Judah

*Royal Lion of Judah on white background*

**Judah** is an Jewish Israelite Minor Kingdom situated in the Palestine Region, occupying the area of Judaea. It is adjacent to Assyria to the North, Philistia and their overlord Egypt to the West, Edom to the South and Moab and Ammon to the East. It is historically the legitimate remnant of the United Kingdom of Israel and the seat of power of the Davidian Dynasty.

## Traditions

Trade Steering +20%

Improve Relations +25%

## Ideas

The Chosen PeopleEnemy Core-Creation Cost +50%

Sicarii AssassinsSpy Network Construction +20%

Noahide LawsAccepted Culture +1

Tolerance of Heathens +2.00

Maccabean BraveryMorale of Armies +10%

Lineage of AbrahamYearly Legitimacy +1.00

National Unrest -1

Milkhemet MitzvahDiscipline +5%

Mosaic FinanceNational Tax Modifier +10%

# Background

Judah designates the area of the Levant under the rulership of the Tribe of Judah and their ruling dynasty, the Davidian (named after David the First, ruler of the United Kingdom of Samaria and Judah), also called the House of David. At the beginning of the Imperium Universalis timeline, Judah is left the only independent country following the Abrahamic tradition after the Kingdom of Samaria was annexed by the Assyrians in 720 BC (51 AUC). Judah has struggled for most of a century under kings that were unable to challenge either the Egyptians, the Hittites or the Assyrians, and were recently in a long and bloody conflict with the Philistine Sea People that ended in a draw, with the invaders unable to expand beyond their Egyptian captures of Gaza and Ashkelon, while Judah failed to capture the coast from them and expand their influence at the expense of Egypt, which was occupied by a massive Libyan migration, and have now revitalized their state under the Saïs Dynasty.

Historically, Judah went on to be conquered by Babylon after failing to provide tribute to the Empire, and would not be free until the Macchabean Revolt from Seleucid rulership in 167 BC.

# Gameplay

Judah is possibly one of the hardest starts in the game, with the kingdom proper being sandwiched between the two powerhouses that are Assyria (soon to be Babylonia) and Egypt, and are heathens to everyone else around them; but Judah is not without options to expand either. Nearby are the Canaanite kingdoms of Moab, Ammon and Edom, which one can use along with the Israeli traditions to quickly build up semi-autonomous vassals to supply the Judahn treasury with funds and add auxiliaries to our armies. Philistia is also an autonomous vassal of Egypt, meaning they will usually ally the three first mentioned; which can be used to annex and then liberate their lands as our vassal likewise. While imposing, the Qedarite Confederation of Arabia is also quite vulnerable if they haven't allied a great power. One could easily take them out and convert them to Judaism.

The real problems come with dealing with Assyria and Egypt. Mercenaries and endebtment will be a necessity, and making recoups out of the wars to pay back those loans along with the accumulation of territories will be very important. Judah's priority should be to reform Israel by adding Samaria to its owned states to gain Large State status and add further accepted cultures.

Judah will also be extremely reliant on religious ideas. The Jewish Faith considers everyone except for Samaritanism and Christianity as heathens, and have only one special mechanic, the Defender of the Faith system; Judah is best played annexing and liberating enemy nations as vassals after converting their provinces to Judaism to create an enormous vassal swarm bolstering their Defender of the Faith bonuses; at their peak, with the right ideas and policies, Judah or Israel can support 24 vassals, easily enough to support the fourth level of Defender of the Faith. Their Theocratic Monarchy also tend for this type of gameplay as they provide with an additional missionary to speed up that process.

# Decision : Form Israel

Judah is the only nation that has the option to form Israel without switching culture

## Requirements for potential:

* Is of Israelite culture
* Is of Samarian culture

## Requirements for formation :

* Israel does NOT exist
* Is at peace
* Is NOT a subject nation
* Owns and cored Jerusalem (2277)
* Owns and cored Shomron (2286)
* Has at least 8 provinces in states

## Effects :

* Country changes to Israel
* If not Kingdom Government Rank (III)
	+ Set Government Rank to Kingdom (III)
* Add permanent claims to Judaea and Samaria Areas

# Other decisions

These other decisions are also available only to Judah

## Ezra's Marriage Reform

### Requirements for potential :

* Is Judah
* Does not have national modifier "Ezra's Reform"

### Requirements for passing :

* Is of Jewish religion
* Is at peace
* Has at least Administrative Tech 8

### Effects :

* Gains "Ezra's Reform" national modifier, providing :
	+ Culture Conversion Cost +20%
	+ Missionary Strength -1%
	+ Tolerance of the True Faith +2.00
	+ Yearly Legitimacy +0.50