| sibling = Two sisters, [[Lursa]] and [[B'Etor]] (both deceased)
+
| children = One son, [[Toral, son of Duras|Toral]]
+
| actor = [[Patrick Massett]]
+
}}
+
<blockquote>"''His heart is not [[Klingon]].''"
+
: - [[Worf]], speaking of Duras
+
</blockquote>
+
'''Duras, son of [[Ja'rod]]''', and leader of the [[House of Duras]], was a powerful and ambitious political figure in the [[Klingon Empire]] during the late [[24th century]]. He and his family gained notoriety for their use of dishonorable and sometimes [[treason]]ous tactics in order to accumulate and maintain power, which culminated in the [[Klingon Civil War]] of [[2367]]-[[2368]].
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:-[[Worf]],speakingofDuras.
+
==OntheHighCouncil==
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</blockquote>
+
Duras was a member of the [[Klingon High Council]] in [[2366]], when he led the capture of a [[Romulan]] vessel. On board the vessel, records were discovered implicating Duras' father, [[Ja'rod]], as having betrayed the [[Khitomer]] [[colony]] to the [[Romulan Star Empire]] by giving them the codes necessary to lower the colony's [[deflector shield]]s. In the resulting [[Khitomer Massacre]], four thousand Klingons, including Ja'rod, were slaughtered.
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{| class="wiki-sidebar"
+
Unwilling to have his position threatened by being labeled the son of a [[traitor]], Duras convinced [[Klingon chancellor|Chancellor]][[K'mpec]] and the rest of the High Council to shift the blame to [[Mogh]], leader of the Duras family's long-standing enemies, the [[House of Mogh]], and who had also been killed in the Romulan attack. Concerned that accusing the powerful Duras family of treason could lead to unrest or even [[civil war]], they agreed.
'''Duras, son of [[Ja'rod]]''', and leader of the [[House of Duras]], was a powerful and ambitious political figure in the [[Klingon Empire]] during the late [[24th century]]. He and his family would become notorious for dishonorable and sometimes treasonous tactics in order to accumulate and maintain power, which would culminate in the [[Klingon Civil War]] of [[2367]]-[[2368]].
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==On the High Council==
+
None expected [[Worf]], the son of Mogh, and a [[Starfleet]] officer, to come to [[Qo'noS]] to challenge the accusations against his father. Fearful that Worf might learn the truth, Duras ordered assassination attempts on Worf's [[Cha'DIch]]; first on [[Kurn]] (who, unknown to the High Council at the time, was Worf's brother and also the son of Mogh), then on Worf's commanding officer [[Jean-Luc Picard]], who took over after Kurn was injured.
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Duraswasamemberof the [[Klingon High Council]] in[[2366]],whenheled the capture of a[[Romulan]]vessel. Onboard the vessel,recordswerediscoveredimplicatingDuras' father ashavingbetrayedthe[[Khitomer]][[colony]] to the [[RomulanStarEmpire]]bygivingthem the codes to lower the colony's[[deflectorshield]]s.In the resulting [[Khitomer Massacre]], 4000Klingons,includingJa'rod,wereslaughtered.
+
Nevertheless,Picardmanagedtolocate [[Kahlest]],awomanwhohadserved the House of MoghasWorf's nursemaid at Khitomer. Hereyewitness account of the attackcorroboratedWorf'sassertionthathis father wasinnocent,thoughK'mpecrefusedto allow her to testify before the councilforthesamereasonsthey had shifted the blame to Mogh to begin with. Worf recognized the necessityofpreservingthe stability of the Empire and accepted [[discommendation]], thoughnotbeforestrikingDurasand vowing that the truth would one day come out. ({{TNG|Sins of the Father}})
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Unwillingtohavehisposition threatened by being labeled the son of a traitor, Duras convinced [[Klingon chancellor|Chancellor]] [[K'mpec]] and the rest of the High Council to shift the blame to [[Mogh]], leader of the Duras family's long-standing enemies, the [[House of Mogh]], and who had also been killed in the Romulan attack. Concerned that accusing the powerful Duras family of treason could lead to unrest or even civil war, they agreed.
+
==Vyingforchancellorship==
+
The following year, K'mpec was revealed to be dying of a cumulative [[poison]] called [[Veridium Six]], which had been slipped into his [[bloodwine]] over several months. By Klingon custom, this was a highly dishonorable act because the killer did not show his face. It was suspected, but never proven, that Duras was responsible. With K'mpec's death imminent, Duras quickly emerged as one of two contenders to become the new chancellor. The other was [[Gowron]], a political outsider.
