A Jewish Monarchy in Christian Medieval Europe

[jackalope]

Khazar influence aside, it is doubtful that tribes would adopt a
religion that is merchantile, studious, and poor at successful
conquest or defense for nearing 2 thousand years. Kievian
Rus thought briefly over it and declined on these issues.

There were relatively docile tribes, like the Slavs of Poland,
especially the marshes, but only crazy like a fox (they managed
to recover their lands and then some til 700 CE). The
Finno-Urgaic tribes of the Ukraine area are another, with
less success at preserving customs and langauge.

No, time to think out of the box again, here giving away one of
my favorite pet projects: Azores and Madeira and Cape Verdes.

Those islands are only several hundred miles off of Spain, and while
Jewish merchants were not normally sailors, there was a strong
connection of trade. Invent some plot devices, such as a
merchant that ran afoul of the Islamic or Vis Gothic powers
that were, him having to get out of town fast.

On a quick boat with a sick or dying navigator and wham. Hit
a new island. The Canaries were vaguely known from history,
but really forgotten. Maybe an old book or something inspires
if circa 700 CE. If more like 1300, then blind good fortune. After
1300, the islands were in OTL discovered anyway.

If near the time of the expulsion, pick up good candidates in North
African ports (1200 to 1492) for transportation, though the place is
getting hot and invasion is a big danger.

A Jewish Leif Erikson, mayhap?

My original idea years ago was for a Germanic remnant, especially
532 Vandal group seeing the hand writing on the wall, but it might
also fit in here. To the best of historical records and archeological
evidence, there never was a visit or colony previous to the
Spanish and Portugese at the end of this period, same with the
Cape Verdes (Canaries were populated since Neanderthal times,
however. Fierce in Roman times, sheeple come 1400's. The islands
were named after Canine dogs, and the birds after that.) Enjoy.

 

[Wendell]

Khazaria is the safest bet, but the challenge then becomes prolonging and stabilizing its existence.

 

[jackalope]

Lone Starr: But Yurt, what is this place? How are you back in VisGoth Spain?

Yurt: Moichandising.

Barfesky: Merchandising? What kind?

Yurt: Profitable Moichandising! Come, I'll show you. [to the Dinks] Open up this door.[Yogurt walks over to a wall filled with Azores merchandise.]

Yurt: Heh-heh. Come! We put the picture's name on everything![everyone is staring in amazement]

Yurt: Moichandising! Moichandising! Where the real money from these voyages are to be made. Azores: the T-shirt, Azores: the coloring Book [holds up an A-Team comic book], Azores: the Lunchbox, Azores: the Breakfast Cereal! Azores: the Flame Thrower!! [catapults a blast at perpetually browsing customer]

Dinks: Ooohh!

Yogurt: The kids love this one. And last, but not least, Azores: the Doll- me.[Yogurt squeezes the doll, which says "May the Azores be with you!"]

Yurt: Adorable.

Which explains how our beloved protaganist resupplies his island colonies. May be a touch too ASB, as the group should adopt a lower profile, but only to round out a few rough edges. Comments?

 

[Wendell]

To me, what made Khazaria work for the short time that it did was its peripheral position between rival civilizations. Thus, if your medieval Jewish state is to survive, viability is still needed, but location will matter more. Remember too that the Med is full of islands that changed hands repeatedly during the middle ages.

 

[CaliBoy1990]

The pork prohibition, though perhaps a very old saw, is a major problem in northern states. I'm actually thinking of maybe smallish states in Occitania or Spain, where a Jewish prince could rule for a while.

Likely such a state would be ephemeral, but we are dealing with the possible, after all.

That's true. But then again, I do believe some of the more secular-minded Jews may not be so worried about the old dietary laws.........perhaps some of them could subsist on a fish-based diet, if they were to be relocated to say, Jutland and/or Schleswig or perhaps somewhere along the Adriatic coast? Just a thought.

 

[RGB]

That's true. But then again, I do believe some of the more secular-minded Jews may not be so worried about the old dietary laws.........perhaps some of them could subsist on a fish-based diet, if they were to be relocated to say, Jutland and/or Schleswig or perhaps somewhere along the Adriatic coast? Just a thought.

Medieval gefilte fisch

Sounds interesting, but surprisingly tricky. Herring seasonal fishing runs were highly contested by the kingdoms of the time. Greater reliance means greater conflict for our Jewish Baltic peoples.

 

[St. Just]

You would have to have converts to a non-rabbinical Judaism (like the Khazars). Judaism, especially that of the mainstream rabbinical variety, was not a proselytizing faith. I would suggest converting pagans early into the fall of Rome somewhere remote and defensible enough to survive. Imagine a Jewish Ireland... that colonizes.

As for medieval, perhaps a Gnostic Judaism (Real, Non-Celebrity Kabbalah) could absorb those groups taken out by Crusade who are dissillusioned enough to reject Christ. Provence was close to Waldensians and Cathars and it was where Kabbalah was founded. If you have Provencal Jews flee to Switzerland, they could easily found a Swiss state. Switzerland is nigh impossible to invade.

 

[NothingNow]

That's true. But then again, I do believe some of the more secular-minded Jews may not be so worried about the old dietary laws.........perhaps some of them could subsist on a fish-based diet, if they were to be relocated to say, Jutland and/or Schleswig or perhaps somewhere along the Adriatic coast? Just a thought.

Subsisting on a primarily fish based diet is actually very easy while staying to Talmudic law. The problem is everyone else.
Still, maybe in some Scandinavian region, with a similar sort of judaism as the Khazars?
That said, there are plenty of fish besides Herring to live off of.