Kahless
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Kahless, "the Unforgettable", (Klingon language qeylIS), is a legendary Klingon portrayed in the Star Trek series Star Trek: The Next Generation by Kevin Conway.
History of Kahless
Kahless the Unforgettable, a messianic figure in Klingon history, unified the Klingon people and became the first Klingon emperor. The Klingons' most important symbol of leadership, Kahless said that Klingons should fight not just to shed blood, but to enrich the spirit. The story of Kahless is a cornerstone of Klingon mythology and religion.
Legend states that Kahless united the empire some 1,500 years ago after fighting and killing the tyrant Molor with the first bat'leth, or "Sword of Honour". He fashioned the sword with his own hands, by dropping a lock of his hair into the lava from the Kris'tak Volcano and twisting it into a blade. Another epic story relates how Kahless fought his brother, Morath, for twelve days and twelve nights because Morath had lied and brought shame to his family. Kahless is also said to have fought off an entire army single-handedly at Three Turn Bridge.
Despite the emphasis on his victories in battle, Kahless was not known as merely a great warrior, but also as a great lover. One day, five hundred warriors stormed the Great Hall at Qam-Chee. The garrison fled in terror. Only the Emperor Kahless and the Lady Lukara stood their ground. Together, they fought through the night and one by one the attacking warriors fell. Finally, after many hours, and with the Great Hall ankle-deep in blood, they emerged victorious, and made passionate love. So began the greatest romance in Klingon history.
In the late 24th century on the planet Boreth, a Klingon place of pilgrimage, ambitious caretakers created a clone of Kahless from dried blood from the ancient dagger of Molor in a bid for leadership. Luckily, the ruse was scuttled by Worf, son of Mogh, who learned the truth and subsequently arranged for the new Kahless to occupy a ceremonial position as a figurehead "emperor" in the Klingon Empire.
An image of Kahless was encountered in the TOS episode "The Savage Curtain". In the alien Yarnek's study of good versus evil, Kahless was one of the evil images alongside Colonel Green and Genghis Khan. Abraham Lincoln and Surak of Vulcan represented good and assisted Kirk and Spock. Played by actor Robert Herron, this Kahless also appeared as the typical 1960s-era Klingon. Kahless's depiction here was generally assumed to be based solely on Kirk's limited and heavily biased knowledge of Klingon culture. If Yarnek's scenario were to be played out today, Kahless would doubtlessly be placed with Lincoln and Surak and his former place next to Colonel Green might be occupied by Molor or perhaps Duras.
Other theories
In the book, Kahless, written by Michael Jan Friedman, it appears that Kahless was not the one who was stabbed; the clone is not that of Kahless, but of Kahless's friend, Morath. In the book, Morath is the one who led the rebellion, Morath made the first bat'leth, and Morath was stabbed and lost his life protecting Kahless. However, this may not be accepted in the canonical Star Trek universe.