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(Not relevant; even if this "alliance" were stated anywhere to have existed, and it isn't, how would an event twenty-one years prior to an estimate of seventy-five years as enemies possibly indicate a specific relationship to that "alliance"?)
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[[File:Romulan_flagship,_TEI_remastered.jpg|thumb|A product of the short-lived Romulan-Klingon Alliance: A [[Romulan]] [[D7 class]] [[battle cruiser]] equipped with [[cloaking device|cloaking technology]].]]
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[[File:Romulan flagship, 2268 remastered.jpg|thumb|As of [[2268]], the [[Romulan Star Empire]] used {{class|D7}} [[battle cruiser]]s of Klingon design and equipped them with [[cloaking technology]]]]
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[[File:Korrd, Talbot, Dar.jpg|thumb|Klingon General [[Korrd]] with Human and Romulan ambassadors [[St. John Talbot|Talbot]] and [[Caithlin Dar|Dar]] aboard the ''Enterprise'' in [[2287]]]]
'''Romulan-Klingon relations''' apparently were very erratic over the [[23rd century|23rd]] and [[24th century|24th centuries]].
 
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[[File:B'Etor and Movar.jpg|thumb|[[B'Etor]] and [[General]] [[Movar]] collaborating during the [[Klingon Civil War]] in [[2367]]]]
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[[File:Tokath and Gi'ral.jpg|thumb|A Romulan-Klingon couple in the prison camp on [[Carraya IV]] in [[2369]]]]
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[[File:Planning the attack.jpg|thumb|Romulans, Klingons and Starfleet personnel bickering and discussing their strategy against the Dominion in [[2374]]]]
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[[File:Federation Alliance fleet departs DS9.jpg|thumb|A joint Romulan-Klingon-Federation fleet departs Deep Space 9 to invade [[Cardassia]] in [[2375]]]]
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{{article quote|That's a Klingon ship! But it couldn't be, not in this area."<br>"[[Starfleet Intelligence|Intelligence]] reports Romulans now using [[D7 class|Klingon design]].|[[Montgomery Scott]]''' and '''[[Spock]]|2268|The Enterprise Incident}}
 
'''Romulan-Klingon relations''' shifted between being "blood enemies" and titular "allies" in the [[23rd century|23rd]] and [[24th century|24th centuries]].
   
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*'''[[2267]]''': The [[Klingon Empire]] and the [[Romulan Star Empire]] (along with the [[Federation]]) jointly establish a colony on [[Nimbus III]], officially declaring it "the [[planet]] of [[Milky Way Galaxy|galactic]] peace". ({{film|5}})
===Timeline===
 
*'''[[2267]]''': The [[Romulan Star Empire]] uses [[Klingon]]-designed [[D7 class|D7-class]] [[battle cruiser]]s. That same year, the [[Klingon Empire]] and the [[Romulan Star Empire]] (along with the [[Federation]]) jointly establish a colony on [[Nimbus III]], officially declaring it 'the planet of galactic peace'. ({{TOS|The Enterprise Incident}}, {{film|5}})
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*'''[[2268]]''': The Romulan Star Empire uses {{class|D7}} [[battle cruiser]]s, which [[Commander]] [[Spock]] specifically identifies to be of [[Klingon]] design. ({{TOS|The Enterprise Incident}})
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*'''[[2269]]''': Commander Spock assumes that [[Kor]]'s {{IKS|Klothos}} possesses effective [[cloaking device|cloaking capability]]. While primitive cloaking screens have been used by Klingon ships as early as [[2256]], cloaks effective against [[Starfleet]] sensors were thought to be an exclusively Romulan technology up until 2268. ({{DIS|The Vulcan Hello}}; {{TAS|The Time Trap}}; {{TOS|The Enterprise Incident}})
*'''[[2271]]''': The Empire achieves a memorable victory over the Romulans at the [[Battle of Klach D'Kel Brakt]]. ({{DS9|The Sword of Kahless}})
 
*'''[[2292]]''': By this year, the Romulans are considered "blood enemies" in the Klingon Empire. ({{TNG|Reunion}})
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*'''[[2271]]''': Klingon Empire forces led by Kor achieve a memorable victory over the Romulans at the [[Battle of Klach D'kel Brakt]]. ({{DS9|Blood Oath}})
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*'''[[2285]]''': At least [[HMS Bounty|one Klingon vessel]] definitely has cloaking capability with limited effectiveness against Starfleet sensors. As of [[2287]], all [[Klingon Bird-of-Prey|Klingon Birds-of-Prey]] are known to have a cloak. ({{film|3}}, {{film|5}})
*'''[[2293]]''': After the [[Praxis]] desaster, Klingon Chancellor [[Gorkon]] pursues a full peace treaty with the Federation but is assassinated by the Romulan-influenced [[Khitomer conspiracy]]. Despite this attempt to prevent a Klingon-Federation alliance, Gorkon's daughter and new Chancellor, [[Azetbur]], later concludes the peace at the [[Khitomer Conference]]. ({{film|6}})
 
