'''Idumeans''' also known as '''Red Jews''' and '''Hyrcanians''' are the descendants of Edomites forcibly converted to Judaism by John Hyrcanus around 100BC when he ordered the entire population to be enslaved and then freed. Their name Hyrcanians comes from John Hyrcanus. They are also known as '''Ercolians''' or '''Hyrcanian Jews'''.
Although Hyrcanians accept the Mishna they do not have a very sophisticated understanding of Judaism and are comparable to Samaritans, Falashahs and other kinds of Karaitessuch as the 5th century Ishmaelites described by [[Sozomenus]]. According to Jewish tradition, Idumeans are associated with Christendom because they believe that Rebbe Yehoshuah Minzaret was not really a human but the incarnation of [[Abraham's Visitors]] as one person.
In the 7th century they worked hard to make Hagarim and Toshavim out of all the gentiles of the Middle East such as for example the [[Elagabalites]].
The Idumeans and their Pahlavi Hagarim made a treaty with the house of Sassan in 632. The house of Sassan were allowed to place Yazdegard III on a throne controlled by Idumeans and their Pahlavi Hagarim.
The Idumewns believe that Rebbe Yehoshuah Minzaret was not really a human but the incarnation of [[Abraham's Visitors]] as one person.
However, Karaite Jews conquered the western Idumeans in 633 so the Sassanians and the Pahlavis defended themselves but were suppressed in 636 by Umar who got the Idumeans on his side by arranging a marriage between a princess from the House of Sassan and a prince from the Idumean house of Ali to rule after Yazdegard III[http://www.coinfactswiki.com/wiki/Iran-Sasanian_651_(year_20)_1_drachm] which they eventually did[http://www.coinfactswiki.com/wiki/Iran-Arab_Sasanian_YE20_(AH31)_1_drachm_SK_mint] when Yazdegard III died in 651. However, a civil war broke out in 565 which caused Muawiya to secede Damascus away from the Idumean confederation.
