Klingon Empire

{{sidebar government
| name                 = Klingon Empire
| image                = Klingon Empire logo.png
| imagecap             = Emblem of the Klingon Empire
| image2               =
| imagecap2            = 
| founded              = [[9th century]]
| location             = [[Beta Quadrant]]
| capital              = [[First City]], [[Qo'noS]]
| head of state        = [[Klingon emperor|Emperor of the Klingon Empire]]
| head of government   = [[Klingon chancellor|Chancellor of the High Council of the Klingon Empire]]
| legislature          = [[Klingon High Council|High Council of the Klingon Empire]]
| judiciary            = [[Klingon Judiciary]]
| major species        = [[Klingon]]s
| military             = [[Klingon Imperial Fleet]]<br/>[[Klingon Defense Force]]
| intelligence service = [[Klingon Intelligence|Klingon Imperial Intelligence]]
| language             = [[Klingonese]]
| currency             = [[Darsek|Klingon darsek]]
}}
{{aquote|I will fight any battle, anywhere... for the Empire!|[[Martok]]|2375|Tacking Into the Wind}}
The '''Klingon Empire''' was the official state of the [[Klingon]] people. It was founded in the [[9th century]] by [[Kahless the Unforgettable]], who first united the Klingon homeworld of [[Qo'noS]]. Since then, the Klingon Empire expanded its sphere of influence by conquering numerous systems and incorporating them. This made the Empire a major power in its region of the [[Milky Way Galaxy|galaxy]], as of the [[22nd century|22nd]], [[23rd century|23rd]], and [[24th century|24th centuries]].
{{bginfo|Though exclusively called "the Klingon Empire" or internally "the Empire", one exception was an reference to the "Klingon Imperial Empire" referenced in {{e|Sins of the Father}}.}}

== Government ==
Officially, the Klingon Empire was a feudal monarchy, with power residing in the [[Klingon emperor|Emperor]], who was traditionally a descendant of Kahless. However, de facto power lay with the [[Klingon High Council]]. The position of emperor was abandoned (but not officially abolished) in the mid-[[21st century]], but was revived in [[2369]] when a group of clerics created a [[Kahless (clone)|clone of Kahless]], who was accepted as the new Emperor, albeit only as a religious figurehead. ({{TNG|Rightful Heir}})

The [[Klingon chancellor|Chancellor]], the de facto leader of the Empire, was head of the High Council, which consisted of twenty-four members representing various [[Great House]]s (tuqmey, essentially, the nobility). The Chancellor was protected at all times by the ''[[Yan-Isleth]]'' (Brotherhood of the Sword). ({{DS9|Apocalypse Rising}})

Women were not normally permitted to hold seats on the High Council. Despite that, [[Gowron]] once offered [[Ambassador]] [[K'Ehleyr]] a seat on the Council in exchange for her support of his bid to be Chancellor. ({{TNG|Redemption|Reunion}})  Also, [[Azetbur]], the daughter of Chancellor [[Gorkon]], was permitted to succeed him as Chancellor in [[2293]]. ({{film|6}})  

{{bginfo|It is possible that this was permitted because she was made the head of her house, due to the unusual circumstances of her father's death. The ''Star Trek VI'' novelization indicates that Gorkon suspected that something might happen to him on the voyage and had arranged with his allies on the High Council for them to back Azetbur as Chancellor if he were to be killed. The novel ''[[Serpents Among the Ruins]]'' establishes Azetbur's assassination by a Klingon named Ditagh, who hoped that after her death the more powerful General Kaarg would rise to power. Kaarg would indeed rise to power and it would be him that would forbid women ever on the High Council again.}}

Various factions almost constantly challenged the leadership of the Empire, and so over time the Klingons developed a strict and rigorous [[Rite of Succession]] to determine their leader. According to tradition, one was permitted to challenge the leader on the grounds of cowardice or dishonorable conduct and fight in single combat. Should the challenger slay the incumbent, he assumed the role of the new leader. ({{DS9|Tacking Into the Wind}})

Because of the Klingon propensity for violence, shrewd Klingon chancellors redirected hostilities outward, where they would otherwise cause a civil war. In the [[2150s]], the Klingon chancellor instructed [[Duras, son of Toral|Duras]] to recapture Jonathan Archer after the latter escaped imprisonment on [[Rura Penthe]]. In this way, the chancellor focused the blame for certain internal problems on an external cause. ({{ENT|The Expanse}})  Likewise, Gowron focused his soldiers' energies on invading first the [[Cardassian Union]] and later the [[Federation]] in order to avoid internal conflicts at home. ({{DS9|The Way of the Warrior|Apocalypse Rising}})

