Surviving polytheistic Bosphoran Kingdom?

[Magnum]

Instead of being destroyed by the Goths in the 340s, the Bosphorans manage to maintain a continuity through vassalage, which they continue under the Huns.
Just like previously in the 3rd century with the Goths, they continue to provide their overlords with ships with which to plunder and trade with the Eastern Roman Black Sea coast.

Around this time, they become the preferred go-to destination for Pagans throughout the Roman Empire fleeing persecution.

They continue as vassals to the polytheistic Bulgars, followed by the polytheistic/Jewish Khazars.

OTL, the area was finally conquered by the Rus in the late 10th century, who converted to Christianity shortly thereafter.

ITTL, how long could the Bosphorans cling on to their culture&religion? All the way to the 10th century? Even later?

 

[Arkenfolm]

If paganism is stronger in Europe in Late Antiquity and medieval times and more resistant to Christianity, and the ERE has too many of their own issues to mount a successful conquest of them, they could do well for themselves as a vassal of the various steppe nomads to their north.

I think their best bet is to expand to the entirety of Crimea and build some good fortifications along the isthmus which gives them a better bargaining position against steppe hordes. This is especially important given the number of migrations and the fact that their overlord might end up destroyed.

 

[Mr_Fanboy]

Perhaps they could survive as a distinct group of Hellenic polytheists, but it seems likely that their fate will mirror that of the Crimean Goths in our world: a weird relic population that ultimately amount to little more than historical curiosity once they finally disappear centuries down the line.

 

[Magnum]

wonder how the rest of Europe would view them

 

[Paradoxer]

Instead of being destroyed by the Goths in the 340s, the Bosphorans manage to maintain a continuity through vassalage, which they continue under the Huns.
Just like previously in the 3rd century with the Goths, they continue to provide their overlords with ships with which to plunder and trade with the Eastern Roman Black Sea coast.

Around this time, they become the preferred go-to destination for Pagans throughout the Roman Empire fleeing persecution.

They continue as vassals to the polytheistic Bulgars, followed by the polytheistic/Jewish Khazars.

OTL, the area was finally conquered by the Rus in the late 10th century, who converted to Christianity shortly thereafter.

ITTL, how long could the Bosphorans cling on to their culture&religion? All the way to the 10th century? Even later?

No Christianity might help their existence if they avoid conquest.

But with Christianity they likely eventually convert to Orthodox faith to get backing from Byzantium and other Christians against the hordes along steppe especially when they look weak.

The Greek culture is not hard to hang onto without conquest and displacement especially with Christianity present or not. With Christianity around geopolitics make staying to old pantheons likely political suicide and eventual conquest once both East and west fall to Christianity

 

[Arkenfolm]

wonder how the rest of Europe would view them

Until the equivalent of the Renaissance (meaning Europeans looking back at classical Antiquity and taking inspiration from it), they'd be treated as a pagan group that happens to speak a similar language to Greek, meaning not very well. Their language, I should note, would be based on local dialects of Greek that would diverge from Medieval Greek thanks to the separate religions.

After the alt-Renaissance, they'd be a curiosity among wealthy travelers thanks to a perception they'd be "authentic" Classical Greeks, albeit this would be debated since even in Antiquity the local paganism was already distinct from other parts of the Hellenic world. Even so, they'd no doubt colour modern perceptions on Ancient Greece.

 

[Glory2Cabinda]

Maybe they would pratice sometype of neoplatonism to give a more rigours philosphoical justifaction for their religion? And or try to standardize the pantheon and worship like Julian the apostate tried to.

 

[Magnum]

Until the equivalent of the Renaissance (meaning Europeans looking back at classical Antiquity and taking inspiration from it), they'd be treated as a pagan group that happens to speak a similar language to Greek, meaning not very well. Their language, I should note, would be based on local dialects of Greek that would diverge from Medieval Greek thanks to the separate religions.

After the alt-Renaissance, they'd be a curiosity among wealthy travelers thanks to a perception they'd be "authentic" Classical Greeks, albeit this would be debated since even in Antiquity the local paganism was already distinct from other parts of the Hellenic world. Even so, they'd no doubt colour modern perceptions on Ancient Greece.

Would the language really diverge all that much? They would still be heavily involved in trade with Constantinople, even though their identity might be shaped by their determination to keep "the Old Gods" in opposition to Christianity.

Also, wouldn't they be seen more of a relic of the late Roman Empire, instead of going back all the way to the classical era?

 

[Sarufiyyun]

Yeah I don't expect the Eastern Romans to allow a pagan foothold in their periphery. At the least, you will see a push from Constantinople to send missionaries to make sure that the Bosphoran kingdom adheres to the right kind of Christianity.