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*'''[[2292]]''': According to [[Geordi La Forge]], Romulans and Klingons regard each other as "blood enemies" by this year. ({{TNG|Reunion}})
*'''[[2344]]''': The Romulans [[Battle of Narendra III|attack a Klingon outpost]] on [[Narendra III]]. As the Federation starship {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-C|-C}} responds to the Klingon distress signal and subsequently sacrifices itself, this attack caused the Federation-Klingon alliance to grow even stronger. ({{TNG|Yesterday's Enterprise|Redemption}})
 
 
*'''[[2293]]''': After the [[Praxis]] disaster, [[Chancellor of the Klingon High Council|Klingon Chancellor]] [[Gorkon]] pursues a full peace treaty with the Federation but is [[assassinate]]d by the [[Khitomer conspiracy]], which the Romulan [[Ambassador]] to Earth, [[Nanclus]], is a part of. Despite this attempt to prevent a Klingon-Federation alliance, Gorkon's daughter and new Chancellor [[Azetbur]] later establishes the peace treaty at the [[Khitomer Conference]]. ({{film|6}})
*'''[[2346]]''': With the help of the Klingon traitor [[Ja'rod]] of the [[House of Duras]], the Romulans commit the [[Khitomer Massacre]], killing almost all of the 4,000 Klingon colonists on [[Khitomer]]. ({{TNG|The Neutral Zone|Sins of the Father}})
 
 
*'''[[2344]]''': The Romulans [[Battle of Narendra III|attack a Klingon outpost]] on [[Narendra III]]. As the Federation starship {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-C|-C}} responds to a distress signal from the Klingon outpost and subsequently sacrifices itself, this attack causes the Federation-Klingon alliance to grow even stronger. ({{TNG|Yesterday's Enterprise|Redemption}})
*'''[[2350]]''': Romulan forces fail in an attempt to board [[Klingon]] [[General]] [[ShiVang]]'s [[flagship]]. That same year, later Romulan Praetor [[Neral]]'s family are killed in a Klingon attack. ({{DS9|Once More Unto the Breach|Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges}})
 
 
*'''[[2346]]''': With the help of Klingon traitor [[Ja'rod]] of the [[House of Duras]], the Romulans commit the [[Khitomer Massacre]], killing almost all 4,000 Klingon colonists on [[Khitomer]]. This happens at a time when, according to [[Worf]], "the Romulans were supposed to be our [the Klingons'] allies". Over the subsequent decades, Klingon survivors were held at a Romulan prisoner camp on [[Carraya IV]], where they adapted to a peaceful and secluded coexistence with the Romulan guards. ({{TNG|The Neutral Zone|Sins of The Father|Birthright, Part II}})
 
*'''[[2350]]''': Romulan forces fail in an attempt to board Klingon [[General]] [[ShiVang]]'s [[flagship]]. That same year, later Romulan [[Praetor]] [[Neral]]'s family are killed in a Klingon attack. ({{DS9|Once More Unto the Breach|Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges}})
 
*'''[[2367]]''': [[Gowron]], who is opposing the House of Duras, becomes new Chancellor. His position is quickly challenged but eventually affirmed in the brief [[Klingon Civil War]] against the Romulan-influenced, but ultimately inferior, House of Duras. ({{TNG|Reunion|Redemption}})
 
*'''[[2367]]''': [[Gowron]], who is opposing the House of Duras, becomes new Chancellor. His position is quickly challenged but eventually affirmed in the brief [[Klingon Civil War]] against the Romulan-influenced, but ultimately inferior, House of Duras. ({{TNG|Reunion|Redemption}})
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*'''[[2371]]''': The renegade Duras sisters raid a Romulan outpost to acquire weapons-grade [[trilithium]]. ({{film|7}})
*'''[[2374]]-[[2375]]''': The Klingon and Romulan Empires become part of the [[Federation Alliance]], jointly fighting and eventually defeating the [[Dominion]] with the [[Treaty of Bajor]].
 