−
Noneexpected[[Worf]],thesonofMogh,and a [[Starfleet]]officer, to come to [[Qo'nos]]tochallengethe accusations against his father. Fearful that Worf might learn the truth, Durasorderedassassination attempts on Worf's [[Cha'DIch]];firston [[Kurn]] (who,unknowntotheHigh Council at the time, was Worf's brother and also the sonofMogh),thenon Worf's commanding officer [[Jean-LucPicard]], whotookoverafterKurn wasinjured.
+
Hopingtopreventadishonorablemanfromattainingchancellorship, K'mpec,inoneof his finalacts, appointedPicardas [[ArbiterofSuccession]].DurascameaboardPicard'sship, the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}}, from the {{IKS|Vorn}}tocompeteinthe [[Rite ofSuccession]], asdidGowronfromthe{{IKS|Buruk}}.
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Nevertheless, Picard managed to locate [[Kahlest]], a woman who had served the House of Mogh as Worf's nursemaid at Khitomer. Her eyewitness account of the attack corroborated Worf's assertion that his father was innocent, though K'mpec refused to allow her to testify before the council for the same reasons they had shifted the blame to Mogh to begin with. Worf recognized the necessity of preserving the stability of the Empire and accepted [[discommendation]], though not before striking Duras and vowing the the truth would one day come out. ([[TNG]]: "[[Sins of the Father]]")
+
[[File:Duras, 2367.jpg|thumb|left|Durasvying for the chancellorship]]
+
The Rite of Succession began with the [[Sonchi ceremony]] aboard K'mpec's ship. Picard, as arbiter, and the two contenders prodded K'mpec's lifeless body with Klingon [[painstik]]s to officially confirm the death of the old chancellor. Duras appeared to be disturbingly enthusiastic in doing so. Moments after the completion of the ceremony, however, a explosion rocked the room, killing a member of Duras' entourage, and one of Gowron's as well. The bomb was found to use a [[molecular decay detonator]], a device well-known to be of Romulan origin, with the obvious implication that one of the contenders was collaborating with the Romulans.
−
==Vying for Chancellorship==
+
Hoping to buy time to find out who was responsible for the bomb before the new chancellor was selected, Picard chose to revive the ancient ''[[Ja'chuq]]'' ceremony, in which each contender lists the battles they've won and the prizes they've taken, to demonstrate their worthiness to lead the Empire. The ceremony was expected to take days.
−
Thefollowing year, K'mpec was revealedtobedyingofa cumulative poison called [[Veridium Six]] whichhadbeenslippedintohis[[bloodwine]]overseveralmonths.ByKlingoncustom,thiswasahighlydishonorableactbecausethekillerdid not show his face. Itwassuspected,but never proven, that Duras was responsible. With K'mpec'sdeathimminent,Durasquicklyemergedasoneoftwocontenderstobecome the newChancellor.Theother was [[Gowron]], a politicaloutsider.
+
Beforeit was complete,however,DurasdiscoveredthatAmbassador [[K'Ehleyr]] wasinvestigatingtheeventsatKhitomertofindoutwhyWorfhadapparentlydroppedhisdefenseofhisfatherandaccepteddiscommendationsoeasily. WhenDurasconfrontedher, K'EhleyrdemandedtoknowwhathadreallyhappenedatKhitomer.Durasfatally wounded the ambassadorandreturnedtohisship.
−
Hopingtopreventadishonorablemanfrom attaining chancellorship, K'mpec,inoneofhisfinal acts, appointed Picard as [[Arbiter of Succession]]. Duras came aboard Picard's ship, the [[USS Enterprise-D|USS ''Enterprise''-D]], fromthe[[IKS Vorn|IKS ''Vorn'']]tocompeteinthe[[Riteof Succession]], asdidGowronfromthe[[IKS Buruk|IKS ''Buruk'']].
+
While''Enterprise''-DpersonneluncoveredevidencethatDuras' peoplehadbeenresponsiblefor the bomb, WorfdiscoveredK'Ehleyrdying.Withherfinalbreath, sheidentifiedDurasasherkiller.
