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Chancellor Gowron; Son of M'Rel, and leader of the Klingon High Council following the death of K'mpec in 2367. Prior to his ascent to power, Gowron was a political outsider who often challenged the High Council. Following the death of K'mpec, Gowron was one of two contenders for the post of council leader. With the elimination of Duras, Gowron won the position of Chancellor. Gowron was installed as council leader in a ceremony attended by Jean-Luc Picard, who had served as Arbiter of Succession. "Reunion" Gowron's leadership was quickly challenged by Lursa and B'Etor, surviving members of the Duras family who sought to install Duras's illegitimate son, Toral, as Chancellor. The Duras bid was supported by Romulan interests seeking to gain control over the Klingon Empire. The challenge divided the council and plunged the Empire into civil war in 2367. Gowron emerged victorious, in part because he agreed to restore rightful honor to the Mogh family in exchange for military support by Worf and Kurn.

Within a few months, Gowron found it politically disadvantageous to admit to the Federation's support during his Rite of Succession and the subsequent civil war. Official government accounts of these events therefore omitted references to Federation involvement. "Unification, Part I".

Gowron reacted strongly to the supposed "return" of Kahless the Unforgettable in 2369, correctly surmising that the new Kahless was part of a political effort to discredit him. Gowron was further convinced that Kahless would once again plunge the Empire into civil war. At Worf's urging, Gowron later agreed to support Kahless in the ceremonial role of Emperor. This would allow Kahless to be the spiritual leader of the people, while the governmental power would remain with Gowron and the High Council. "Rightful Heir".

In 2372, a civilian uprising overthrew the Cardassian military, causing Gowron to believe that the Cardassian government had been taken over by the Dominion. Seeking to protect his Empire, Gowron ordered Klingon forces to invade the Cardassian Union. Although the invasion was unsuccessful, the Federation Council condemned the Klingon action, and in response, Gowron unilaterally withdrew from the Khitomer Accords on Stardate 49011, ending the peace treaty between the two great powers. In addition, Gowron expelled all Federation citizens from the Empire and recalled his ambassadors. Gowron appealed to Worf to renounce the Federation and join him in the invasion of Cardassia, but Worf refused, prompting Gowron to banish him from the Empire. "The Way of the Warrior, Parts I and II" (DS9)

After his failed attempt to conquer Cardassia, he declared the invasion a victory to avoid being assassinated. "Hippocratic Oath" (DS9).

A few months later, Gowron demanded that the Federation withdraw from the Archanis sector and abandon all of its bases there. During Odo's time in the Great Link, the Founders convinced him that Gowron was a changeling infiltrator. "Broken Link" (DS9).

In fact, Gowron had not been replaced by a changeling, but the Founders had hoped to cast suspicion on him to avoid detection of the real infitrator, a changeling replacement of General Martok. In 2372, Chancellor Gowron relocated Klingon military headquarters to planetoid Ty'Gokor. Early in 2373, Gowron inducted several warriors into the Order of the Bat'leth. Captain Benjamin Sisko and his men infiltrated the induction ceremony and exposed General Martok as a changeling spy. "Apocalypse Rising" (DS9).

In 2373, in response to the destabilizing alliance of the Cardassians and the Dominion, Gowron agreed to reinstate the Khitomer Accords, thus renewing the alliance between his Empire and the Federation. "By Inferno's Light" (DS9).

Despite initial reluctance, Gowron supported a bold Starfleet plan to retake station Deep Space 9 from Dominion control during the Dominion war in 2374. Gowron's warriors were crucial in this pivotal battle. "Favor the Bold" (DS9).

As the Dominion war progressed, Gowron became concerned that the honors being given to field commander Martok might threaten Gowron's own political power base. Gowron soon moved to assume personal command of the Klingon forces. "When It Rains..." (DS9).

Gowron, concerned more with consolidating his own power than with the welfare of his warriors, sent General Martok on a series of disastrous missions that seriously undermined the Alpha Quadrant powers' position in the final weeks of the Dominion war. Appalled at Gowron's squandering of Klingon lives and fearing the survival of the Empire was in jeopardy, Worf finally took it upon himself to challenge Gowron for leadership of the high council. Worf killed Gowron in the ensuing bat'leth fight, but immediately relinquished the title of Chancellor to Martok. "Tacking Into the Wind"(DS9).

Gowron also appeared in "Redemption, Parts I and II", "The House of Quark".