Aside from challenges to the primary leadership of the Empire, there was also frequent feuding between the various Great Houses. Most often, the challenge was made on the floor of the High Council and resolved on the battlefield. However, on occasion, some "dishonorable" House leaders chose to make more insidious attacks by undermining the standing of their enemies. [[D'Ghor]] underhandedly attacked the [[House of Kozak]] in this way in the early [[2370s]]. ({{DS9|The House of Quark}})

== Economy ==
The main currency unit of the Empire was the ''[[darsek]]''. ({{TNG|Firstborn}}; {{ENT|Bounty}})

The destruction of the Empire's key energy-production facility on the moon of [[Praxis]] was a catastrophic event from which recovery was impossible due to the strain of the Empire's enormous military budget on the resources of their economy. This event was critical in establishing peaceful overtures between the Empire and the [[United Federation of Planets|Federation]]. ({{film|6}})

== Territory ==
'''See''': [[Klingon planets]], [[Federation-Klingon border]], [[Klingon-Romulan border]]

== Culture ==
'''See:''' [[Klingon]]

== History ==
'''See''': [[Klingon history]]

== Military, agencies, and organizations==
*[[KDA]]
*[[Klingon Defense Force]] (KDF)
**[[Klingon Oversight Council]]
**[[Order of the Bat'leth]]
**[[Order of Kahless]]
*[[Klingon High Council]]
**[[Great House]]s
*[[Klingon Imperial information net]]
*[[Klingon Intelligence]]
*[[Klingon Medical Division]]
*[[Klingon Oversight Council]]
*[[Warrior caste]]
*[[Yan-Isleth]] (Brotherhood of the Sword)

== Subject species ==
* [[Arin'Sen]] 
* [[Kriosian]]s
* [[Tessic's species]] (uncertain)
* [[Xarantine]] (uncertain)

== Appendices ==
=== Background information ===
The unrealized series ''[[Star Trek: Phase II]]'' would have established a Klingon Empire which would have been based more on Imperial [[Japan]] (much like the Romulans were based on the Roman Empire), rather than the canon Klingon Empire described here, which as commonly regarded as a metaphor for the Soviet Union during the Cold War. See [[Kitumba]].

Many of the notions ultimately ascribed to the Klingon Empire were originally devised by [[Ronald D. Moore]]. In a Klingon-defining memo he wrote to [[Michael Piller]] before beginning work on {{TNG|Sins of the Father}}, Moore wrote, "''Unlike the United Federation of Planets, the Klingon Empire is not an amalgam of several different star systems brought together by common purpose and values. The Klingon Empire sprang from a single, relatively poor planet in a modest star system. The worlds that now make up the Empire were either subjugated in a not-so-distant past or were annexed at the point of a sword. The Empire is efficiently managed and extremely well run. No star system has ever broken away from Klingon rule in over two centuries of steady conquest. This is not to say that the member worlds of the Klingon Empire are straining at the bit to break away from despotic rule. Quite the contrary, the member worlds of the Empire have learned the many advantages and benefits of their association with the Klingons and few would choose to leave, even if given the option.''" A breakdown of the Empire's political framework was also provided in the memo, explaining that a High Council had ultimate rule over all aspects of Klingon life but that the daily ruling of the planets in the empire was "left to local families and clans" as well as outlining the existence of an almost-completely ceremonial Emperor who had the option of reassuming power if he should decide to do so. ("Sins of the Father" [[audio commentary]], [[TNG Season 3 Blu-ray]])

In the [[TNG]] episode {{e|Samaritan Snare}}, [[Wesley Crusher]] asked [[Captain]] [[Jean-Luc Picard|Picard]] if an event happened "before the Klingons joined the Federation." This statement has never been explained in canon and later episodes clearly show a Klingon Empire that didn't join the Federation. However, it is possible he meant that the Klingons joined the Federation as allies. [Per the ''TNG ''"bible", the Empire joined the Federation, and in the Season One episode "Heart of Glory", the Federation crest was beside the Klingon Empire's behind the commander of the Klingon cruiser pursuing the three fugitives.]

=== External links ===
* {{mbeta}}
* {{Wikipedia}}
* [http://www.klingon.org/ Klingon Imperial Diplomatic Corps] &ndash; an extensive site with detailed information about Klingon history and culture
* [http://www.academy.step-into.de/moodle/ Imperial Klingon Academy] &ndash; Klingon Academy 'ampaS tlhIngan - helping to promote Klingon education, culture and family lines


[[bg:Клингонска империя]]
[[cs:Klingonská říše]]
[[de:Klingonisches Reich]]
[[es:Imperio Klingon]]
[[fr:Empire Klingon]]
[[ja:クリンゴン帝国]]
[[nl:Klingon rijk]]
[[pl:Imperium Klingońskie]]
[[ru:Клингонская империя]]
[[sr:Клингонско царство]]
[[sv:Klingonska imperiet]]