−
The Rite of Succession began with the [[Sonchiceremony]] aboard K'mpec's ship. Picard, as Arbiter, and the two contenders prodded K'mpec's lifeless body with Klingon [[pain stick]]s to officially confirm the death of the old Chancellor.Duras appeared to be disturbingly enthusiastic in doing so. Moments after the completion of the ceremony, however,aexplosionrockedthe room, killing a member of Duras' entourage, and one of Gowron's as well. The bomb was found to use a [[molecular decay detonator]], a device well-known to be of Romulan origin, with the obvious implication that one of the contenders was collaborating with the Romulans.
Worf immediately [[beam]]ed aboard the ''Vorn'', telling Duras that K'Ehleyr had been his mate, and challenging Duras under Klingon law. Duras smugly told Worf that if he killed Duras, no one would ever learn the truth about his father and Worf would be labeled a traitor forever, but Worf was unswayed. Duras, more politician than warrior, was no match for Worf and was quickly killed, impaled on Worf's ''[[bat'leth]]''. While the Klingon Empire regarded it as a lawful killing and considered the matter closed, Worf was reprimanded by Captain Picard. With the death of Duras, Gowron was apparently unopposed to become the new Chancellor.
−
Hopingtobuytimetofindout who was responsible for the bombbeforethe new Chancellor was selected, Picard chose to revivethe ancient [[Ja'chuq]]ceremony, in which each contender lists the battlesthey'vewonandtheprizes they'vetaken,to demonstrate their worthiness to lead the Empire. The ceremony was expected to take days.
+
ThoughDurashaddiedindisgrace,blame for the KhitomerMassacrecontinued to liewithMogh, as the HighCouncilwasunwillingtoadmit they hadsuppressed the truth. ({{TNG|Reunion}})
−
Beforeit was complete, however, Duras discovered that Ambassador [[K'Ehleyr]] wasinvestigating the eventsatKhitomertofind out why Worf hadapparentlydroppedhisdefenseofhisfatherandaccepteddiscommendationsoeasily.WhenDuras confronted her, K'Ehleyr demanded toknowwhat had reallyhappenedatKhitomer.DurasfatallywoundedtheAmbassadorandreturnedtohis ship.
+
Accordingto Ambassador [[Kell (Ambassador)|Kell]],severalmembers of the HighCouncilwerethankfulfor Worf killingDurasastherewasnodoubtthathewouldhaveascendedtoheadthecouncilifhe had notbeenstoppedandmanywerenotlookingforwardtothat.({{TNG|TheMind'sEye}})
−
−
While ''Enterprise''-D personnel uncovered evidence that Duras' people had been responsible for the bomb, Worf discovered K'Ehleyr dying. With her final breath, she identified Duras as her killer.
−
Worfimmediately beamed aboard the ''Vorn'', telling Duras that K'Ehleyr had been his mate, and challenging Duras under Klingon law. Duras smugly told Worf that if he killed Duras, no one would ever learn the truth about his father and Worf would be labeled a traitor forever, but Worf was unswayed. Duras, more politician than warrior, was no match for Worf and was quickly killed, impaled on Worf's ''[[bat'leth]]''. While the Klingon Empire regarded it as a lawful killing and considered the matter closed, Worf was reprimanded by Captain Picard. With the death of Duras, Gowron was apparently unopposed to become the new Chancellor.
+
==Familylegacy==
+
Though Duras was dead, his family's ambition continued to threaten the Empire later that year when his sisters [[Lursa]] and [[B'Etor]] revealed that Duras had had an illegitimate son, [[Toral, son of Duras|Toral]]. Toral became head of the [[House of Duras]] in name, although the real power remained with Lursa and B'Etor. The Duras family challenged Gowron's claim, and the ensuing power struggle led to the [[Klingon Civil War]]. Initially, the Duras forces appeared to have the upper hand, as they had continued the family tradition of allying themselves with the Romulans. Once a Starfleet blockade prevented any further Romulan supply ships from reaching the Duras, however, the tide quickly turned in Gowron's favor and the civil war came to an end. ({{TNG|Redemption|Redemption II}})
−
ThoughDurashaddiedindisgrace, blameforKhitomerMassacrewouldcontinuetolie with Mogh, as the HighCouncilwasunwillingtoadmittheyhadsuppressed the truth. ([[TNG]]:"[[Reunion]]")
+
EffortsinlateryearsbyLursa, B'Etor,andToraltorebuildtheirforcesand reestablish their family's standing within the Empire met with only limited success. Lursa and B'etor were later killed in an encounter with the USS ''Enterprise''-D, though the battlealsoresultedinthedestructionofthe ''Enterprise''. It isunlikely the House of Duras will ever reattain the power it wielded during Duras's lifetime. ({{DS9|Past Prologue|The Sword of Kahless}}; {{TNG|Firstborn}};{{film|7}})
−
==FamilyLegacy==
+
===See also ===
+
* [[Duras, son of Toral|Duras]], son of [[Toral]], a [[22nd century]] ancestor of this Duras.
