A warlord was an individual who exercised control over a civilian area through armed force.

History and specifics[]

Before the Klingon people were united behind the warrior creed that Kahless founded, Qo'noS was divided into countless feudal warlords who presided over spartan forces that enforced their rule over fiefdoms that the planet was splintered into. (Star Trek Adventures RPG module: The Klingon Empire Core Rulebook)

Several artifacts that dated back to an era which predated the foundation of Hebitian culture on Cardassia Prime recalled the existence of those who were known to future generations as warlords. The State Museum of Natural History included the remains of such an individual who had been mummified after death. (DS9 novel: Fearful Symmetry)

In the year 2098, Vulcan master Sklar stated that Surak had brought down the fiercest warlords Vulcan had ever seen with his words. (ENT novel: Surak's Soul)

M'k'n'zy of Calhoun was warlord of Xenex during the Xenexian uprising against the Danteri. (NF - Prometheans novel: Martyr)

During the Dominion occupation of Terok Nor, Major Kira Nerys expressed her belief that the anonymous Founder who represented the Great Link was an "intergalactic warlord" and feared that her exchanges with Odo were an attempt to change the other Changeling into one as well. (DS9 episode: "Behind the Lines")

In the 24th century, the Alrakis system was controlled by several warlords. (DS9 - Prophecy and Change short story: "... Loved I Not Honor More")

After the star Hobus detonated, the planet Romulus was one of the unfortunate bodies that were caught inside the cataclysmic supernova, taking millions of lives. With the loss of their capital planet and the subsequent murder of Praetor Chulan at the hands of the miner Nero, the Romulan Star Empire devolved into factionalism between various elements of the state, ranging from hardliners that strove to maintain the status quo to secessionist-minded colonies who wished to declare their independence. While the loyalists established Rator III as a new metropolis for the Empire to renew its former stature on the galactic stage, a host of different holdouts were established beneath minor leaders who refused to submit to this administration. Even though Empress Sela was able to reassemble scattered fragments of the Imperial fleet back into a cohesive military, different elements were coopted to serve under the banners of her rivals instead. During the decades which marked the turn of the 24th century and its transition to the next, a refit model of the T'Liss class light warbird was a popular model for renegade warlords, as well as the fledgling Romulan Republic. (ST video game: Star Trek Online)

The Federation Starfleet had encounters with the Romulan warlords who emerged from the aftermath of the Hobus Supernova, such as when Starbase 39-Sierra came under a blockade after its residents offered their docks as a safe harbour for refugees that were on the run from a commander who remained devoted to the Empire, even as it was fragmenting. With a fleet at his disposal, the warlord laid siege to the space station to reclaim the asylum seekers, but the blockade was broken when the USS Empyrean was able to penetrate the Romulan armada and disable their flagship, causing his forces to descend into chaos. (Star Trek Adventures RPG module: Utopia Planitia Starfleet Sourcebook)

After a galactic dilithium catastrophe known as the Burn decimated their empire, the power structure of the Klingon people devolved back to resemble a structure which had dominated Qo'noS before the era of Kahless. Though the surviving eight Great Houses maintained their position in the leadership of the Klingon Empire, whereas the High Council functioned beneath a Chancellor, the population now looked to warlords such as General Obel Wochak for guidance. (SA episode: "Vox In Excelso")

Appendices[]

References[]

• NF - Prometheans novel: Martyr
• ENT novel: Surak's Soul
• DS9 - Prophecy and Change short story: "... Loved I Not Honor More"

External links[]

• Warlord article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
• Warlord article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.