Klingon Empire

The Klingon Empire (also sometimes referred to as the Imperial Klingon Empire) is the official government of the Klingon race, founded approximately 1,500 years ago (1,000 years by the Klingon calendar) by Kahless the Unforgettable, who first united the Klingon homeworld of Qo'noS.

History

Like its people, the history of the Klingon Empire is violent but colorful. Around the year 900 CE, Qo'noS was ruled by Molor, a tyrannical ruler who was generally unpopular among the people. Kahless emerged as a champion of the people, and slew Molor in single combat using the first bat'leth. (See Sword of Kahless.) This event continues to be celebrated in the Empire in the Kot'baval Festival. (TNG: "Firstborn") Kahless ruled together with his wife, the Lady Lukara, as Emperor of Qo'noS, despite the fact that he was not of noble birth. (Qo'noS had an established nobility even at this point in its history.)

Kahless was not just a warrior, but also a philosopher of sorts. During his rule, he established a strict warrior code that was adopted into Klingon tradition and culture. His words are frequently invoked by warriors about to enter battle. Among his sayings are, "A leader is judged not by the length of his reign but by the decisions he makes." (DS9: "Tacking Into the Wind")

Over the next thousand years, the Klingon Empire would slowly expand, despite a devastating conquest and sack by the Hur'q, a powerful race from the Gamma Quadrant. The Hur'q did not stay long, however, either because of their nomadic way of life or because of fierce resistance from the Klingons — but they did not leave before taking many valuable cultural treasures, including the revered Sword of Kahless.

By the 22nd century, the Klingons were a major regional power, holding several dozen star systems and fielding a formidable military, the Klingon Defense Force.

First Contact with Earth

In the late 2140s and early 2150s, the Klingons were engaged in a fierce internal struggle that, while not amounting to actual civil war, threatened to become a more intense conflict. Numerous attacks had taken place throughout the empire that were blamed on various Klingon factions; it was not realized at the time that the attacks had actually been launched by the Suliban Cabal, who were taking orders from a mysterious individual who was an operative in the Temporal Cold War.

Although the Klingons had had occasional contact with the Vulcans prior to 2151, they had not met Humans until a courier named Klaang crashed on Earth while pursued by two Suliban soldiers. After dispatching his two pursuers, Klaang was shot by a frightened local farmer named Moore. Although Vulcan ambassador Soval advised that they withhold medical treatment and allow Klaang to die, but Captain Jonathan Archer intervened and insisted on returning Klaang to Qo'nos aboard his ship, the Enterprise (NX-01).

Archer, however, did not understand the complexity or importance of Klingon tradition, and did not realize that returning Klaang to Qo'noS was a grave dishonor and insult. However, Klaang carried with him proof that the attacks were in fact launched by the Suliban, which averted a civil war. For this service, Archer and his ship were allowed to leave peacefully. However, the incident did not leave Klingons kindly disposed towards Humans. (ENT: "Broken Bow")

As of the time of this writing, the situation with the Klingons and the Enterprise remains unresolved. We will have to wait and see if the show's fourth season provides more information about the Klingons.

Author's Note: Based on dialogue from the Star Trek movies and The Next Generation, it was originally believed that First Contact between the Federation and the Klingon Empire took place around 2218, and immediately led to the state of cold war that lasted until the events of Star Trek VI. Most notable was a reference to the first contact with the Klingons in TNG: "First Contact", which implied that the events of that "disastrous" meeting directly caused decades of near-warfare. However, all this speculation has been contradicted by events seen on Enterprise.

Civil War

See also: Klingon Civil War

External links

• Klingon Imperial Diplomatic Corps — an extensive site with detailed information about Klingon history and culture.
• Klingon Language Institute — the site to visit for instructions on how to write and speak the Klingon language.