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.