Kahless the Unforgettable Unites the Klingons

About fifteen centuries before the 24th century, the Klingon homeworld was divided and dominated by the tyrant Molor. A warrior named Kahless rose against him. According to legend, he forged the first bat'leth from a lock of his own hair plunged into volcanic lava, then killed Molor in combat and brought the Klingon people together under a single rule.

Kahless also left a moral code centred on honour, loyalty and courage, which became the backbone of Klingon culture. Many tales surround him, such as his long duel with his brother Morath. Before his death he promised to return one day, and clerics on the world of Boreth waited for that moment for centuries.

His memory still dominates the Empire. In 2369 the clerics of Boreth presented a clone of Kahless, created from preserved blood. After the deception came to light, Worf persuaded Chancellor Gowron to accept the clone as a ceremonial emperor, reviving an office that had been empty for three centuries while real power stayed with the High Council.