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==Early History until the Dominion First General War==
Added history from the late TOS era all the way up to the First General War. Wikified some of the modern history, but not much. Will do more later, after creating pages for new personalities.
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The [[Klingon Empire]] was founded sometime in the ninth century CE by Kahless the Unforgettable, who performed many heroic feats including the unification of the Klingon people when he killed the tyrant Molor. Kahless came to be revered in Klingon society to the point of near-deification, and many aspects of Klingon culture came to revolve around emulation of Kahless's life.
The Klingon relationship with the [[Romulan]] people is also extremely unstable. A short-lived alliance and technology exchange notwithstanding, the [[Romulan]] Star Empire has been typically regarded by the Klingons as a "blood enemy" since at least the 23rd century. Sporadic [[Romulan]] attacks against Klingon colonies, such as the Khitomer Massacre, and interference in Klingon affairs, such as the Klingon Civil War, have continued to sour relationships between the two peoples.
After the destruction of the Klingon moon Praxis in 2293, the Empire grew closer to their former enemies, the Federation, through signing the Khitomer Accords. Hostility was still prevalent for decades, but the Federation continued to assist the Empire through the difficult times as ecological disaster struck. When the Enterprise-C helped defend the colony of Khitomer from Romulan attackers in 2346, however, minds began to change and the two powers became closer than ever. The Federation helped reveal Romulan involvement in the Klingon Civil War of 2367, resulting in Gowron taking power the following year.
After a short-lived break when the Federation would not assist the Klingons with their war on the Cardassians in 2372, Federation assistance in revealing Founder interference with the High Council brought the two back together in time for the Dominion War of 2373-2375, and the two powers would remain close afterwards, as well, with the Klingons providing tangential support during the [[Federation Space History#2377-2379|Federation-Romulan War of 2379]].
In the years following, the Klingons fought two wars with the [[Mirak Star League]]. The first would see the Empire claim three systems from the Mirak, while the latter would lose them once again. Despite the bad blood between them, the two powers would soon unite with the Federation and the [[Gorn|Gorn Hegemony]] to protect themselves from the [[RDC]], a union of the [[Romulan Star Empire]], the [[Dominion]], and the [[Cardassian Union]] in what came to be known as the [[First General War]].
=Klingon History Since the First General War=
To attempt to mollify them, Martok instead launched a new expansion in the Beta Quadrant, past the Nelvana system and the Vodrey Nebula. Several new systems were claimed, and some minor species added to the Empire, much to the Federation’s chagrin though they were not in a position to do more than complain. Martok had been playing the game much longer than most Klingons – or even most politicians in the Federation, for that matter – and knew when he could push, and when he could not. In this instance, though, he knew that the Empire needed an outlet for their frustrations, and some easy victories would do nothing but help. For nearly a decade, the slow expansion kept the Empire stable, though that came to an abrupt end.
In [[Federation Space History#2402|2402]], the Borg invaded the Federation. A swift call to arms brought the Klingon fleet to the Federation border in time to meet a detachment of Borg Wedges head-on. The Klingon fleet won a pyrrhic victory, driving the Borg away at the cost of their own armada, an armada that Martok had led into battle personally. He did not come home.
==New Second Klingon Civil War==
With no clear successor, the Emperor, the clone of Kahless, was chosen as the Arbiter of Succession, and the candidates competed for leadership, as had been done many times before. That is, until Tornak, Son of Por’van, was chosen as the final candidate. Krenn, son of Klavek, one of the other leading candidates, claimed that the choice of Kahless was invalid, as Kahless was not actually Kahless. Dismissed at first because everyone knew that he was a clone, Krenn instead put forth the claim that the blood used to clone him was actually that of Kahless’ brother Morath, and not that of Kahless himself.
Upon hearing the news, both sides splintered. Many of the rebels considered the matter settled, since the Emperor was no more. Several of the Houses on the Imperial side called for Tornak to be replaced, as he had dishonored himself and his House by denying Kahless a death in battle, despite none of Tornak’s House being involved in the crucial battle. Some believed that since Kahless was just a clone anyway, they should have the masters on Boreth create another one to sit atop the throne, while others called for the time of the Emperor to be over and to abolish the throne entirely. There were even some who wanted to do away with the Great Houses entirely and move to a system of planetary representation, though these voices were crushed mercilessly by all of the other factions by unanimous agreement.
And so, in the most Klingon fashion, the war continued, with new battle lines being drawn and forces dwindling once more. By [[Federation Space History#2410|2410]], after nearly a decade of internecine conflict, all involved were weary. The Hur’q invaded, an ancient foe long thought slain, and began to attack the territory of one faction, led by a man known as Kalok the Infamous. Unable to withstand this foe alone, the KDF came to their aid, along with several of the other factions. Together, the forces of the Klingon Empire were able to defeat the Hur’q menace and destroyed the world that they called home in the process. No sooner was this completed, however, than some of the factions began attacking one another again. Captain [[Gorram ]] of the [[IKV Dreamslayer]], leader of the [[Klingon Defense Force ]] which had remained neutral throughout the civil war, finally had had enough. He brought the leaders of the different factions together – forcefully in some instances – to settle the matter once and for all by ritual combat. Running out of ships, men, and options, the Houses agreed. Once assembled on Qo’nos [[Qo'noS]] at the Imperial Palace, however, the Houses came to a startling agreement: they named Gorram Chancellor, elevating the House of Telargh to the highest office in the Empire.
==Chancellor Gorram==
For Gorram’s part, he took a neutral stance as the Federation 4th Fleet attempted to declare independence from the Federation fueled in part by their refusal to discuss the Graser, with the Empire taking a “wait and see” attitude instead of supporting one faction or the other – despite the conflict taking place on their literal doorstep. Throughout, several Houses – led by the House of Chang – called for the Empire to cast off the Khitomer Accords and take what was theirs by right of being Klingon: the entirety of the Federation. Gorram would have none of it however, recognizing that the Empire was stronger with the Federation as an ally than they could ever hope to be without them, despite the losses of recent years. During the 4th Fleet standoff, the House of Chang attempted to strike at them unilaterally, though this was turned back at the border by the KDF in a bloody battle.
In early 2418, the unthinkable happened as Kahless III was discovered dead in his chambers. He had been seen by none but his servants and Chancellor Gorram for nearly two years, but in death the lie could no longer be maintained. Clone deterioration had eaten at Kahless’ body, deforming his body and eating at his mind until what was left was little more than a child in a warped and grotesque body. The Council immediately called for Gorram’s head and title after this outrage, and the old divisions of what to do with the Imperial Throne came back to the forefront. Gorram, for his part, was relieved that the dishonor of his dishonor lie was now out in the open, and the lies were done. He accepted the Council’s will and stepped down from the Chancellorship, and the next day took part in the Mauk-to’Vor ritual , cleansing his dishonor at the cost of his life.
==Succession Crisis==
