Minbari Federation
From The Babylon Project
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The Minbari Federation is the state composed of Minbar, other colony worlds of the the Minbari people, and their protectorates.
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[edit] Government
The Federation is led by the Grey Council, a group of nine Satai, each speaking for their own caste. Next in line of authority is the Council of Caste Elders, made up of nine members from each caste, each representing a particular clan. The first Grey Council was formed by Valen circa 1260, who intended to strike a balance between the three castes who had, until that point, often been in conflict with one another. To this end, Valen called forth the first council of nine, made up of three from each of the three castes. This system endured for a thousand years until the council chose Neroon of the Warrior Caste to fill the place once filled by Delenn of the Religious Caste, giving the Warriors and unprecedented majority. In 2260 the council had become complacent and many no longer believed in the prophecies of Valen and refused to acknowledge the reality of the coming Shadow War. Such was their inaction that Delenn, unable to get through to all of them, broke the council. The resulting power vacuum eventually caused the Minbari Civil War and was stopped when Delenn reformed the council, though this time with five from the Worker Caste and only two each from the Religious and Warrior Castes, to make sure that the previously warring factions remember their true role, in service to the people who do the actual work of the Minbari Federation.
[edit] Minbari Protectorates
The Minbari Federation includes a number of smaller allied worlds that come under the protection of the Minbari. One such race are the Norsai, a peaceful agrarian people have depended on Minbari protection for centuries. [2]
[edit] History
The Federation dates back at least 1,000 years before 2258. The Minbari Federation has three castes. Warrior, Worker, and Religious. The Warrior castes fights. The Warrior caste is dedicated entirely to warfare. The Warrior caste fought a war against the Earth Alliance, after the leader of the Grey Council was killed by the EAS Prometheus. The war was ended by the Religious caste. The Religious caste is the spiritual leaders of Minbari society. They lead lives dedicated to serving others. To Quote Ambassador Mollari "There are no greater advasaries or allies than the Minbari Religious caste." The Worker caste builds everything seen on Minbar. They built all the cities on Minbar and Rebuilt them after the Minbar Civil War, following the final Shadow War.
[edit] Colonies
While the Minbari Federation has no specifically important colonies, it does include Worker Caste operated agricultural colonies on fourteen different worlds, all within a a radius of 50 light-years from Minbar. On such colony is located on Kordat IV. Since much of the surface of the homeworld is littered with enormous crystalline deposits and the polar ice cap covers a quarter of the globe, the potential for agricultural expansion is extremely limited. As a result, the colonies were established primarily as a means to combat overpopulation on Minbar. The colonies themselves are separated into three settlements, (one for each caste) each laid out as an equilateral triangle; these all converge at a central, caste neutral administration facility where the food sanctification rituals and colony meetings are held.[1]
[edit] Titles and Ranks
- Government
- Chosen One: Leader of the Grey Council and stands apart from the nine. Appointed by a consensus vote from the members of the Grey Council. When the chosen one dies the council can wait up to ten years before choosing another leader, as they did after the death of Dukhat. In 2258 Delenn became the only Minbari ever to refuse the offer of leadership.
- Persons known to have held this position: -
- Satai: Member of the Grey Council. Appointed through sponsorship and majority vote from the other members of the council.
- Persons known to have held this position: -
- See: Grey Council
- Elder: Senior member of a given Clan, represents their clan in the Council of Caste Elders, which is itself composed of nine members for each of the three castes. [3]
- Religious Caste
- Shaal: An honorific title, granted to a person who has made a major achievement, usually a lifetime achievement, such as becoming a Master of Ti'la (Minbari song poetry.)[4][5]
- Example: Shaal Mayan
- Acolyte: An Acolyte is a essentially a Religious Caste attendant, seeing to the needs of others as they are directed. Often trained in temple from childhood, some are specifically groomed for certain positions by their Master and may ascend very quickly through the ranks of their caste or clan.[6][7]
- Warrior Caste
- Shai Alyt: A military rank comparable to an Earth 5-star General, or Joint Chief of Staff.[4]
- F'hursna: Title given to the Master teacher of the Denn'bok. The F'hursna is solely responsible for ensuring only those worthy may own the limited number of existing fighting pikes and controls the manufacture of any new ones. [3]
- Anla'Shok
[edit] References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Dining on Babylon 5
- ↑ Lines of Communication
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 To Dream in the City of Sorrows
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Other Voices Vol 3 - Babylon 5 Alien Guide
- ↑ The War Prayer
- ↑ All Alone in the Night
- ↑ Atonement
| Governments | ||
| Major Governments: | Vorlon Empire • Minbari Federation • Centauri Republic • Earth Alliance • Narn Regime | |
| Minor Governments: | Drazi Freehold • Brakiri Syndicracy • Abbai Matriarchate • Gaim Intelligence • Hyach Grand Council of Elders • Markab Confederacy • The pak'ma'ra • Androma Republic • Marga Chulda • Mi-Ma-Ti • Ingyo • Ventuki Conglomerate of the Vree • Sh'lassen Triumvirate | |
