
father's death; this was near the shores of Biblous, the city of the
Phoenician Gods.
This Amiries grew to be commander over Caesar's army.
As an idolater although his mother, a Christian tried to convert him to her
faith, but in vain. She prayed that her desire may be
fulfilled. By a miracle he was converted by John, an apostle of Saint Paul,
who converted and baptized him during the year 67 A.D. This was the same
year when the apostles assembled in Antioch and were called Christians.
Thinking it unwise to return to
Rome, he went to Huran in Syria where he got friends and relatives and
lived in (El-Basseer), built a home and moved his family and lived to be
101 years of age. He died and his body was carried back to Sparta and
buried.
Amiries' son, Nocalaous,
married and begat El-Gouth, a great hero who was called El-Saleeby by
an Arabian prince for his wars against the Jews and idolaters, defending
the Christian faith. He was born the year of 89 A.D. and died 197 A.D. in
Azrah of Huran.
When the Christians lost power
and wealth, they began to migrate - leaving their homes. John Ben
Bilsarous El-Saleeby gave up Saint Jacobs Monastery to the Moslems. This
was built by El-Gouth El-Saleeby during the second century. One Jacob
Demitry Saleeby migrated from Huran to El-Kourah in Lebanon. Where after
Farris El-Saleeby, son of Acklidis - followed.
Al-Abry Farris' son left to
Antioch and from him all the Saleeby's and Saliba's in that section
descended. After Farris's death, Tamir, Jacob's son, became the leader who
during his days things developed until the 12th century when the Crusaders
came from Europe to rescue Jerusalem form the Moslems. But for the bad
conduct and mistreatment to the inhabitants of Lebanon these Saleeby's were
forced to form an alliance with the Arabs to fight for their safety until
1380 when things were settled. When El-Wardy Ben-Mansour El-Saleeby died,
the family began to scatter in all directions of the country where many
have been given nicknames, other than Saleeby. About 30 branches were given
these various names, as is recorded below.
The Saleeby's who came from
El-Koura to Bteghreen during 1625 A.D. are Jacob and his cousins Assad,
Joseph and Harun, came to Btalloon, built a home and lived, whereafter
Joseph returned to Bteghreen and Harun went to Nebatyeh. Assad and his
family stayed at Btalloon, thereafter some of his children moved to
Souk-El-Gharb and other towns nearby.
In 1886 migration to the
western world began where we find thousands of Saleeby and Saliba families
in North and South America, England, Africa, Australia, and all parts of
the world.
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