Cozar

COZAR. The Oriental Historians relate¹, that Chozar, or Khosar, the seventh Son of Japheth, having separated from his Brethren, who were settled in different places of the Countries included within Great Tartary, came as far as the Banks of the River Volga, and there built a City which he called by his name, and sowed Millet round about it, which is the only Grain that grows in that Country. The Land has retained the name of Chozar, and the Inhabitants are known by that of Chozarians. It is situated to the north of the Caspian Sea, and extends itself from the Volga eastward. The Caspian Sea, by the Persians called the Sea of Chozar, borrowed its name from him.

The Jewish Authors² pretend, that Cozar or Chozar was Grandson to Japheth by Thogorma, that he founded the Kingdom of Cozar, whereof the City of Thogorma is one of the principal in the Country. The Rabbin Petachias³ assures us, that he continued eight days in this Kingdom, which a Vein of the Sea separates from Tartary; that from the Frontiers of this Kingdom issue seven great Rivers; that there are two Seas separated a day’s Journey from one another. There is such a stench arises from one, that all who sail that way are killed by the bad scent. The City of Thogorma is situated upon the Mountains of Ararat. The Law of Mahomet is observed there. You go from thence to Nisibe, which is eight days Journey distant from it There are three Synagogues there.

Another Jewish Traveller⁴, being inquisitive to know whether the Scepter continued still in Judah, and there were still any Country in the World where the Jews enjoyed regal Rights, was informed by a Jew, Physician to a certain Prince, that in the Kingdom of Cozar the King made profession of the Law of Moses, and he was confirmed in this opinion, when he saw the Letters of Joseph King of Cozar, to a Spanish Rabbin.

Abulfaragius writes, that the Cozarians and Georgians⁵ are the same People, and Eutychius Patriarch of Alexandria says, that the Emperor Heraclius procured considerable succours against the Persians, from the King of the Cozarians, and that in return he promised them a Throne; that is to say, an honourable seat in the Assemblies at his Imperial Palace. Edrissi in his Geography relates, that among the Cozarians every Man follows the Religion which appears best to him, and that they enjoy an intire liberty of Conscience, that there are Mussulmen, Christians and Jews mingled among them. It is affirmed, that the Caliph Abdalmelech made War with the Cozarians in Armenia, that he burnt them in their Churches, that he defeated them at the Iron Gates, and that they who remained turned Christians.

Notwithstanding all these Testimonies, there are still some Men of Learning⁶, who question much whether there be in reality any such Kingdom as that of Cozar, or rather who maintain it to be evident, that there is none, that whatever is said of it is founded only upon Fables, and that neither Jews nor Christians have hitherto been able to shew the Situation of it. I should choose rather to say, that this Country at present is not known to our Geographers by the name of Cozar; but after the Testimonies which we have produced from the Oriental Authors, can there be any doubt of there being such a Country, and that it is well known to them?

However this may be, it is related, that about the Year of Jesus Christ 740, a certain King of Cozar desiring, in consequence of a dream which he had⁷, to make himself acquainted with all Religions, that so he might be able to discern which was best, sent for a Philosopher, a Christian and a Mahometan, disputed with each of them; and was not affected with any of their Reasons. After this he sent for a Jew, whose name was Sangari, who succeeded so well as to persuade him, that the Jewish Religion was the only true one.

We have Sangari’s supposed Conference with Cozri, wherein certainly such things are to be read, as are very improper to convince an Infidel. But at last Cozri being converted, discovered his secret in confidence to the General of his Army; both of them departed privately from Cozar, and came fortunately to certain Mountains, where the Jews were celebrating the Sabbath. There the King and his General received Circumcision, made profession of Judaism; and upon their return to the Capital, engaged the People of the Country to take the same resolution. If the Letter from Joseph King of Cozar, to the Spanish Rabbi Chardac, were genuine, we should be obliged to own, that Judaism subsisted in the Kingdom of Cozar, till the end of the fourteenth Century, since this Rabbi lived about the year 1394. See Bartolocci Bibl. Rabbin. t. 2. p. 853.

But both this Letter from King Joseph and the pretended Conversion of the King of Cozar, are very dubious; it is very probable that the Book called Cozri, which the Jews so much value, that they would have it all got by heart; that this Book, I say, which includes the History of this Conversion, and Rabbi Sangari’s Arguments, is a pure Romance. The Jewish Author of the Hebrew Book entitled, Meor-enaïm⁸, questions whether there ever were such a King of the Cozarians, who embraced the Religion of the Jews. This Confession from an Author of this Nation, in a matter of such consequence, is very remarkable.

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