The Forgotten History of the Khazars: A Medieval People of Religious Tolerance and Military Might

Khazars were a medieval people who lived in the area corresponding to modern-day Ukraine, Russia, and Kazakhstan. They were a Turkic ethnic group who played an important role in the history of Eastern Europe and the Middle East during the 7th to 10th centuries. The Khazars were known for their military prowess and their ability to control trade routes between Europe and Asia.

The Khazars were also known for their religious tolerance, and their kingdom was home to Jews, Christians, Muslims, and pagans. In fact, the Khazar king, Bulan, is said to have converted to Judaism in the 8th century, and many of his subjects followed suit. This has led some historians to speculate that the modern-day Jewish population may have descended from the Khazars, although this theory is controversial and not widely accepted.

Despite their military power and cultural achievements, the Khazars were eventually defeated by the Kievan Rus' prince Vladimir the Great in the late 10th century. The Khazar kingdom was then absorbed into the Kievan Rus' state, and the Khazars disappeared as a distinct ethnic group. However, their legacy lives on in the many place names and cultural traditions that can still be found in the region today.