Gowron

Gowron, son of M'Rel, was Chancellor of the Klingon High Council in the early 15th century. Gowron headed the House of Gowron. He ruled during the War in the Beta Quadrant and the First War. He was killed by Worf in over leadership of the Klingon Empire but was succeeded by Martok.

History

Early career

Prior to becoming a chancellor, Gowron was a political outsider on the Klingon High Council, who often challenged their decisions such as their alliance with the Axis of Empires and its strained relations with the Galactic Empire and the Combine. After the death of Chancellor K'mpec in 2367 (1514 NE), Gowron and Duras, son of Ja'rod became the two leading candidates for leadership of the council. It was suspected that Gowron had in fact poisoned K'mpec to advance his career and strengthen ties with he Axis, although many believe that K'mpec was indeed poisoned by Duras. Duras attempted to kill Gowron during the Rite of Succession, but the attempt failed. Duras was then founded the Rebels after that.

Gowron traveled on the IKS Buruk to undergo the Rite of Succession in the Gamma Arigulon system, where K'mpec had gone to rendezvous with Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the USS Enterprise-D and Councillor Duras on K'mpec's ship for the Sonchi ceremony, to verify that K'mpec was truly dead.

Klingon Civil War

Following Gowron's election,the sisters of Duras, Lursa and B'Etor, challenged his claim to the office of Chancellor, instead supporting the claim of Toral, the illegitimate son of Duras, as chancellor.The resulting division of loyalty in the council quickly sparked the Klingon Civil War in late 2367 (1514 NE). After a few weeks, Gowron's forces emerged victorious. With the help of the Federation and the Alliance, ties that the Duras family had with the Romulan Star Empire and the Separatist forces to eliminate him were exposed. In addition, Gowron reinstated the House of Mogh in recognition of the actions of Worf and his brother Kurn coming to his aid in the conflict.

Shortly afterwards, Gowron's ship was attacked by two Birds-of-Prey loyal to Duras. Lieutenant Worf of the Enterprise was on board at the time, and assisted the crew during the battle. Also joining the battle on Gowron's behalf was Kurn, son of Mogh. With this new source of support, Gowron decided to proceed with his installation as Chancellor. His first act after assuming the office was to restore the honor of the House of Mogh, ending Worf's discommendation.

Duras attempted to have Gowron assassinated during this ceremony by having one of his bodyguards carry out a suicide bombing, which ultimately failed. Worf later killed Duras after Duras murdered K'Ehleyr. As a result, Gowron was the only challenger left for the office.

First Multiverse War

In the aftermath of the Beta Quadrant war, Gowron found it was best to avoid calling attention to the Federation's support during the war with the Alliance. He ordered that all official accounts of the events omit the Federation's involvement in the conflict and emphasize his own courage and strategic genius.

When a clone of Kahless the Unforgettable was created in (2369), Gowron dismissed his right to rule the Klingon Empire, though he soon became worried that the clone's existence would plunge the empire into another civil war. In order to keep the peace, he agreed to support Kahless as the spiritual leader of his people, agreeing to support his succession as "Emperor" (the title having been defunct for generations), while Gowron would remain leader of the Council and support their role to the Axis of Empires.

As the conflict between the Alliance and the Axis escalates, Gowron took prominent Klingon General Martok as his military adviser. Martok had secretly been replaced by a Changeling, and used his position to influence Gowron's military decisions. His actions if attacking the non-aligned worlds condemned the Khitomer Accords which kept the peace between the Federation and the Klingons for a period of time. When Captain Sisko took the Detapa Council under his protection, Gowron led an unsuccessful assault on Deep Space Nine, ultimately withdrawing after the intervention of the New Galactic Republic and the UNSC, chose to withdraw his forces than to fight them and focus on the Coalition itself.

The Klingons conquered a number of Horde colonies and outposts. Gowron declared victory anyway, in order to avoid assassination attempts. He fortified his positions and continued expanding the borders of the Klingon Empire. He also ordered several attacks on the Horde faction known as the New Batarian Empire alongside the Covenant’s soldiers, he considered the Sangheili an interesting race of warriors but considered their San’shyuum leaders as spineless cowards who use the subject races to fight their battles.

In the year XXXX NE, Gowron demanded that the Federation and the Allies to withdraw from the Archanis sector, in particular Archanis IV. During this time, the Dominion planted false information in Starfleet through Odo that Gowron, not Martok, was a Changeling spy. Starfleet sent a team to Klingon military headquarters on Ty'Gokor to expose Gowron. Eventually, they discovered that Martok was, in fact, the Changeling agent, and Gowron's men swiftly killed the impostor. Learning this was an attempt for he Klingons to fight the Alliance and weaken their power in the Alpha Quadrant for the Dominion to extend its hold.

Sides with the Alliance

In the year XXXX NE, After being betrayed by the Combine and the Axis over their attempt to control the Empire, the Klingons were driven back to their universe, Facing the combined forces of the Axis and the Coalition, Gowron reinstated the Khitomer Accords and posted a permanent contingent of Klingon officers on the Cardassian border at station Deep Space 9, commanded, ironically, by the real Martok.

Quotes

"I have fought alongside these Sangheili when the Covenant joined the Empires, they are an impressive race of warriors born for battle! They were the very few members of the Axis my people had shown respect."

— Gowron’s thoughts of the Sangheili.