Highlights
- The enduring warrior culture of the Klingons makes them an unforgettable counterweight to the utopian Federation and shadowy Romulans.
- Significant figures like Antaak, T'Kuvma, and Gowron have made lasting impacts on Klingon history, shaping the empire's relationship with the Federation.
- Worf, the first Klingon in Starfleet, played a pivotal role in the histories of both the Klingon Empire and the Federation, becoming a symbol of their growing bond.
Since their debut in 1967's "Errand of Mercy", Star Trek's Klingons have earned their place in the popular culture pantheon. Although fans have witnessed significant changes to the Klingons over the decades in Star Trek, the enduring warrior culture of the species means that they remain an unforgettable counterweight to both the utopian Federation and the shadowy Romulans.
The Star Trek franchise's consistent focus on the Klingon Empire has resulted in a deep, if occasionally contradictory, lore. These alien warriors have slayed their own gods, colonized worlds, and nearly brought the Federation to its knees on multiple occasions—all chapters in a rich history brimming with memorable figures.
10 Antaak
The Klingon Empire may have a reputation as a martial culture, but not all Klingons are warriors. Antaak, a Klingon physician, earned scorn for his choice of career. However, when the Klingons fell victim to a mutagenic virus in 2154, Antaak's talents were required to end the plague. To do so, Antaak kidnapped Doctor Phlox, the medical officer aboard the Enterprise NX-01, hoping that their combined efforts might result in a cure.
Together, Antaak and Phlox were able to produce an antidote—albeit one with extreme consequences. The cure was unable to prevent the forehead ridges of Klingons from mutating towards a smoother appearance. This disfiguration would affect many Klingons, leading Antaak to consider a career in cosmetic surgery.
9 T'Kuvma
Little is revealed about the enigmatic T'Kuvma in Star Trek: Discovery. However, despite the Klingon zealot's brief screen time (abruptly ended by a trigger-happy Michael Burnham), his impact upon Klingon history is significant. In 2256, T'Kuvma was able to unite the divided houses of the Klingon Empire, directing them against the expanding Federation.
T'Kuvma would not live to see much of the ensuing Federation–Klingon War, but he was briefly successful in pitting his civilization against an outside influence that he considered to be duplicitous. Furthermore, T'Kuvma's work on Klingon cloaking devices would have ramifications for centuries to come.
8 Koloth
Dahar master Koloth first appeared in the TOS classic "The Trouble With Tribbles", and was intended to function as a recurring nemesis of Captain Kirk's. However, production realities scuppered this plan, and the two would only face off again in The Animated Series episode "More Tribbles, More Troubles".
Koloth returned in Deep Space Nine where, along with Original Series alumni Kang and Kor, he teamed up with Jadzia Dax in order to seek revenge on the Albino, a criminal mastermind who had murdered the firstborn children of the famous Klingon captains. Although they succeeded in their mission, Koloth was killed in the process.
7 Voq/Ash Tyler
The pale-skinned Voq was considered an outcast among the Klingons due to his appearance, but he was able to gain some prestige after being appointed as T'Kuvma's Torchbearer at the start of the Federation–Klingon War. The death of T'Kuvma left Voq literally adrift, and, together with another of T'Kuvma's followers, he swore to avenge his mentor.
Voq underwent extensive physical and mental alteration to assume the identity of Ash Tyler, a human. The intention was for Voq to infiltrate Starfleet, but the procedure resulted in a split personality emerging. The deep-cover spy was unable to determine whether he was Tyler or Voq, and the latter persona was eventually wiped in order to stabilize the Klingon. The resulting Ash Tyler personality then joined Starfleet's Section 31.
6 Gowron
Gowron beat out his opponent Duras, and then survived a civil war orchestrated by the House of Duras, to secure the position as Klingon Chancellor. Despite an early endorsement from Starfleet's Jean-Luc Picard, the relationship between the Federation and Gowron's Klingon Empire was not an easy one. Acting under the influence of the Dominion, Gowron declared war on the Federation, breaking the longstanding alliance between the two powers.
Although relations were soon normalized, and the Federation and Klingon Empire fought together against the Dominion, Gowron's pride would be his downfall. He grew jealous of the popular General Martok, and tried to dishonor the soldier. This was detrimental to the war effort, and Lieutenant Worf was forced to slay Gowron in order to end the feud.
5 L'Rell
Initially an acolyte of T'Kumbra, L'Rell assumed the top position in the Klingon Empire through a combination of Federation intervention and outright blackmail. Following the USS Discovery's installation of a powerful bomb at the heart of the Klingon's homeworld, L'Rell was able to seize power—she threatened to detonate the weapon if the Klingons opposed her rule.
L'Rell ended what her mentor had started, bringing the Federation–Klingon War to an end. However, L'Rell's premiership was fraught with challenges and scandal, including a secret child sired by a pre-transformation Voq. Nonetheless, her imposed peace was the first step on the road to Federation–Klingon rapprochement.
4 Martok
A loyal supporter of Gowron during the Klingon Civil War of 2368, Martok rose through the ranks of the Klingon Defense Force until he assumed command of the Ninth Fleet. Despite being captured by the Dominion and replaced by a Changeling, Martok eventually escaped captivity. His contribution to the Federation Alliance during the Dominion War was significant, leading to tensions with Chancellor Gowron.
Following Gowron's death, Martok assumed the position of Klingon Chancellor. He aimed to reform the corrupt Klingon Empire during his time in office, and even became a minor celebrity, with his likeness being used in a Ferengi board game in Star Trek: Lower Decks.
3 Gorkon
Following the destruction of Praxis, a significant Klingon moon, it became apparent within the Klingon Empire that reforms were needed if the Empire was to survive. These changes were spearheaded by Chancellor Gorkon, who sought closer ties with the United Federation of Planets.
However, factions within both the Federation and the Klingon Empire opposed Gorkon's plans. In 2293, the Chancellor was assassinated, and the crime was wrongly attributed to James T. Kirk and Doctor McCoy. Kirk and his crew were able to unravel the conspiracy, and Gorkon's death was not in vain—the resulting Khitomer Accords brought the former foes together.
2 Worf
The first Klingon in Starfleet was not only a symbol of the Klingon Empire's growing bond with the Federation, but also a key player in the histories of both powers. From his service aboard the Enterprise-D and -E under Captain Picard, to his work aboard Deep Space Nine and the Defiant during the Dominion War, Worf was always at the center of events of galactic significance.
Worf's contributions to Klingon history included supporting Chancellor Gowron during the Klingon Civil War, locating legendary Klingon individuals and artifacts, and (briefly) reigning as Klingon Chancellor. Few Klingons could claim to have done more for both the Alpha and Beta Quadrant than Worf, son of Mogh.
1 Kahless
Even the mightiest powers can be traced back to a single individual. For the Klingons, that individual is Kahless the Unforgettable, the first leader of the Empire. Kahless was able to unite the Klingon Houses and introduced the honor-based traditions that the race became known for throughout the galaxy.
The legacy of Kahless could not be diminished even by his death. When the USS Enterprise encountered the Excalibans in 2269, the aliens created a facsimile of the historical figure in order to explore the concept of good and evil. A century later, a Klingon sect on the planet Boreth produced a clone of Kahless to replace Gowron as leader of the Empire. A compromise was reached once it became clear that the clone was not the real Kahless, and he was offered the ceremonial position of Emperor.