AHC: Keep the concept of God kingship in a major state lasting into the 1600s

With that said I am not looking for China or Japan or East Asia, more along the lines of a major Indian or Middle Eastern state. I would count the reign of Is'mail as a form of this type of rulership and is somewhat what I am looking for, as well a type of "divine" rulership like that of the Pharoahs perhaps pr other entities.

For the POD, let's make it in 1000, but the POD is flexible. I have simply been fascinated with supposed divine kingship with the ruler as an actual deity rather than simply appointed by a higher power, as of late.

In terms of the Middle Eastern sector, the best bet in my opinion would be a Sh'i state like the Qarmatians, but find a way to make them and their ideology larger, which I doubt, make the Fatimids accept this type of deification (would be very interesting tl, returned "deity" rule in Egypt) or simply have Is'mail never lose and his line keeps the "divine" status.

Mainly asking for outside Mid East, as I know that area quite well (as I'm sure you know) but again not East Asia.
 
A civilization in Africa possibly? A group that has not been introduced to Christianity or Islam would make it far easier. I am thinking if you can avert the collapse of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe in approximately 1450, that could be a possibility.
 
A civilization in Africa possibly? A group that has not been introduced to Christianity or Islam would make it far easier. I am thinking if you can avert the collapse of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe in approximately 1450, that could be a possibility.


That could definitely be a possibility, large state with very fertile land and well isolated from foreign powers to challenge the divine status.
 
Is he considered a living deity?

No. Lèse majesté in Thailand is pretty famous, and the Constitution says ""The king shall be enthroned in a position of revered worship," but the current king has said for example that the king is human and obviously Thais recognize their king as human.

Just to add on to OP, East Asia didn't think their rulers were gods. Tianzi is just a title, a relic from high antiquity, and doesn't mean that everyone thought the emperor was actually the son of Heaven.
 
No. Lèse majesté in Thailand is pretty famous, and the Constitution says ""The king shall be enthroned in a position of revered worship," but the current king has said for example that the king is human and obviously Thais recognize their king as human.

Just to add on to OP, East Asia didn't think their rulers were gods. Tianzi is just a title, a relic from high antiquity, and doesn't mean that everyone thought the emperor was actually the son of Heaven.



Of course, but I didn't want to be flooded with tons of Chinese dynasty and Japanese emperor answers lol.
 
Hinduism end up victorious as major religion in maritime South East Asia, the institution of "Deva Rajas" (God King) continue. Maybe the Majahapit empire in Indonesia doesn't succumb to the extinction due to the rise of Islamic sultanates, and the emperor stylizes himself as Deva-Maharaja as his title.

EDIT: I know East Asia is discounted but surely the Malay archipelago is distinct enough in history and culture to not be grouped in with China and Japan.
 
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