Klingon Empire

The Klingon Empire.

The Klingon Empire is an interstellar government that features in Star Trek

History

The Klingon Empire was an interstellar government established by the Klingon race and centred around their homeworld of Qo'noS.

The Imperial monarchy who traced its origins to Kahless himself eventually to an end in the mid-21st century when the last emperor died. In the aftermath, power over the empire fell to the Chancellor the High Council of the Klingon Empire. (TNG: Rightful Heir)

In the reign of Chancellor Mog'wa in the Second Empire, a fleet of ships were dispatched into Breen space to conquer their homeworld but none of them returned. (DS9: 'Til Death Do Us Part)

By 2151, the Suliban Cabal had staged a number of secret attacks on the Klingon Empire and made it appear as if it was the works of another faction within their space. This was an attempt to provoke conflict from within the empire but elements within the Klingon government had learnt the truth of these attacks. Thus, they dispatched a courier named Klaang with proof of these findings but he was attacked by Suliban agents causing him to crash on Earth. This led to first contact with humanity though Klaang was injured accidentally by a human farmer. The Vulcans managed to use their diplomatic relations with the Klingon Empire to prevent hostilities from erupting between them and mankind. Captain Jonathan Archer led the crew of the NX Enterprise in a journey to Kronos whilst evading Suliban Cabal attempts to stop them. They were ultimately able to succeed in their task with the courier returned to Kronos in order to present his findings to the Klingon High Council. (ENT: Broken Bow)

Over the course of the century, encounters between the Klingons and Starfleet were noted to had become more rare. (DIS: The Vulcan Hello) Around the year 2230, the Klingon Empire was noted to had conducted research into developing time travel technology with these efforts being hampered secretly by Section 31. (DIS: The Red Angel)

In 2256, the twenty-four Great Houses were noted to had waged war against one another with the empire having been in disarray for generations. This was until T'Kuvma who was of noble heritage but not on the High Council decided to have the Beacon of Kahless lighted. This alongside a provocation was made with the Federation as he believed that fighting a common foe would unite the Klingon Empire. This culminated in the Battle of the Binary Stars where T'Kuvma united his people under the creed of "remain Klingon". T'Kuvma was martyred in the battle but he managed to rally all Klingons under a common cause as he believd that the Federation was an existential threat to their way of life. (DIS: Battle at the Binary Stars) Kol of House Kor used the aftermath of T'Kuvma's death to grow his powerbase and managed to secure the loyalty of many of the Ship of the Deads crew. (DIS: The Butcher's Knife Cares Not for the Lamb's Cry) He then consolidated his power in the Klingon High Council and removed anyone that would not pledge their loyalty to him. (DIS: Lethe) From the Ship of the Dead, Kol spread cloaking technology throughout the Klingon fleet thus giving them a key advantage over the Federation. (DIS: Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum)

In 2271, Kor led the Klingon Empire to a memorable victory over the Romulan Star Empire in the Battle of Klach D'kel Brakt. (DS9: Blood Oath)

A calamitous later befell the empire in 2293 when overmining of the Klingon moon of Praxis caused it to explode. The disaster deprived their empire of their chief energy mining facility and the resultant explosion damaged the ozone of the Klingon homeworld. Thus, it only had 50 years of life unless the empire devoted significant resources from its military expenditure. The disaster was detected by Starfleet who debated on their response to the incident though Ambassador Spock had already made overtures to Chancellor Gorkon in order for a peace to be forged between their two governments. This peace overture though was opposed by members of the Klingon government and even secretly worked with similar elements in the Federation to thwart the signing. (TOS: Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)

