The Romulan Star Empire in Star Trek: Discovery

The Romulan Star Empire is led by the Vulcanoid Romulan people from the twin planets Romulus and Remus, and is a organized, fascistic and warlike state positioned close to Federation and Klingon space. The Romulan government seems to consist of a social system similar to the Roman Empire on Earth, with positions analogous to senators, tribunes, praetors, consuls, proconsuls, and perhaps an emperor at some points in it's history - as well as all the developments in statecraft since. It is possible that the conquests of Romulus's legions, and it's alien auxiliary armies must be justified to the senate in terms of national security, profitability and opportunity - the citizenry may enjoy some freedoms, but are subject to a thought police and surveillance state that keeps them ideologically pure.



Like Rome, which was huge, diverse and encompassed many nations, the Romulan state appears extensive - at least one of the larger empires of the galaxy, but possibly as large as the Federation itself, representing a rival social system based on principles at odds with the Federation; nominally an imperial democracy, fixated on order and security, that believes it's social system is superior, but to a greater or lesser extent totalitarian, perhaps depending on the political climate. It is unknown how many alien worlds are subjects of the empire, but the Romulan state may employ auxiliary armies and legions composed of subject species. It has extremely powerful state institutions such as the Tal Shiar and a scientific capability on par with the Federation.



The Empire's strategic behavior probably mirrors Roman policy within it's sphere of influence - targets are encouraged to become protectorates and vassals, but if they are deemed to threaten the strategic interests of the Romulan Empire, or hold an important resource, they are incorporated as full member provinces, under the pretext of order and stability. The Romulan Commander and Centurion in "Balance of Terror" mentioned they had fought over a hundred campaigns together - testament to the bloody reality of the Romulan military's conquests and police actions. Outwardly, when dealing with other empires, the Romulan state's policy is more akin to the brinkmanship of 20th century Earth nation states such as China or Russia - a strategic rivalry the Federation, Klingons, Breen and other neighbors, trying to maneuver events clandestinely or overtly into their favor. In 2266, they perfected plasma torpedo and cloaking technology and tested them against the Federation in a suprise strike, and in 2268, they conducted a catastrophic test into Polaric Ion Weapondary, which almost destroyed their colony of Chaltok IV, and led to the Polaric Test Ban Treaty - a testament to Romulan scientific ambition and attempts to continually find a form of strategic advantage for their star fleets.



During the Romulan War, possibly launched as an attempt to prevent the birth of the Federation by conquering the Alpha Quadrant before individual planets had chance to sign a union, the Romulans launched the most aggressive campaign in their history. It was the most bloody conflict the quadrant had ever witnessed prior to the Dominion War - the Romulan state was analogous to the Empire of Japan or Nazi Germany - launching surprise strikes and pursuing unrestrained expansionism in order to bring about a new order and rule unopposed.



Since their defeat, principally at the hands of Earth and it's allies, their policy has become more circumspect - the establishment of the Romulan Neutral Zone, a border region several light years deep in which neither side is permitted to establish any kind of military presence, has served to contain the empire's westward expansion in the galactic disc.

• Earth Romulan War (ends with the signing of the peace after Battle of Cheron) (2156-2160)
  
• [Long Isolation] (2160-2266 - 106 years)
  
• Balance of Terror attack tests the Federation and deploys functional cloaking device (2266-2268)
  
• Attempt to disrupt the Federation-Klingon peace by supporting Chang and Cartwright (2293)
  
• [Short Isolation] (2311-2364 - 53 years)
  
• Reemergence in TNG in response to Borg attacks on Romulan and Federation bases (2364)
  
• Attempt to disrupt the Federation-Klingon peace through regime change on Qo'noS (2367)
  
• Attempt at re-unification of Vulcan and Romulus via a coup led by Romulan troops (2368)
  
• Tal Shiar and Obsidian Order launch a first strike on the Founders of the Dominion (2371)
  
• The Dominion War (ends with the signing of the peace after Battle of Cardassia) (2374-2375)

The Romulan state in the era of Discovery is nearing the end of almost a century of isolationism - Discovery is set during the last ten years of the longer period of isolation. We don't really know what might have brought about the sudden change in Romulan policy. The appointment of a hawkish Praetor? Perceived provocation by the Federation? The development of practical invisibility screens being deemed an overwhelming enough tactical advantage that the Romulans might be able to win a direct conflict? The machinations of the Klingon Empire, attempting to set them against the Federation by proxy?



What we do know is that the Klingons and Romulans briefly allied around this time and exchanged starship designs and cloaking devices - this two against one situation was of grave strategic importance to the Federation, but didn't last - and decades later the situation was permanently reversed with the Federation and Klingons being aligned against the Romulans - a situation that preoccupied them for the next 70 years, as they tried to destabilize relations between the two and shift the balance of power back to a Romulan-Klingon entente via the House of Duras.









Romulans are biologically stronger than humans, like their Vulcan cousins. Romulan military figures generally maintain a clean cut appearance, but their working classes, such as the miners of the Romulan mining platform Narada, have demonstrated that there are probably many sub-cultures, geographical differences and social classes - with this particular one being seen to wear tattoos as a sign of mourning for the loss of their planet. In this diversity of Romulan everyday life, it is possible that not all Romulans feel the same antagonism toward the Federation that their leaders do. It is currently unknown if this isolationist power will appear in Star Trek: Discovery, but they remain Earth's oldest adversary.

