Seljuks remaining Jewish?

The second generation of the Seljuk Turks possessed a Jewish lineage descending back to that of the Khazars. Anyway this could have been maintained and brought with them, instead of converting to Islam?

Just looking for a fun discussion.
 
The second generation of the Seljuk Turks possessed a Jewish lineage descending back to that of the Khazars. Anyway this could have been maintained and brought with them, instead of converting to Islam?

Just looking for a fun discussion.

IIRC, only a limited number of Khazars (mostly on the top) did convert to the Judaism.
 
What about a Khazar wank where they invade Iran and their Seljuk clan establishes a “Great Seljuk Kingdom” with the Seljuk Empire’s borders?
 
Plausibility be damned, I’d love to read an account of a Jewish nomad army from the east sweeping west and advancing upon Fatimid controlled Jerusalem.
 
Wait if the Seljuks are Jewish and they stop pilgrimage to Jerusalem like otl, then I don't wanna be a Jew in Christian Europe.
 
Viralworld, I think someone put up a timeline a while back about Temujin (Genghis Khan) converting to Judaism and Jewish Mongols sweeping across the steppes and beyond. I think it was called something liker "Horde of the Lord".

Ameck16, being a Jew in Europe in the middle ages wasn't all sunshine and rainbows OTL, so I doubt it would get much worse. If it did, you'd see large scale Jewish immigration to Seljuk territory, with the corresponding strengthening of the Seljuks.
 
Wait if the Seljuks are Jewish and they stop pilgrimage to Jerusalem like otl, then I don't wanna be a Jew in Christian Europe.

Ameck16, being a Jew in Europe in the middle ages wasn't all sunshine and rainbows OTL, so I doubt it would get much worse. If it did, you'd see large scale Jewish immigration to Seljuk territory, with the corresponding strengthening of the Seljuks.

I’d imagine that European Jews would be subject to the same horrific attacks and massacres they suffered at the hands of overzealous Christian mobs at the outset of the First Crusade, although probably even more widespread if a crusade was called specifically against the Jewish Turks occupying the Levant.
 
A Jewish army in the XI century establishes an empire that stretches from Afghanistan to the Mediterranean and includes the Holy Land?
I don't care how plausible that is, something about that gives me a tingly feeling....And I'm not even Jewish.
There are a few questions though:
Would they establish Jerusalem as their capital and would they rebuild the Temple?
What would their relationship be like with the majority Muslim population in the territory they ruled?
Would they be more or less hostile toward the Byzantines than the Muslim Seljuks of OTL?
 
A Jewish army in the XI century establishes an empire that stretches from Afghanistan to the Mediterranean and includes the Holy Land?
I don't care how plausible that is, something about that gives me a tingly feeling....And I'm not even Jewish.

I'm not a specialist on the subject but, AFAIK, Judaism is, in general, not about the conversions: the Deity selected specific tribe as his/her/its "chosen ones". In the case of the Khazar rulers it was possible to come with a genealogy (no matter how shaky) covering a reasonably limited number of the individuals but doing the same for a huge number of people would be much more difficult. In other words, I'm not sure if, even with all of them accepting Judaism, the term "Jewish" would be applicable (just a nitpicking).


There are a few questions though:
Would they establish Jerusalem as their capital and would they rebuild the Temple?
What would their relationship be like with the majority Muslim population in the territory they ruled?

They could have Jerusalem as a religious center but it IMO would be somewhat difficult to link this empire to the old Jewish state. OTOH, I may grossly underestimate the theological part of the issue. As for the relations with the Muslims, there was no UN and the endless human rights groups to complain to so the subdued population would have to behave, as it did under the pagan Mongols or Christian Russians.


Would they be more or less hostile toward the Byzantines than the Muslim Seljuks of OTL?

Constantinople was a very important trade hub so "nothing personal". ;)
 
Hmm, would this affect the remaining Zoroastrians in Iran? (assuming actually taking over the place isn't impossible because of difficulties with reliable manpower)
As I vaguely recall Jews had a better relation with Zoroastrians then other religions because of the whole Cyrus the Great ending the Babylonian exile and rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem thing.

Though I presume even if that doesn't matter they will still be better treated then by the OTL Seljuks as an empire run by a small religious minority just can't afford turning other religious minorities against them.
 
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