Ghbaleh
Ghbaleh is a village and municipality in the Keserwan District of the Keserwan-Jbeil Governorate in central Lebanon. It is located 42 kilometers northeast of Beirut. Its average elevation is 890 meters above sea level and its total land area consists of 271 hectares. The village is bordered by the villages of Ghineh, Jouret El Termos, Azra, Jouret Bedran and Nahr El Dahab.
History
Historically, it is believed that Phoenicians inhabited the region since remains are found in nearby Ghineh, where historians believe is the resting place of the historical figure Adonis. The region was later occupied by Maronite communities who experienced a degree of independence during the rule of the Crusaders, and this, until its destruction at the hands of the Mamluks in 1307. The region was abandoned for the next three centuries until Christian families arrived somewhere during the 17th century. Until 1863, Ghbaleh was considered the capital of the Ftouh Keserwan region and encompassed all neighbouring villages under the name "Ghbaleh and its farms".Families
Ghbaleh's main families are Khairallah, Bou Assaf, Lteif, Ephram, Boustany, Zouein, Al Hossry, Bassil, Haddad, Tayeh, Fahed, Assaf, Awad, Atallah, Said, Ghanem, Khoury, Korkmaz, Karam, Beaino, Chelela, Hallany, Dahdah, Abi Khalil, Chamy, Ziade, Abi Zeid, Saade, Fikany, Khouwairy, Najmeh and Khalil.The Ghanem family is descended from Moussa Ghanem Al-Ghassani, a descendant of the Ghassanids, who were a Christian dynasty in the Levant under the aegis of the Byzantine Empire. Moussa came to Yanouh in the 9th century and settled there. Later, in 1121, some of his descendants moved to Lehfed. Finally, Sarkis Ghanem moved from Lehfed to Ftouh Keserwan during the 17th century and settled there.