Gowron
Encyclopedia
Gowron is a fictional character
in the Star Trek
universe
. Portrayed by Robert O'Reilly
and featured in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation
and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
. His defining characteristics are his challenging large eyes, his wickedly cruel grin and his distinctive voice.
- ghawran) first appears in the episode "Reunion" as the main rival of Duras for the succession of the post of Klingon Chancellor K'mpec, who suspects that one of the two had been poisoning him and appoints Captain Jean-Luc Picard
as "Arbiter of Succession" to determine who will follow him. Before the arbitration process can be resolved, however, Worf's one-time mate, K'Ehleyr, discovers the evidence that implicates Ja'rod (the father of Duras) in the Romulan attack on the Klingon outpost Khitomer, and to prevent her from disclosing it, Duras murders her. Claiming right of vengeance, Worf challenges Duras to a duel, and kills him, resulting in Gowron's ascension to the Chancellorship.
Gowron reappears in the episode "Redemption", with his position now under threat from the Duras sisters who are driving for Duras's illegitimate son Toral to be appointed Chancellor. It is revealed that the Duras clan has been in league with the Klingon
s' traditional enemies the Romulan
s, and their attempt to seize power ends when the Romulans abandon them. Gowron also restores the honor of Worf
's house during this episode's events.
Gowron is once more challenged in the episode "Rightful Heir" by the apparently resurrected Kahless the Unforgettable
. It is ultimately revealed that this Kahless was in fact a clone, whom Gowron appoints to the symbolic post of Emperor of the Klingon Empire.
, claiming that the newly installed civilian Detapa Council is infested with shapeshifters from the Dominion
, a powerful organization from the Gamma Quadrant that is attempting to gain a foothold in the Alpha Quadrant. Gowron once more revokes the honor of Worf's house when he refuses to join him, and attacks Deep Space Nine
to capture the Detapa Council. A fragile peace is reached by the end of the episode, with Gowron's infamous warning "We do not forgive, or forget!".
In the episode "Broken Link" Gowron risks a war with the United Federation of Planets
, demanding the disputed Archanis sector. Starfleet comes to the conclusion that Gowron is in fact a changeling through faulty information leaked to Odo. Sisko
, Odo, Worf and O'Brien
infiltrate a Klingon ceremony to try to expose him in the follow-up episode "Apocalypse Rising
", but ultimately discover that the changeling is in fact Gowron's top advisor General Martok
, who is killed by Gowron's men. In spite of this, Gowron does not change his policies though he agrees to a cease-fire.
In the fifth season two-parter, "In Purgatory's Shadow" and "By Inferno's Light", Gowron restores the broken peace with the Federation in the Khitomer Accords after the Cardassian Union joins the Dominion and the real Martok is rescued from a Dominion prison.
Gowron makes his final appearances in "When It Rains..." and "Tacking Into the Wind", where he assumes direct command of Klingon military forces and launches multiple reckless attacks with minimal success. Worf speculates that this is an attempt to discredit his friend General Martok, who is forced to command many of these doomed offensives. Incensed by such a violation of Klingon honor codes, Worf challenges Gowron and kills him. By all rights, Worf is entitled to assume the leadership of the Empire, but he refuses the Chancellorship in favor of Martok. This is an irony, as it was Worf who had killed Duras to enable Gowron to ascend to the Chancellorship in the first place.
Despite the questionable nature of Gowron's actions towards the end of his life, he does die in honorable combat, as evidenced by Worf's performance of the traditional Klingon death howl (done as a warning to those in Sto-Vo-Kor - the place of the honored dead in Klingon mythology - that a warrior is about to arrive) over the body.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in the Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
universe
Fictional universe
A fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting with elements that differ from the real world. It may also be called an imagined, constructed or fictional realm ....
. Portrayed by Robert O'Reilly
Robert O'Reilly
Robert O'Reilly is an American film, stage and television actor who has appeared in a variety of roles. He is known to Star Trek fans most notably for his recurring role on Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as Chancellor Gowron, the leader of the Klingon Empire.-Early...
and featured in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
. His defining characteristics are his challenging large eyes, his wickedly cruel grin and his distinctive voice.
The Next Generation
Gowron (KlingonKlingon language
The Klingon language is the constructed language spoken by the fictional Klingons in the Star Trek universe....
- ghawran) first appears in the episode "Reunion" as the main rival of Duras for the succession of the post of Klingon Chancellor K'mpec, who suspects that one of the two had been poisoning him and appoints Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Jean-Luc Picard
Captain Jean-Luc Picard is a Star Trek character portrayed by Patrick Stewart. He appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the feature films Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek Nemesis...
as "Arbiter of Succession" to determine who will follow him. Before the arbitration process can be resolved, however, Worf's one-time mate, K'Ehleyr, discovers the evidence that implicates Ja'rod (the father of Duras) in the Romulan attack on the Klingon outpost Khitomer, and to prevent her from disclosing it, Duras murders her. Claiming right of vengeance, Worf challenges Duras to a duel, and kills him, resulting in Gowron's ascension to the Chancellorship.
