Khazar Khaganate?

Khazar History

I always found it odd that, in the Early era, at least (haven't check later) the Khazar province had an oddly high level of Jewish religion. I remember reading something some months ago about a jewish state there, at one time, but never thought much about. As I was browsing the Wiki tonight (slow at work, lol) I stumbled upon this little page.

I was just wondering... why has no one bothered to add a Jewish faction to the map? Now I know, it is not entirely historically accurate, as the Khazars were diminished and dispersed by the timeframe of the game. But I've just wondered why there were Christian Bishops and Muslim Imams, and now mods with Pagans, why there had not been one with Sons of Abraham.

Forgive me if this is no-where near the right section, but I thought it might be fun to discuss some "what-if"s. Another one I've oft-considered is, there were many crusades inside of Europe, and though my history is a little fuzzy, some were inside the game timeline. But as none have represented factions, it does not really appear (that is, outside of an ornery Pope whipping his dogs into action).

Of note are the:
-Hussites (Czech nations early 1400s)
Fought in Bohemia against Dualists, something to do with Gnostcis.

-Albigensian Cathars (Toulouse area mid-1100s, officially early 1200s)
The Albigensian Crusade was launched in 1209 to eliminate the heretical Cathars of Southern France.

There were several crusades against Orthodox Novgorod by the Teutonic Order, some crusades to Finland from Sweden, crusades against Danes and Norse by Germans, some to Prussia, and even one to a tiny independent state in Friesland. Others against Aragon, areas in the Balkans... but most of those, at least, are represented in mods. Arguably the Hussites are as well, under the Bohemians, I suppose. And while the Albigensian Heresy is mentioned in Gameplay, it reduces zeal, and that's it.

Questions, comments, complaints?

If I'm not mistaken, the cultures are hardcoded into the game, so you are stuck with just Catholic, Orthodox, Muslim, and Pagan. Jews and heretics exist as religions, but not cultures, which are what factions are identified as.

Ah, good to know. Wouldn't it be funny to see a heretical faction wipe out the Papacy, though? *sigh*

I'm still not sure how the Jewish and Heretic religions spread or get seeded into the province percentages. I think certain hardcoded events give boosts in provinces, and the religious percentages do leak into neighboring territories.

It would be funny to mod in heretic preachers and rabbis to roam the campaign map. I'm pretty sure this is possible using the Faith column in the unit file.

I might have a tinker with it when I have some time. It would just make for a bit more diversified map (not that it really needs it, lol) and especially considering the Albigensians being in southern France, it might weaken France's staying power against England and the HRE. Just a thought, though. And even if the Khagans were inserted, they would stand little chance against the appearance of the Horde, much like the mod factions of the Cumans and Volga-Bulgars, and even Novgorod. Unless, of course, controlled by a Player and not the AI.

Also... is it hardcoded for the Novgorods in Vanilla/VI to be complete lay-abouts? They never seem to do much.