Gowron
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In the Star Trek fictional universe Gowron was the Chancellor of the Klingon Empire. He was played by Robert O'Reilly and features in the TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He was most easily recognized by his eyes which seemed large for his body size and made for a particularly initimidating expression.
Gowron was the son of M'Rel, an outcast in Klingon society due to being more a politician than a warrior. In 2367, Chancellor K'mpec was poisoned, but before he died, he called for the assistance of Jean-Luc Picard as Arbiter of Succession (what is assumed to be a typically Klingon position). Picard as Arbiter selected Gowron as K'mpec's successor in the episode "Reunion".
The new Chancellor Gowron, however, faced opposition from the rival Duras house, causing the Klingon Civil War. It was later learned that the Duras house was responsible for the assassination of K'mpec and was backed by the Romulans in the Civil War. As a reaction the Federation imposed a blockade along the Klingon-Romulan border preventing Romulan assistance to the Duras house. Learning of the Duras treachery Klingon warriors (among them was Worf, a Starfleet officer) flocked towards Gowron and he became the undisputed Chancellor of the Klingon Empire ("Redemption").
In 2369 his political authority was once again challenged by Kahless the Unforgettable, the founder of the Empire who appeared to have risen from the dead, as prophesized. Klingon religious leaders and Worf called for the ascension of Kahless as Emperor. Kahless later proved to be a clone, created by the religious leaders to provide unity in the still unstable Empire. Nonetheless, under pressure from Worf, Gowron made the clone the symbolic Emperor.
In 2372 Gowron launched an assault upon the Cardassian Union, claiming that the newly installed civilian Detapa Council was infested with shapeshifters from the Dominion, an emerging Gamma Quadrant power. His assault was condemned by the Federation who moved to rescue the Detapa Council. As a reaction Gowron revoked the Khitomer Accords with the Federation, ending eight decades of peace.
A year later he risked a war with the United Federation of Planets, demanding the disputed Archanis sector. This he did under the influence of the Empire's most important commander, General Martok, who was later found to be replaced by a Dominion shapeshifter.
Later that year the bloody Dominion War broke out. Gowron restored the Khitomer Accords and the alliance with the Federation and after a stalemate of two years Klingon forces under the lead of Martok had gained the upper hand. In 2375 fearing that Martok's success would make Martok decide to overthrow him he relieved Martok of command, and decided to lead the forces himself. Gowron ordered some foolish attacks on Dominion forces causing the death of countless warriors in the process.
Worf urged Martok to challenge Gowron to life or death combat, but Martok's loyalty was too great. At a Klingon staff meeting Worf decided to do the job himself and killed Gowron in combat. Although Worf had earned the right of becoming the new Chancellor he gave the job to General Martok.
External links
- Gowron (http://www.memory-alpha.org/en/index.php/Gowron) at Memory Alpha, a Star Trek WikiWiki