Gowron reappears in the episode "Redemption", with his position now under threat from the Duras sisters who are driving for Duras's illegitimate son Toral to be appointed Chancellor. It is revealed that the Duras clan has been in league with the Klingon
Klingon
Klingons are a fictional warrior race in the Star Trek universe.Klingons are recurring villains in the 1960s television show Star Trek: The Original Series, and have appeared in all five spin-off series and eight feature films...
s' traditional enemies the Romulan
Romulan
The Romulans are a fictional alien race in the Star Trek universe. First appearing in the original Star Trek series in the 1966 episode "Balance of Terror", they have since made appearances in all the main later Star Trek series: The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager...
s, and their attempt to seize power ends when the Romulans abandon them. Gowron also restores the honor of Worf
Worf
Worf, played by Michael Dorn, is a main character in Star Trek: The Next Generation and in seasons four to seven of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He also appears in the films based on The Next Generation. Worf is the first Klingon main character to appear in Star Trek, and has appeared in more Star...
's house during this episode's events.
Gowron is once more challenged in the episode "Rightful Heir" by the apparently resurrected Kahless the Unforgettable
Kahless
In the fictional Star Trek universe, Kahless the Unforgettable is a legendary Klingon portrayed in Star Trek: The Original Series by Robert Herron and in Star Trek: The Next Generation by Kevin Conway.-History of Kahless:...
. It is ultimately revealed that this Kahless was in fact a clone, whom Gowron appoints to the symbolic post of Emperor of the Klingon Empire.
Deep Space Nine
Gowron's first appearance in the series is in the episode "The House of Quark". He rules over a dispute of the status of the House of Kozak. Gowron appears prominently in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in the episode "The Way of the Warrior", when he launches an assault upon the Cardassian UnionCardassian
The Cardassians are an extraterrestrial species in the Star Trek science fiction franchise. First introduced in the 1991 Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Wounded", the species originating on the fictional Alpha Quadrant planet Cardassia Prime...
, claiming that the newly installed civilian Detapa Council is infested with shapeshifters from the Dominion
Dominion (Star Trek)
In the Star Trek universe, the Dominion is a ruthless and militaristic Gamma Quadrant state consisting of many different races. The Dominion wages war on the United Federation of Planets and its allies in the late 24th century, acting as an antagonist in the TV show Star Trek: Deep Space...
, a powerful organization from the Gamma Quadrant that is attempting to gain a foothold in the Alpha Quadrant. Gowron once more revokes the honor of Worf's house when he refuses to join him, and attacks Deep Space Nine
Deep Space Nine (space station)
Deep Space Nine is a fictitious space station, and is the eponymous primary setting of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. It serves as a base for the exploration of the Gamma Quadrant via the Bajoran wormhole, and is a hub of trade and travel for the sector's denizens...
to capture the Detapa Council. A fragile peace is reached by the end of the episode, with Gowron's infamous warning "We do not forgive, or forget!".
In the episode "Broken Link" Gowron risks a war with the United Federation of Planets
United Federation of Planets
The United Federation of Planets, also known as "The Federation" is a fictional interplanetary federal republic depicted in the Star Trek television series and motion pictures...
, demanding the disputed Archanis sector. Starfleet comes to the conclusion that Gowron is in fact a changeling through faulty information leaked to Odo. Sisko
Benjamin Sisko
Benjamin Lafayette Sisko, played by Avery Brooks, is the main character of the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.-Early life and career:...
, Odo, Worf and O'Brien
Miles O'Brien (Star Trek)
Miles Edward O'Brien, played by Colm Meaney, is Chief of Operations in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Before DS9, he appeared as a recurring transporter chief in Star Trek: The Next Generation...
infiltrate a Klingon ceremony to try to expose him in the follow-up episode "Apocalypse Rising
Apocalypse Rising
"Apocalypse Rising" is an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the first episode of the fifth season. It has an average fan rating of 4.1/5 on the official Star Trek website.-Plot:...
", but ultimately discover that the changeling is in fact Gowron's top advisor General Martok
Martok
Martok is a recurring character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, played by actor J. G. Hertzler.-Overview:Little backstory is given regarding the early life of Martok, except for a brief history sketched by himself in the Deep Space Nine episode "Once More Unto the Breach"...
, who is killed by Gowron's men. In spite of this, Gowron does not change his policies though he agrees to a cease-fire.
In the fifth season two-parter, "In Purgatory's Shadow" and "By Inferno's Light", Gowron restores the broken peace with the Federation in the Khitomer Accords after the Cardassian Union joins the Dominion and the real Martok is rescued from a Dominion prison.
Gowron makes his final appearances in "When It Rains..." and "Tacking Into the Wind", where he assumes direct command of Klingon military forces and launches multiple reckless attacks with minimal success. Worf speculates that this is an attempt to discredit his friend General Martok, who is forced to command many of these doomed offensives. Incensed by such a violation of Klingon honor codes, Worf challenges Gowron and kills him. By all rights, Worf is entitled to assume the leadership of the Empire, but he refuses the Chancellorship in favor of Martok. This is an irony, as it was Worf who had killed Duras to enable Gowron to ascend to the Chancellorship in the first place.
Despite the questionable nature of Gowron's actions towards the end of his life, he does die in honorable combat, as evidenced by Worf's performance of the traditional Klingon death howl (done as a warning to those in Sto-Vo-Kor - the place of the honored dead in Klingon mythology - that a warrior is about to arrive) over the body.