−
ThoughDuraswas dead, his family's ambition would continue to threaten the Empire later that year when his sisters [[Lursa]] and [[B'Etor]] revealed that Duras had had an illegitimate son, [[Toral, son of Duras|Toral]]. Toral became head of the [[House of Duras]] in name, although the real power remained with Lursa and B'Etor. The Duras family challenged Gowron's claim, and the ensuing power struggle led to the Klingon Civil War. Initially, the Duras forces appeared to have the upper hand, as they had continued the family tradition of allying themselves with the Romulans. Once a Starfleet blockade prevented any further Romulan supply ships from reaching the Duras, however, the tide quickly turned in Gowron's favor and the Civil War came to and end. ([[TNG]]: "[[Redemption, Part I]] [[Redemption, Part II|& Part II]]")
+
==Appearances==
+
* {{TNG}}
+
** {{e|Sins of the Father}}
+
** {{e|Reunion}}
−
EffortsinrecentyearsbyLursa,B'Etor,andToralto rebuild their forces and reestablish their family's standing within the Empire has met with only limited success. It is unlikely theHouse of Duraswillever reattain the powerit wielded during Duras' lifetime. ([[DS9]]:"[[PastPrologue]]";[[TNG]]:"[[Firstborn]]"; ''[[StarTrek:Generations]]''; [[DS9]]:"[[The Sword of Kahless]]")
+
{{bginfo|His[[mirroruniverse]]counterpartappearedintheshortstory"[[Shards and Shadows|ForWant of aNail]]"and the novels ''[[ObsidianAlliances#Saturn'sChildren|Saturn'sChildren]]''and ''[[RiseLikeLions]]''. In [[2378]], he succeeded {{dis|Klag|Lieutenant}} as [[Regent]] of the [[Klingon-Cardassian Alliance]].}}
−
:'''''Seealso:''' [[Duras, son of Toral|Duras]], son of [[Toral]], a 22nd-century ancestor of this Duras.''
Duras, son of Ja'rod, and leader of the House of Duras, was a powerful and ambitious political figure in the Klingon Empire during the late 24th century. He and his family gained notoriety for their use of dishonorable and sometimes treasonous tactics in order to accumulate and maintain power, which culminated in the Klingon Civil War of 2367-2368.
Duras was a member of the Klingon High Council in 2366, when he led the capture of a Romulan vessel. On board the vessel, records were discovered implicating Duras' father, Ja'rod, as having betrayed the Khitomercolony to the Romulan Star Empire by giving them the codes necessary to lower the colony's deflector shields. In the resulting Khitomer Massacre, four thousand Klingons, including Ja'rod, were slaughtered.
Unwilling to have his position threatened by being labeled the son of a traitor, Duras convinced ChancellorK'mpec and the rest of the High Council to shift the blame to Mogh, leader of the Duras family's long-standing enemies, the House of Mogh, and who had also been killed in the Romulan attack. Concerned that accusing the powerful Duras family of treason could lead to unrest or even civil war, they agreed.
None expected Worf, the son of Mogh, and a Starfleet officer, to come to Qo'noS to challenge the accusations against his father. Fearful that Worf might learn the truth, Duras ordered assassination attempts on Worf's Cha'DIch; first on Kurn (who, unknown to the High Council at the time, was Worf's brother and also the son of Mogh), then on Worf's commanding officer Jean-Luc Picard, who took over after Kurn was injured.