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*'''[[2372]]''': Several outposts along the Romulan border are attacked by the Klingons. ({{DS9|Hippocratic Oath}})
 
*'''[[2374]]-[[2375]]''': The Klingon and Romulan Empires become part of the [[Federation Alliance]], jointly fighting and eventually defeating the [[Dominion]], conclusively acknowledged with the signing of the [[Treaty of Bajor]]. ({{DS9|In the Pale Moonlight|What You Leave Behind}})
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__NOTOC__
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==Appendices==
 
=== Background information ===
  +
The existence of a "Romulan-Klingon alliance" in the 23rd century has never been explicitly stated. In "The Enterprise Incident", all that is said is that "''Intelligence reports Romulans now using Klingon design.''" ''[[The Making of Star Trek]]'' (finished during the early part of the [[TOS Season 3|third season]] of [[TOS]]) does say, however, that the intention at the time was to have the Klingons and Romulans form an alliance against the Federation.
   
  +
In developing {{film|3}}, [[Harve Bennett]] originally wrote the [[Star Trek films|film]] with the Romulans as the belligerents, whose vessel was designated the "Bird-of-Prey", but later rewrote the Romulans as Klingons, as they were determined to be more exciting. After having "Klingicized" the characters in the film, he decided to keep the vessel designation intact. Recalling his two-month binge watching of every episode of ''Star Trek'' that existed then (when TOS was the only live-action series), Bennett said, "''I didn't change their ship, because I remembered a piece of trivia that stated there was a mutual assistance military pact between the Klingons and the Romulans for an exchange of a military equipment.''" (''{{dis|Starlog|magazine}}'' #103, {{m|February|1986}}, p. 17)
==Background==
 
The existence of a "Romulan-Klingon alliance" in the 23rd century has never been explicitly stated. In "The Enterprise Incident", all that was said was that "Intelligence reports Romulans now using Klingon design." ''[[The Making of Star Trek]]'' (finished during the early part of the third season of [[TOS]]) does say, however, that the intention at the time was to have the Klingons and Romulans form an alliance against the Federation. The only real indication in any series that an alliance was ever in effect is in "Reunion", where Riker says in response to a suggestion that the Klingons and Romulans were working together: "''A new Klingon alliance with the Romulans?''" By saying "new" it implies that there had been an "old" one at some point. The two powers were "blood enemies" for 75 years prior to the episode, so any former alliance would most likely have had to have ended prior to that. The [[Battle of Klach D'Kel Brakt]] in [[2271]], mentioned in the ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' episode {{e|Blood Oath}}, might have been at or near that end of the alliance, as it took place 96 years prior to the episode. However, since another 21 years would pass prior to being blood enemies, it is likely the alliance attempted to remain intact thereafter.
 
   
  +
Though spotty references were made since the original reference, there were also few key indications that a loose alliance spottily existed between the two races for the next century:
It is possible that the Romulans and Klingons had a second alliance as well. In {{e|The Neutral Zone}}, [[Worf]] says the Romulans "''killed my parents in an attack on Khitomer at a time when they were supposed to be our allies.''" That was [[2346]], and would require that the two races be both blood enemies and allied powers at the same time. This is possible as governments will often put aside philosophical or historical differences in favor of political expediency or gain, but it is highly speculative. However, in {{film|6}}, there are Romulan delegates present at the [[Khitomer Conference]], so it is possible that some kind of relationship between the Klingons and the Romulans also extended from those events (even though [[Nanclus]] turned out to be one of the conspirators involved in the assassination of [[Gorkon]] and the [[Federation president]]).
 
  +
* In {{film|2}} the [[Neutral Zone]] is referenced in relation to Klingon territory while previously it was only known to relate to the divide between Federation an Romulan territories. The extension of the Neutral Zone across the Federation-Klingon border (which was an area of dispute between the two powers during [[TOS]]) would suggest Klingon-Romulan relations had evolved into something more political by no later than [[2285]].
  +
* In {{film|6}}, Romulan delegates are one of three main groups present at the Khitomer Conference, indicating some kind of relationship between the Klingons and the Romulans. However, they are ultimately discovered, at least in part through the actions of Nanclus, to be one of the conspirators involved in the assassination of [[Gorkon]] and the attempt to kill the [[Efrosian president 001|Federation president]].
  +
* In {{TNG|The Neutral Zone}}, Worf says the Romulans "''killed my parents in an attack on Khitomer at a time when they were supposed to be our allies.''" This incident occurred in [[2346]] and would require that the two races be both blood enemies and allied powers at the same time.
  +
* In {{TNG|Reunion}}, [[William T. Riker|Riker]] says, in response to a suggestion that the Klingons and Romulans are working together, "''A new Klingon alliance with the Romulans?''" The two powers were "blood enemies" for seventy-five years prior to the episode, so any former alliance would most likely have had to have ended prior to that.
   
