Recommendations on Jews

[DPS]

OK, lets say that you want to start out as a non-Jewish ruler, and then convert to Judaism. What ruler in 769 would be the best choice, keeping in mind the following: being independent (not a vassal), ease of converting to Judaism in the first place, having a relatively strong realm in a fairly safe location so you're not in great danger of being swamped by your religious enemies, not being so large that you'll risk a lot of revolts by your suddenly wrong-religion vassals (so big realms like the Abbasids, Ummayyads, ERE, Tibet, etc., are out), and preferably not being nomadic or an MR?

Just a thought experiment at this point, but something I might try eventually.

 

[jonjowett]

To avoid being swamped by religious enemies, it's probably best to be a powerful vassal of a large empire. If you get a NAP with your liege, he will be unable to revoke any of your titles. This allows you to expand inside the realm via claims etc, until you are large enough to stand on your own.

 

[WJS]

You could probably make a run as a Slavic or Suomenusko tribal pagan in Russia, marry a Khazar and convert that way, and just ensure that you're strong enough that your neighbors can't really coordinate an assault against you.

Come to think of it, Norse culture maintains cheap boats and raiding. A Tribal Norse Jewish power wouldn't be considerably hindered compared to a Tribal Norse Germanic power.

 

[jonjowett]

Come to think of it, Norse culture maintains cheap boats and raiding. A Tribal Norse Jewish power wouldn't be considerably hindered compared to a Tribal Norse Germanic power.

It'd be difficult to maintain MA (since you would not control any holy sites - you would only gain MA from holy wars and raiding), but otherwise I agree. This would be a very safe choice. (EDIT: If you can avoid being destroyed by county conquests or prepared invasions in the first few decades.)

 

[WJS]

It'd be difficult to maintain MA (since you would not control any holy sites - you would only gain MA from holy wars and raiding), but otherwise I agree. This would be a very safe choice. (EDIT: If you can avoid being destroyed by county conquests or prepared invasions in the first few decades.)

It'll be difficult to maintain MA no matter who you choose since all the Jewish holy sites are in Abbasid/Muslim lands in the first place. So, unless you insist on a Levantine start, I definitely still recommend the ex-pagan route.

Maybe there's a way to do it from Africa or India, too.

 

[ThePettyQueen]

I'd go for something in inland Africa. It's relatively safe from the biggest blobs, giving you time to grow strong. You've got the Jewish Semien duchy within reach to the east, which could help with conversion and marriages, and once you've established yourself you've got a chance that maybe Dhofar/Yemen can be conquered, if the Abbasids aren't super strong anymore.

In fact, I'm now tempted to try something similar. Except I might go for that Jewish count under Hungary in 936, or the Semien mountains themselves (incredibly beautiful place!) or that one Jewish patrician...

 

[CoSMoS]

Well Khazaria of course

 

[Kapitalisti]

I once had a fun game where I started as a German duke (Brandenburg I think) and secretly converted to Judaism via a Khazar bride. I laid low, managed to recruit a few other nobles including the goddamn emperor. Then joined a crusade for Jerusalem and immediately upon victory openly converted.

 

[MK1980]

i'd probably take the abbasid caliph or maybe the sultan of egypt (vassal of the caliph) and convert them via holy site or via a marriage (should be in range to get a khazar princess and nomads don't care about religion so the wrong religion blocking modfier doesn't apply).

perhaps wait a bit with the decision and secure your powerbase first (build up retinue, max out demense). if your character is reasonably popular with his vassals, most of them will simply switch to the new faith anyway when you ask them (only need 35 opinion to accept unless they are zealous IIRC).