Suleiman the Magnificent

Suleiman I, better known as Suleiman the Magnificent in the West and "the Lawgiver" in the East, ruled the Ottoman Empire for 46 years, expanding its territories, reforming its legal system, and generally making sure everyone knew who was boss. He personally led Ottoman armies in conquering Belgrade, Rhodes, and much of Hungary, establishing a maritime presence that dominated the Mediterranean, Red Sea, and Persian Gulf. Not too shabby for a fellow who spent half his life in a giant tent.

During his reign, the Ottoman Empire was a significant haven for Jewish communities fleeing persecution in Europe, particularly from Spain after the Alhambra Decree. While Suleiman himself was firmly Muslim and saw himself as the caliph of Islam, his policies of religious tolerance (for the sake of a stable and productive empire, of course) allowed Jewish life and culture to flourish, albeit under dhimmi status.

Unfortunately for our scoring system, Suleiman's benevolence toward his Jewish subjects didn't extend to any personal embrace of Judaism. He was as Muslim as they come, meaning his I and O scores are solidly zero. As for K, well, helping foster a safe space for any Jews fleeing the Inquisition nets him a point, even if it was just good governance. It's the thought that counts, or at least the result.

So, while his empire was indeed magnificent for many, including some of our favorite people, Suleiman himself was not going to be invited to any seders. Unless, of course, he brought a really good charoset recipe.