According to the [[Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Journal]], the Romulan cloaking device was acquired by the Klingons as an exchange for several {{class|D7}} [[battle cruiser]]s for the Romulans during the Alliance. In fact according to apocryphal accounts, in ''[[Seven Deadly Sins]]'', Romulans required the power system of the ''D7''-class ships to provide the power required to use the new improved cloaking device.
+
According to ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Journal]]'', the Romulan cloaking device was acquired by the Klingons as an exchange for several D7 class battle cruisers for the Romulans during the Alliance. In fact, according to apocryphal accounts, in ''[[Seven Deadly Sins]]'', Romulans required the power system of the D7-class ships to provide the power required to use the new improved cloaking device.
  +
 
===See also===
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*[[Klingon history]]
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*[[Romulan history]]
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===External Links===
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*{{mbeta|Klingon-Romulan Alliance}}
   
 
[[de:Klingonisch-Romulanische Allianz]]
 
[[de:Klingonisch-Romulanische Allianz]]

Latest revision as of 17:58, 25 February 2024

Romulan flagship, 2268 remastered

As of 2268, the Romulan Star Empire used D7-class battle cruisers of Klingon design and equipped them with cloaking technology

Korrd, Talbot, Dar

Klingon General Korrd with Human and Romulan ambassadors Talbot and Dar aboard the Enterprise in 2287

B'Etor and Movar

B'Etor and General Movar collaborating during the Klingon Civil War in 2367

Tokath and Gi'ral

A Romulan-Klingon couple in the prison camp on Carraya IV in 2369

Planning the attack

Romulans, Klingons and Starfleet personnel bickering and discussing their strategy against the Dominion in 2374

Federation Alliance fleet departs DS9

A joint Romulan-Klingon-Federation fleet departs Deep Space 9 to invade Cardassia in 2375

"That's a Klingon ship! But it couldn't be, not in this area."
"Intelligence reports Romulans now using Klingon design.
"

Romulan-Klingon relations shifted between being "blood enemies" and titular "allies" in the 23rd and 24th centuries.

Appendices

Background information

The existence of a "Romulan-Klingon alliance" in the 23rd century has never been explicitly stated. In "The Enterprise Incident", all that is said is that "Intelligence reports Romulans now using Klingon design." The Making of Star Trek (finished during the early part of the third season of TOS) does say, however, that the intention at the time was to have the Klingons and Romulans form an alliance against the Federation.

In developing Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, Harve Bennett originally wrote the film with the Romulans as the belligerents, whose vessel was designated the "Bird-of-Prey", but later rewrote the Romulans as Klingons, as they were determined to be more exciting. After having "Klingicized" the characters in the film, he decided to keep the vessel designation intact. Recalling his two-month binge watching of every episode of Star Trek that existed then (when TOS was the only live-action series), Bennett said, "I didn't change their ship, because I remembered a piece of trivia that stated there was a mutual assistance military pact between the Klingons and the Romulans for an exchange of a military equipment." (Starlog #103, February 1986, p. 17)

Though spotty references were made since the original reference, there were also few key indications that a loose alliance spottily existed between the two races for the next century:

  • In Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan the Neutral Zone is referenced in relation to Klingon territory while previously it was only known to relate to the divide between Federation an Romulan territories. The extension of the Neutral Zone across the Federation-Klingon border (which was an area of dispute between the two powers during TOS) would suggest Klingon-Romulan relations had evolved into something more political by no later than 2285.
  • In Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, Romulan delegates are one of three main groups present at the Khitomer Conference, indicating some kind of relationship between the Klingons and the Romulans. However, they are ultimately discovered, at least in part through the actions of Nanclus, to be one of the conspirators involved in the assassination of Gorkon and the attempt to kill the Federation president.
  • In TNG: "The Neutral Zone", Worf says the Romulans "killed my parents in an attack on Khitomer at a time when they were supposed to be our allies." This incident occurred in 2346 and would require that the two races be both blood enemies and allied powers at the same time.
  • In TNG: "Reunion", Riker says, in response to a suggestion that the Klingons and Romulans are working together, "A new Klingon alliance with the Romulans?" The two powers were "blood enemies" for seventy-five years prior to the episode, so any former alliance would most likely have had to have ended prior to that.

According to Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Journal, the Romulan cloaking device was acquired by the Klingons as an exchange for several D7 class battle cruisers for the Romulans during the Alliance. In fact, according to apocryphal accounts, in Seven Deadly Sins, Romulans required the power system of the D7-class ships to provide the power required to use the new improved cloaking device.

See also

External Links