The Jewish Turkic Steppe Empire Of Khazaria

[Favonius Cornelius]

Some time around 650-700 AD an adventurous rabbi made his way to the hinterlands between the Black and Aral seas, to the steppe lands of the Turkic Khazar. So impressive was his presentation of his faith than these nomadic people settled down and accepted the Jewish faith.

 

http://www.khazaria.com/

 

What amazes me even further about the story of this ancient ally of the Byzantines is the fact that the Kagan of the Khazar maintained a religious council for advice which had a member of each known religion sitting in it. Surely one of the more curious epics in human history.

[Onasander]

I may very well be wrong, but didn't they convert because the Jews got kicked out of Byzantium and fled to the region? I read that it was the major reason for the halt of Islam into Russia, allowing Christianity to emerge there..... a kinda religious buffer state.

[Favonius Cornelius]

Not sure Onasander. I'd say though that Khazaria is ideally situated as a central hub for all religions. It's taking on a new one and accepting all was a wise move by it's rulers. Fleeing Jews were probably also a good new source of population and skill for his land.

 

I am curious about Kiev. The Khazars seem to have founded this important city, and then somewhere along the line the people of Kiev became their own power and resisted the Khazars. I wonder what happened about that.

[Onasander]

I'll ask my girlfriend, she's from that city, and half jewish at that!