Centauri Republic

Revision as of 13:27, 6 May 2014

The Centauri Republic is a large interstellar empire that features in the Babylon 5 universe.

History

At their height, the empire ruled entire quadrants and were a powerful force in the galaxy. They began to suffer a decline with Ambassador Londo Mollari dispatched to Babylon 5 in order to link their fate to the Earth Alliance. (Movie: The Gathering)

At some point, an Emperor from House Mollari ascended to the throne though his end was noted to had gone badly. (Episode: Strange Relations) In the height of the Republic, the Centauri expanded in all directions but never opposed the Minbari. (Movie: In the Beginning)

During the Narn rebellion, the Centauri decided their his resistance needed to be discouraged and thus bombed seven of the major seven cities on the Narn homeworld for six straight days for around 31 hours a day. (Episode: A View from the Gallery)

Despite the defeat of the Narn, the Centauri military campaigns and expansion began to affect other races that included both the Drazi as well as Pak'ma'ra. Both species territories had been invaded with one of the Drazi's listening posts being 'liberated' though they stated that this was only establishing a presence with rumors stating that they were going to attack other races as well as worlds. These acts threatened to destabilize the entire region though the Centauri Republic claimed that they were creating a buffer zone around their empire in order to decrease the risk of conflict and lessen tensions. Though other races stated that these were invasions the Centauri officially claimed that these were exaggerations by the other species. During this time, the Earth Alliance proceeded with efforts to sign a non-aggression pact with the Centauri Republic in order to prevent hostilities between the two governments. Afterwards, the Centauri continued their expansion into the territory of the other member races of the League of Non-Aligned Worlds. (Episode: The Fall of Night) As part of the Narn treaty, all Narn vessels were to be surrendered to Centauri custody. (Episode: Walkabout) In this time, the Shadow's agents had secured an alliance with Lord Refa and used him to engage in dozens of smaller conflicts. This saw Ambassador Mollari blackmail Refa with the use of poison in order to get him to end his alliance with Mr Morden. (Episode: Ceremonies of Light and Dark) As a result, he attracted the ire of Mr Morden who wanted an agent in the Centauri Royal Court and attempted to convince him to change his mind. When Mollari refused then Mr Morden decided to punish Londo by secretly assassinating his lover Adira. (Episode: Interludes and Examinations)

After the incident at Z'ha'dum, the Shadow's sought to move their ships to safety on allied worlds to protect them from retaliation during the lull in fighting. This saw Emperor Cartagia agreeing to give an island to the Shadow's for their vessels with those in the Centaurum opposing this move being quietly executed. Upon learning of this fact, Ambassador Mollari determined that Cartagia was a mad man who intended to become elevated to godhood. (Episode: The Hour of the Wolf) This saw him instigating a plot to eliminate the mad Emperor using the seemingly public execution of Citizen G'Kar on Narn but was used as a means of quietly assassinating Cartagia. No clear line of succession was present at this point as Cartagia seemingly had no heir thus Londo Mollari was appointed Prime Minister of the Republic and as a result was the Centauri leader. He claimed that the death of the Emperor indicated that Narn was a troublesome world to control and that the Centauri should pull away from the occupied colonies with this decision being agreed by his supporters. (Episode: The Long Night) Afterwards, he seeded warheads on the Isle of Celini and ordered Mr. Morden to remove the Shadow vessels from Centauri Prime but when he refused Prime Minister Mollari detonated the explosives thus destroying the entire island along with the vessels on it. This was in order to convince the Vorlons that they had removed their world of Shadow influence. The Vorlon's, however, would have destroyed Centauri Prime had the Battle of Coriana VI not been concluded leading to all the First Ones departing known space with the Centauri homeworld spared from destruction. (Episode: Into the Fire)

