Whats an "ethnic jew " and how is he different from a converted jew ? Judaism is a religion and people from many places intermarried.Create a stable and long lasting jewish Kingdom in Europe, please i want a king so no Khagan/Khan/Czar that Should excluded the Khazar Khaganate.
Bonus points:
Created by ethnic jews (no conversion by the leader or forced conversion).
Judaism is both an ethnicity and a religion. That is because it is an ethnic religion for an ethnicity that is open to converts.Whats an "ethnic jew " and how is he different from a converted jew ? Judaism is a religion and people from many places intermarried.
Not really, modern day Jews are still ethnic Jews. As I said in my previous post, ethnicity does not neccesarily have to coincide with ancestry/genetics.If you are going by ethnic Jews then the only one that qualify is one of the 12 tribes of Israel, which by the medieval times would've been diluted to insignificance as modern DNA tests have proven.
I am doubtful that Vladimir would convert to Judaism just because it is his wife's religion. IOTL, he initially was a pagan but there was a time where he had sent out emissaries to the various religious groups. There are some stories about how he thought that the Jews were weak for losing their homeland and how he could not abide by the Muslims ban on alcohol. Also, there is a mention about how the emissary reported the city of Constantinople as heaven on earth. However, ultimately Vladimir's decision was based on politics. Why would he choose Khazaria over Byzantium?When Sviatoslav the Great defeats the Khazars he arranges for himself or for one of his sons to marry the daughter of the Khazar Khan, instead of converting to his mother's Christianity Vladimir converts to his wife's Judaism. The Khazars are integrated into the Kyivan Rus, which is a multi religious state, though overtime becomes predominantly Jewish.
Perhaps, he is in some conflict with the Byzantines at that time, also, if he/Sviatoslav has already conquered Khazaria they are in the same/similar situation that led to their conversion to Judaism, important trading partners with Muslim and Christian world, better to be something neutral. Of course, at this point in time this isn't as important. I don't think his conversion was likely, however I think the creation of a Jewish European state (that is not Khazaria) is fairly unlikely.I am doubtful that Vladimir would convert to Judaism just because it is his wife's religion. IOTL, he initially was a pagan but there was a time where he had sent out emissaries to the various religious groups. There are some stories about how he thought that the Jews were weak for losing their homeland and how he could not abide by the Muslims ban on alcohol. Also, there is a mention about how the emissary reported the city of Constantinople as heaven on earth. However, ultimately Vladimir's decision was based on politics. Why would he choose Khazaria over Byzantium?
Unlikely to happen unless their is large Jewish support for the Crusades, and a very tolerant Pope. At this point the Catholic church by and large was very tolerant towards the Jews, and many Bishops and Catholics defended them against Pogroms during the Crusades in Germany. However, I don't see why Jews would support a Crusade to the same extent as the average Christian.Would some sort of bizarre Jewish crusader state set up by Christian rulers as a dumping ground for their nation's Jews work?
I suppose if the Church repeals the anti-usury laws and rulers suddenly find the presence of their Jews to be an issue rather than a benefit, this could be possible. Perhaps it could be seen as some kind of investment to form a Jewish vassal state somewhere else.Would some sort of bizarre Jewish crusader state set up by Christian rulers as a dumping ground for their nation's Jews work?
There was talk about this in the discussion thread for The Silver Knight, and the conclusion was that it's a massive stretch. The situation in Lithuania was very different from the one in Khazaria, and that situation encouraged a Christian conversion.The pagan kings of Lithuania could convert to Judaism for the same reasons as the Khazars did.