Overview

Society

Originally, the empire was a feudal monarch with power residing in a central figure who was the Emperor with these traditionally being descendants of Kahless. However, by latter centuries, power lay within the hands of the Klingon High Council with the position of Emperor being abandoned tough not abolished by the time of the mid-21st century. However, in the mid-24th century, clerics created a clone of Kahless who were accepted as the new Emperor of the Klingon Empire though the position was that of a religious figurehead. (TNG: Rightful Heir) Heading the High Council was the Chancellor who served as the leader of the Klingon Empire with the council consisting of twenty-four members that represented the Great Houses. For protection, the Chancellor was guarded by a cadre of warriors that were known as the Yan-Isleth (Brotherhood of the Sword). (DS9: Apocalypse Rising) A Chancellor was known to appoint a Chief of Staff among his officers to help run the government. (TOS: Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country) When the Great Houses were scattered, one high ranking position was that of the Torchbearer who later stood by the side of the Chancellor of the Empire. (DIS: The Sounds of Thunder)

Various factions within the empire constantly challenged one another for leadership leading to the Klingons establishing the Rite of Succession that served as a strict yet rigorous means of determining their new leader. According to tradition, one was permitted to challenge the leader on either the grounds of cowardice or dishonourable conduct. This resulted in a fight in single combat with the challenger if successfully slaying the incumbent leading to them assuming the position of leader of the Empire. (DS9: Tacking Into the Wind)

The Oversight Council was responsible for the selection of officers with candidates required to take an entrance exam whereupon their application was determined for final approval. This was considered a simple formality though the members of the council were able to reject the candidate. (DS9: Once More Unto the Breach)

One branch in the empire was Klingon Intelligence that was responsible for conducting espionage and covert activities. (DS9: Visionary)

Worlds conquered by the empire had an Imperial Overseer installed to administer and manage the planet. (DS9: The Way of the Warrior)

A prestigious group within the empire was the Order of Kahless whose ranks included notable generals and military leaders. (DS9: When It Rains...) Another body was the Order of the Bat'leth that was considered one of the highest awards that could be given to warriors who had proven themselves in battle. (DS9: Apocalypse Rising)

A judiciary was present within the empire that handled matters of law. (ENT: Bounty)

A structured hierarchy was present on ships of the Klingon Empire that had operated successfully for centuries. According to this system, a first officer of any Klingon vessel had a duty to assassinate their captain they deemed their superior to be weak or unable to perform. This was seen as a form of honorable retirement that was assisted by the first officer. Meanwhile, the second officer shared a similar duty to the first. (TNG: A Matter Of Honor)

Though aggressive warriors, Klingons were said to utilise crude tactics with them being slow to adapt to changing circumstances. (ENT: Marauders)

Technology

Klingon technology was noted for being difficult to acquire in Federation space. (Episode: Honor Among Thieves)

At one point, they developed a technology that involved dispatching sleeper agents into enemy territory. To members of House Mo'Kai, this was known as choH' a' or species reassignment protocol that was designed with specifically infiltrating classified intelligence in an enemy force. This was a painful process that involved flaying open the skin of a Klingon and re-organising their anatomy to appear as the target species with a different neurological identity placed over the agent. This allowed the warrior to be unaware of their true nature and the identity genuinely believed they were part of the target species and unaware of their true nature until activated. (DIS: The War Without, The War Within)

Since the 22nd century, the Klingons were known to possess disruptor and photon torpedos within their arsenal. (ENT: Sleeping Dogs)

Vessels developed by the Klingon Empire included:

• B'rel-class :
• Raptor-class : a scout ship used in the 22nd century with thick hull reinforced with some kind of coherent molecular alloy where it was armed with disruptors as well as photon torpedos. (ENT: Sleeping Dogs)
• D5-class : a class of battle cruiser used in the 22nd century. (ENT: Judgment)
• D7-class : By 2377, it was said that the class had been retired decades ago. (VOY: Prophecy)
• K't'inga-class :
• Vor'cha-class :
• Negh'Var-class :

Klingon vessels were said to lack escape pods as they considered abandoning ship to be an act of cowardice. They were also known to maintain sections to hold live animals as Klingons preferred to eat fresh food. (ENT: Sleeping Dogs)