Nevertheless, Picard managed to locate Kahlest, a woman who had served the House of Mogh as Worf's nursemaid at Khitomer. Her eyewitness account of the attack corroborated Worf's assertion that his father was innocent, though K'mpec refused to allow her to testify before the council for the same reasons they had shifted the blame to Mogh to begin with. Worf recognized the necessity of preserving the stability of the Empire and accepted discommendation, though not before striking Duras and vowing that the truth would one day come out. (TNG: "Sins of the Father")
The following year, K'mpec was revealed to be dying of a cumulative poison called Veridium Six, which had been slipped into his bloodwine over several months. By Klingon custom, this was a highly dishonorable act because the killer did not show his face. It was suspected, but never proven, that Duras was responsible. With K'mpec's death imminent, Duras quickly emerged as one of two contenders to become the new chancellor. The other was Gowron, a political outsider.
Hoping to prevent a dishonorable man from attaining chancellorship, K'mpec, in one of his final acts, appointed Picard as Arbiter of Succession. Duras came aboard Picard's ship, the USS Enterprise-D, from the IKS Vorn to compete in the Rite of Succession, as did Gowron from the IKS Buruk.
Duras vying for the chancellorship
The Rite of Succession began with the Sonchi ceremony aboard K'mpec's ship. Picard, as arbiter, and the two contenders prodded K'mpec's lifeless body with Klingon painstiks to officially confirm the death of the old chancellor. Duras appeared to be disturbingly enthusiastic in doing so. Moments after the completion of the ceremony, however, a explosion rocked the room, killing a member of Duras' entourage, and one of Gowron's as well. The bomb was found to use a molecular decay detonator, a device well-known to be of Romulan origin, with the obvious implication that one of the contenders was collaborating with the Romulans.
Hoping to buy time to find out who was responsible for the bomb before the new chancellor was selected, Picard chose to revive the ancient Ja'chuq ceremony, in which each contender lists the battles they've won and the prizes they've taken, to demonstrate their worthiness to lead the Empire. The ceremony was expected to take days.
Before it was complete, however, Duras discovered that Ambassador K'Ehleyr was investigating the events at Khitomer to find out why Worf had apparently dropped his defense of his father and accepted discommendation so easily. When Duras confronted her, K'Ehleyr demanded to know what had really happened at Khitomer. Duras fatally wounded the ambassador and returned to his ship.
While Enterprise-D personnel uncovered evidence that Duras' people had been responsible for the bomb, Worf discovered K'Ehleyr dying. With her final breath, she identified Duras as her killer.
Duras, following his defeat by Worf
Worf immediately beamed aboard the Vorn, telling Duras that K'Ehleyr had been his mate, and challenging Duras under Klingon law. Duras smugly told Worf that if he killed Duras, no one would ever learn the truth about his father and Worf would be labeled a traitor forever, but Worf was unswayed. Duras, more politician than warrior, was no match for Worf and was quickly killed, impaled on Worf's bat'leth. While the Klingon Empire regarded it as a lawful killing and considered the matter closed, Worf was reprimanded by Captain Picard. With the death of Duras, Gowron was apparently unopposed to become the new Chancellor.
Though Duras had died in disgrace, blame for the Khitomer Massacre continued to lie with Mogh, as the High Council was unwilling to admit they had suppressed the truth. (TNG: "Reunion")
According to Ambassador Kell, several members of the High Council were thankful for Worf killing Duras as there was no doubt that he would have ascended to head the council if he had not been stopped and many were not looking forward to that. (TNG: "The Mind's Eye")
Though Duras was dead, his family's ambition continued to threaten the Empire later that year when his sisters Lursa and B'Etor revealed that Duras had had an illegitimate son, Toral. Toral became head of the House of Duras in name, although the real power remained with Lursa and B'Etor. The Duras family challenged Gowron's claim, and the ensuing power struggle led to the Klingon Civil War. Initially, the Duras forces appeared to have the upper hand, as they had continued the family tradition of allying themselves with the Romulans. Once a Starfleet blockade prevented any further Romulan supply ships from reaching the Duras, however, the tide quickly turned in Gowron's favor and the civil war came to an end. (TNG: "Redemption", "Redemption II")
Efforts in later years by Lursa, B'Etor, and Toral to rebuild their forces and reestablish their family's standing within the Empire met with only limited success. Lursa and B'etor were later killed in an encounter with the USS Enterprise-D, though the battle also resulted in the destruction of the Enterprise. It is unlikely the House of Duras will ever reattain the power it wielded during Duras's lifetime. (DS9: "Past Prologue", "The Sword of Kahless"; TNG: "Firstborn"; Star Trek Generations)
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