 

Great read! I'm really enjoying your lessons in future history!

 

@Horizons96 - Thanks! I've just added a few pictures to show a taste of what life within the empire might be like

 

We're not supposed to see or hear from Romulans between the events of the Earth/Romulan war and "Balance of Terror"

I predict Discovery will ignore this.

 

@King Daniel Beyond - Yeah, I suspect they might - however a way around this could be for a mission to be secret - the USS Discovery is sent into the neutral zone for the first time in 96 years on a secret mission because of rumors the Romulans have almost perfected a working cloaking device, or something like that.

 

The series seems to be concentrating on the Klingons. If we hear from the Rihansu/"Romulans" at all, it'll be in intel briefings or mentions of the Neutral Zone.

 

They must not have succeeded because Kirk and Spock get sent on a similar mission in "The Enterprise Incident."

Also, as much as I appreciate the Romulan history and full write up, I would be curious as to more TOS and Earth/Romulan War period, if you found anything there. I know there are a lot of RPG guides but that usually centers on TNG era not TOS or Earth/Romulan War era.

 

Trek XI largely ignored it, along with the fact no one was supposed to know what Romulans looked like. The Kelvin's crew recognized Nero as a Romulan, no one was like "why's this Vulcan so pissed off? And you know, emotional."

 

Maybe Discovery will be a type of Rogue One to TOS. Showing adventures from a ship and crew that are ultimately destroyed before the classic series begins (hence why there is no mention of them -- Sarek knows when to keep his mouth shut).

 

Considering the other Starfleet ships mentioned in TOS are usually destroyed themselves (or at least suffer serious crew losses) it stands to reason that one not mentioned is actually doing okay.

 

Did they?

 

Thanks for the feedback everyone. As a bit of an addition, here is some videos on Roman history.







Among the modern societies that trace their political lineage in some way to ancient Rome (and Greece) are the United States, Britain, France, Germany and Russia. The United States is the most famous example with a republic, senate, etc. It is the philosophical framework of realism, rational methods and empirical lineage that is shared with the ancient world. Countries sometimes deliberately make their public buildings look like Roman ones in order to foster an image of stability, tradition, endurance and antiquity - or simply because of notions of classical beauty.



I hope any appearances by the Romulans don't over emphasize visual connections to ancient Rome like some space fantasy (soldiers wearing "galea" style helmets), because it is the subtle social parallels and institutional similarities that matter more. The Romulans were initially inspired by the German mariners in "The Enemy Below", a sympathetic enemy Commander that is following orders with a sense of personal compassion, honor and duty, even though he does not necessarily agree with the Praetor - trapped by his notions of loyalty to Romulus. Germany of that era explicitly used Roman symbolism, so the implication of using Roman-like Romulans wasn't necessarily that they were a direct analogue for ancient Rome, but rather one of it's many successors.



So when I think of the Romulan Star Empire, I don't think of an exaggerated caricature of the ancient Roman Empire (despite how the senate wore robes in Nemesis), but rather as a thoroughly modern state with all the institutions you would expect - probably their senators have to fund-raise, mingle with the industrialists, shake hands and kiss Romulan babies. They probably wear finely tailored suits, and the latest modern fashions, not robes, most of the time.



They are a warlike offshoot of the ancient Vulcans from before the Surakian revolution in ethics. But again like the Klingons, this does not mean that they will deliberately hamper themselves in battle with impractical traditions - they will be hard rationalists by necessity when faced with sophisticated enemies - military engagement takes the path of least resistance toward vanquishing the enemy, not impractical tactics. If the Romulans can press a button and win a battle with no honor, it will be done.



They started off, like all empires, as thugs and raiders, and gained the trappings of 'respectability' with the whitewashing of the passage of time, that makes once barbaric symbols seem august and dignified - and they are intelligence enough to be aware of that, not misty-eyed Klingons longing for the time of Kahless. The 'Continuing Comitee', which seems to be the innermost circle of their empire will have no illusions, and will be scrupulously rational in the pursuit and maintience of Romulan interests.

 

Umm, no they didn't.

 

FASA's STRPG did a Rom setting supplement exploring both the UFP and Rom perspectives (also allowing Rom PC's to be created) for the TOS period. And also a seperate book (very rare these days) on the Rom War. However since it was written pre TNG their take is now totally non-canon. But for me it is better than what we ended up with (much like the equally excellent Klingon supplement).

 

Uh, yeah they did.

After the confrontation the only survivors where the Kelvin crew, who reported being attacked by Romulans all in "one massive ship", Pike's dissertation on the incident mentions this. McCoy later goes on about how the Romulans got hold of such technology to build the Narada, where Spock corrects him and we get the alternative universe scene. He explains Nero is a rogue Romulan from the future.

No one tells them this, they already know what species they belong to. I suppose on returning to Earth, the Kelvin survivors described what they saw, for the Vulcans to have broken silence a lot earlier and told them who they were, based only on descriptions of Neyal on the viewscreen.

So either way, someone knew who they were from a glance or verbal description.

 

There's no dialog in the Kelvin scenes where the crew ID the Narada or it's crew as Romulans. So your supposition more likely. Their identification as Romulans comes after the attack as eyewitness testimony, visual, evidence and audio evidence is collected and correlated. This would be what Pike's dissertation and Spock's theory is based on.

 

Which still means someone knew what Romulans looked like the moment the Kelvin crew described them.

 

No, they discovered what the Romulans looked liked. Same as in Balance of Terror.