Following the Shadow War, Ambassador Mollari managed to convince his government to give their full official support to Sheridan's bid to overthrow President Clark's hold over the Earth Alliance. (Episode: No Surrender, No Retreat) The Regent at this point also fell ill and it was expected he would pass away soon which was why the Royal Court desired Mollari to return to Centauri Prime in order to become emperor. (Episode: Rising Star) An attempt was made to assassinate Ambassador Mollari when he was scheduled to be transported by a cruiser back to Centauri Prime. He was unable to be transported to the craft and on its attempt to return to homeworld it was destroyed as a result of Centauri explosives detonated. (Episode: Strange Relations)

Overview

Leadership of their empire lay in the Emperor who was assisted by the Prime Minister that managed the Senate. (Episode: Signs and Portents) The emperor was considered the soul of the people and the center of the Republic. (Episode: The Hour of the Wolf) Tasters were present within the Emperor's court who checked on his food and drink. (Episode: The Long Night) Custom held that upon the death of the emperor that the royal consort spoke in spirit on his behalf and thus they spoke in the plural as if the deceased ruler now resided within her even if a new leader had been chosen. (Episode: Point of No Return) Only the emperor was allowed to wear the seal of the Centauri Republic that indicated their position of authority among their people. (Movie: In the Beginning)

Regents were selected as a ceremonial role for holding the throne until a new emperor could be selected. (Episode: Epiphanies) There were a number of posts held by Ministers with these including those governing War, Intelligence, Security and Transportation. (Episode: Into the Fire) Within the Royal Court, a position of authority was that of advisor on matters of planetary security. (Episode: Z'ha'dum) Royal physicians were positions held by those in the medical profession who tended to the emperor. (Episode: The Long Night) The Royal Court were trained not to observe events that were inappropriate. (Episode: A Tragedy of Telepaths)

Two of the oldest houses in the royal court were House Mollari and House Refa. (Episode: And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place) One of the old ways of the Republic was the use of poison against other members in the royal court. (Episode: Ceremonies of Light and Dark) For years, it quickly became a common fact that inaugurations were simply signals for an assassin that a new target had entered into the firing range. (Episode: No Compromise)

Among the oldest symbols of authority within the Republic was an artifact known as the Eye. (Episode: Signs and Portents)

Their military tactics were noted for being quite thorough as their strategy involved the process of attacking, neutralizing and securing targets before continuing with the next assault. (Episode: The Long, Twilight Struggle) Other species were known to be familiar with Centauri combat models and tactics. (Episode: The Fall of Night)

In their decline, the Republic had been reduced to around twelve planets with a thousand monuments and selling trinkets to others. (Movie: The Gathering)

Technology

Centauri fighter pilots were willing to put their craft on auto-pilot and risk blacking out if it allowed them to get the optimum firing position when they regained consciousness. (Episode: The Fall of Night)

Solid Kirrilium was a metal that was used to construct strong material such as chains. (Episode: The Long Night) Tenastacine was a rare Centauri drug that was very rare and expensive. (Episode: The Exercise of Vital Powers) Other medication included a blue liquid that could cure flu-like symptoms in the span of two to three hours. (Movie: In the Beginning)

Electro-whips were said to give increasing levels of pain each time it was used with forty strokes able to kill even a Narn. (Episode: The Summoning) Special assassination devices were able to inject small doses of neurotoxin that could simulate heart failure instantaneously where an organic sealant was used to cover the entry wound thus masking the true nature of the targets death. (Episode: The Long Night) Their arsenal included the use of mass drivers that were weapons of mass destruction banned by galactic treaties due to the destruction they did to planetary surfaces. (Episode: The Long, Twilight Struggle)

Planets

• Centauri Prime :
• Gorash 7 : a supply point for the main Centauri fleet during the Narn-Centauri War where Warleader G'Sten sought to destroy but his armada was destroyed by the Shadows. (Episode: The Long, Twilight Struggle)

Appearances

• Babylon 5: "Signs and Portents"

External Links

• Babylon 5 Wiki Entry

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