Klingon Empire

## Government

Emblem of the Empire (pdmahler)

The ***tlhIngan wo'*** or **Klingon Empire** was the interstellar state of the Klingon people. First City (*veng wa'DIch*) on Qo'noS served as the government's capitol and tlhIngan Hol served as its official language.

The empire was founded during Earth's 9th century by Kahless the Unforgettable, who united the Klingon people and their homeworld, Qo'noS. Throughout the centuries, the Empire expanded throughout the Beta Quadrant, conquering numerous systems and species. By the 25th century, the Ferasan Clans and Gorn Hegemony were vassals of the Empire and the Orion Syndicate served the Empire. Many members of these groups, as well as from the Lethean and Nausicaan species, were granted the ability to become citizens (*rewbe'*) during the Last Federation-Klingon War as the Empire sought to expand its military.

The government was known as ***Tliin'ghan Ndeerya*** in Graalen, ***Tlingan-eik-te'kru*** in Golic Vulcan, ***Kll'inghann Nneikha*** in Rihan, and ***Klin'çah'o*** in Cardăsda.

## Organization

Though the Empire often had someone filling the throne, by the 23rd century the true leaders of the government were the High Council (*yejquv*). The leader of the council (*yejquv DevwI'*) was known as the chancellor (*Qang*). Members of the High Council (*yejquv qu'vIgh*) stood at the head of their Great Houses. The Brotherhood of the Sword (*yan 'ISletlh*) was the honor guard (*'avwl' batlh*) of Imperial leadership.

### Houses

The leader of a House (*tuq*) was known as the *joH*, often translated as "lady" or "lord." Those House leaders who became accomplished and well-known in the Empire were granted the title of epetai (*'Iptay*). Though it was traditionally bestowed by the emperor, it came to be synonymous with the *joH* of a Great House when the emperor became a symbolic position. Additional ranks within a House were gentai (*ghentay*), zantai (*Santay*), vestai (*veStay*), sutai (*Sutay*), and tai (*tay*). These communicated an individual's standing within the house and afforded them certain privileges within the House and amongst its allies.

A torchbearer (*Sech qengwI'*) was a ceremonial title bestowed upon one who acted as agent for House leaders, the chancellor, or the emperor. A trusted advisor to a Great House's leadership was known as a Gin'tak (*ghIntaq*).

### Vassals and subjects

Those denizens of worlds conquered by the Empire and not given equal status with its citizens were labeled *jeghpu'wI'*, meaning "conquered people." They were typically considered more useful than slaves (*toy'wI''a'pu'*), so were afforded more rights and freedoms. Though it was rare, individuals from subject worlds could be granted the rights of full citizens (*rewbe'pu'*), typically after an achievement seen as honorable or of great benefit to the Empire. In reality, the wealthy could also purchase their citizenship rights.

In the late 24th century the Empire explored another status for non-Klingons, *muvpu'wI',* meaning “joined people.” Implemented by Chancellor Martok after the Dominion War, this was created to offer greater incentives for those viewed as assets to join the Empire as citizens. While some on the High Council disparaged the idea, it proved its worth when large numbers of Orions, Nausicaans, and Letheans, as well as the entirety of the Ferasan Clans, became *muvpu'wI'* in the later decades of the century. Though the Gorn Hegemony was initially expected to become *jeghpu'wI'* when the Empire took Gornar in 2403, Chancellor J'mpok surprised many by granting them *muvpu'wI'* status.

## Culture

Much of Imperial culture was based around the lives, myths, and legends of Kahless and Lukara.

### Combat

The honor system and dueling of the Empire has fostered the development of several hand-to-hand armaments and martial art styles. The most prominent form was the mok’bara (*moQbara'*).

### Calendar

The Empire used a calendar system called *qeylIS bov* (QB), meaning "the era of Kahless." Dates preceding the life of the Empire's founder were *qeylIS bov nubwI'* (QBN) or "before the era of Kahless." The calendar began on the day Kahless the Unforgettable made his promise to return. The year (*DIS*) had a total of 11 months (*jar*), with each month having either 51 or 52 days (*jaj*), making it a total of 564 days. The months were, in chronological order, *a'qeylIS*, *jo'voS*, *maqtaH*, *So'jen*, *nay'poQ*, *lo'bral*, *mer'utlhIj*, *batlh*, *tlha'laH*, *do'qat*, and *QuSten*. A day on Qo'noS lasted 24 hours, 8 minutes and 38 seconds on Earth.

### Languages

#### Aphorisms

A common mantra within the Empire was *tlhIngan maH*, meaning "we are Klingon." T'Kuvma, in his attempt to unite the disparate Houses against the Federation, expanded this saying to *tlhIngan maH taHjaj*, "we are Klingon, may it continue," often shortened to "remain Klingon!"

Another phrase was *qatlh may' bom bomlu'*, "Why does the hymn of battle play?" A line from an old Klingon opera, in the original ballad the troops resoundingly answer "To call us to battle and glory." The phrase came to permeate Klingon culture and was often used as a call to arms and action within the Klingon Imperial Fleet and later Defense Force. Used in a similar way was *wo' batlhvaD*, translated as "For the Empire!"

In the midst of battle, especially if the outlook was grim, a Klingon would often say *Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam*, meaning "today is a good day to die." When exacting vengeance for a wrong, Klingons often uttered *bortaS bIr jablu'DI' reH QaQqu' nay'*. This translated as "revenge is a dish best served cold." A somewhat self-aware comment on Imperial martial culture was *SuvwI'pu' qan tu'lu'be'*, which meant "there are no old warriors."

Since a death in battle was the ideal within Klingon culture, suicide attacks were considered great acts with which to increase or regain one’s honor. Such were commonly preceded with an utterance of *Heghlu'DI' mobbe'lu'chugh QaQqu' Hegh wanI'*, translated as "death is an experience, which is best when shared."

### Symbology

The official emblem of the Empire was its trefoil, known as *tIq'ghob*, meaning "heart of virtue." Each of the arms symbolized different traits to which Klingons aspired: honor (*quv*), loyalty (*matlh*), and duty (*Qu'*). Various versions, employing different orientations and color schemes, were used by Imperial assets and members. The 23rd century style of the emblem inspired the name for the Starfleet tradition of the "Imperial Domain of the Tricolor Trefoil," which was awarded to those personnel who served along the border between the Federation and the Empire or who entered Imperial space.

## Appendices

### Connections

**Territory:** Qo'noS (Praxis Station) • Kolm-an • Qu'Vat • Khitomer • HuDyuQ (shipyards) • Ty'Gokor (shipyards) • Ganalda IV (space station) • Makus Shipyards • Taganika

**Agencies:** Klingon Defense Force • Klingon Naval Academy • Klingon Imperial Intelligence

### Sources consulted

* Klingon Empire article at *Memory Alpha*.
* Klingon Empire article at *Memory Beta*.
* Klingon Empire article at the *Star Trek Online Wiki*.

### Footnotes

1. ↑ *The Path to 2409*: Volume 24, Chapter 4.
2. ↑ See "Klingon Calendar" article by Atavachron. Dates could formerly be created using the calendar spreadsheet (now defunct).
3. ↑ *Star Trek: Klingon Academy* video game.