A Central Information Net was used to store information across the empire. (TNG: Sins of the Father)

Territory

Planets within the empire included:

• Qo'noS :
• Boreth : native to the planet were time crystals where exposure to them caused random temporal events to the user. They were regarded as a myth by the rest of the Klingon Empire with the timekeeper monks sworn to protect them. Such was their dedication that the monks attacked any outsiders with them not even acknowledging the commandments of the Chancellor of the Klingon Empire. (DIS: Through the Valley of Shadows)
• Khitomer :
• Narendra III :
• Ogat :
• Qo'noS :
• Rura Penthe : a penal asteroid that was known for its dilithium mines that was infamous with it being called the alien's graveyard. The gulag had no stockade, guard tower or electronic frontier but rather had a magnetic shield that prevented beaming away for transportation. Punishment for prisoners to exile to the surface where individuals died in the cold. (TOS: Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)
• Ty'Gokor :

Class 9 gas giants were identified as Q'tahL Class planets by the Klingon Empire. (ENT: Sleeping Dogs)

Members

• Vorok : a male Captain of a Klingon battle cruiser in 2151 who encountered the Xyrillians. (ENT: Unexpected)
• Bu'kaH : a female Klingon engineer who served as an engineer on the Raptor class scout ship Somraw where her crew attacked the Xarantine and confiscated alcohol from them which had a virus that infected the crew. Bu'kaH managed to slow its effects by hiding in the freezer where she encountered the crew of the NX Enterprise. (ENT: Sleeping Dogs)
• Orak :
• Kolos:
• Duras :
• Dennas : a female Klingon who represented the House of D'Ghor in 2259 where during the war against the Federation she successfully captured Starfleet Admiral Katrina Cornwell. (DIS: Lethe)
• Gowron :
• Martok :
• Kahless :
• Kurn :

Notes

• The Klingon Empire featured in the setting of the Star Trek universe.

In other media

Video games

• In Star Trek: Birth of the Federation, the Klingon Empire was a playable faction that appeared in the strategy video game.
• In Star Trek: Klingon Academy, the Klingon Empire featured in the story of the video that was set as a prequel to Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.
• In Star Trek: The Next Generation: Klingon Honor Guard, the Klingon Empire featured in the setting of the video game. The player operated as a member of the Klingon Honor Guard that defended the Empires leaders.
• In Starfleet Command, the Klingon Empire appeared as a playable faction in the video game.
• In Starfleet Command II, the Klingon Empire appeared as a playable faction in the video game.
• In Starfleet Command III, the Klingon Empire appeared as a playable faction in the video game.
• In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Dominion Wars, the Klingon Empire appeared as a playable faction in the real-time tactical video game.
• In Star Trek: Armada, the Klingon Empire featured in the story of the video game and were a playable faction.
• In Star Trek: Armada II, the Klingon Empire featured in the story of the video game and were a playable faction.
• In Star Trek: Legacy, the Klingon Empire appeared in the setting of the 2006 video game. Within the story setting, they were shown to be at war with the Federation in 2270 and made a deal with the rogue Vulcan T'Uerell where they provided her with mineral desposits in exchange for her designing a weapons platform for them. Knowledge of the advanced weapon platform came to the attention of Starfleet Intelligence who dispatched Captain Kirk to destroy it.
• In Star Trek Online, the Klingon Empire feature in the story of the MMORPG and were one of the playable factions.

Appearances

• Star Trek: The Original Series:
• Star Trek: The Next Generation: "Redemption, Part 2"
• Star Trek: Deep Space 9:
• Star Trek: Voyager:
• Star Trek: Enterprise:
• Star Trek:
• Star Trek: Into Darkness:
• Star Trek: Discovery:

External Links

• Memory Alpha Wiki Entry

This article is a stub. You can help Multiversal Omnipedia by expanding it.