On a remote hilltop of Mount Lebanon, lies a calm and peaceful village. Mansourieh El Maten, a symbol of serenity and hospitality, whose name originates from the Arabic word “Mansour” or victorious, dated back in time to the war battle inaugurated between the Crusaders and the Arab crowned by the victory of the Arab.
Hamouche Family
History dictates that the Hamouche Family originated from a small village named “Mizlla” near “Maad” in Jbeil during the 16th century. The father was a man of honor, who protected Christians from any persecutions, which lead the communist to plot evil against the children after their father’s death. Accordingly, the whole family of four children: Trad, Hamouche, Malek and Melki escaped to different villages around Lebanon.
The whole family moved to Ain El Kabo near Baskenta, Trad stayed during winter in Beirut, whereas Hamouche used to spend winter in Mansourieh where he eventually settled there up till today. As for the other brothers, Malek escaped to Baabdat and Melki to the North.
The “Hajj” family was mainly reflected during the 17th century when its great grand ancestor Hanna El Hajj escaped from the North of Lebanon “Beit Mellat” to eventually settle at the southern edge river of the village.
History mentions that “Hanna Hawa El Hajj” belonged to a Christian family of seven brothers and one sister named Hawwa. The whole family worked at a traditional Mill owned by a Muslim Emir in North Lebanon, Beit Mellat. A dispute broke out between the Christian Hajj family and the Muslim Emir to occupy the Mill, which eventually lead to the Emir’s murder and banishment of the whole family to different places, some of which escaped to Jbeil and later on to other Lebanese villages.
Little is comparatively known about Hanna Hawa El Hajj, but his journey and inhabitance in different places from Jbeil to Antelias, Achrafieh, Chiyah, Dayshounieh (Zireh) , had ultimately shown him as an expedient man who wants to keep hold of his new possessions , fighting to conqueror and live there in person. Along his journey, he constantly changed places due to many fights encountered with the inhabitants, which kept him unstable residentially until he finally got settled at the Zireh -Dayshounieh Edge River where he was buried.
The Dayshounieh Edge River was known by the Zireh, a tranquil place occupied by Drouze families mainly “Badghan Family”, who hired Christians to cultivate their land and take care of their flocks.
Hanna El Hajj was an eligible hard worker, he worked for the Drouze families in exchange for some land pieces. Besides land work, Hanna was also good in construction, he built the ancient church known as Saint Gergis Church for Greek Orthodox, the place were he was buried. At the Zireh area, he got married and had two sons Youssif and Moussa who played an influential role in Mansourieh history.
It has been said that on their way to Mtein Village, some of the Emir troops were captured by a stormy weather which lead them to spend the night at Hanna El Hajj house overwhelmed by his guest hospitality and generosity. Later on, the Emir envied Hanna El Hajj hospitality and planned his men to kill him, however Hanna was able to detect trouble in advance and cured their hostile spirit with hospitality, which reconciled the Emir state of revenge into goodwill.
Youssif and Moussa inherited their fathers’ competence, generous spirit, hospitality and loyalty which strengthened the relation with the Emir who lived at the upper part of Mansourieh. He called upon the sons and asked them to work for the Emirs in the neighborhood area. The two sons accepted and they were like the father, very hard working paying sweat for lands. They both got married, and lived in the land they have occupied, what is still known as the “Harrah” in the midst of Mansourieh village.
Youssif gave birth to Chahine, Abu Zeid, Nasrallah, Eid, Chibly, Abu Samra and Elias, whereas Moussa had only Salim, Tanios and Gergis.
Nevertheless, history did not end up here, the generation continued to exceed in number until the “Hajj” family conquered from the midst to the lower part of Mansourieh, whereas the Hamouche existing family conquered the upper part of the village.
