Centauri (Babylon 5)
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The Centauri are a humanoid species in the fictional Babylon 5 universe. They were the first alien species to make contact with the human race. Their homeworld is Centauri Prime. Their government is the Centauri Republic. Despite the name, the Centauri are neither from nor associated with the Alpha Centauri star system (within the context of Babylon 5, this inaccurate naming is explained as having resulted from a mistranslation during first contact between humans and the Centauri).
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Homeworld
Centauri Prime is the homeworld of the Centauri and throne of the once-expansive Centauri Republic. It is ruled by an Emperor or Empress, or, in the event of an interregnum, a Regent. The main parliamentary body is called the Centarum. The relative power of the two institutions seems to vary depending upon the strength of whoever sits on the throne.
In 2260-61, the Centauri homeworld was used as a staging ground for Shadow ships and personnel, until, in late 2261, then-Prime Minister Londo Mollari destroyed their base, an island in the southern hemisphere of the planet.
Government
The Centauri Republic is a major power in the Babylon 5 universe and noted for being the first alien government with which Earth had open contact. The Republic is based on Centauri Prime but spans a number of other colonies and worlds. The Republic is nominally a constitutional monarchy headed by an Imperial family. Events in the television series span the reigns of Emperors Turhan, Cartagia, Londo Mollari and Vir Cotto, but it is clear that while the emperor has great personal influence and important ceremonial roles, true power resides in the Centarum, an assembly of the leaders of the major noble houses. Nobles able to manipulate the Centarum successfully, such as Lord Refa, are able to wield great power.
History
Before 2258
The Centauri Republic is old, though it was not a spacefaring civilization at the time of the first Shadow War and consequently played no part in that struggle. Instead its period of expansion spanned the centuries before the second Shadow War and the birth of the Interstellar Alliance. At its greatest extent, hundreds of worlds were subject to the Centauri Republic, hence its epithet, 'Lion of the Galaxy'. But by 2258 that empire had almost completely fallen apart, seemingly more through the apathy of the Republic than military inferiority, since among the other younger races only the Minbari appear to have more powerful ships and weaponry. The exception to this story of decline was the inclusion of the Narn homeworld in the early 22nd Century. For the next hundred years the agrarian and technologically primitive Narns were exploited mercilessly and their world stripped of resources. This occupation would have deep and lasting consequences for both races long after the Centauri withdrew a hundred years later in the face of growing Narn resistance (see Narn Regime).
Relations with the other spacefaring nations generally varies from mild mutual suspicion to outright hostility. The Minbari have nothing to fear from the Centauri, and diplomatic and trading links between the two powers are good if not actually friendly. Conversely, the Narn Regime is vocally opposed to the Centauri, and increasing border clashes between the two eventually leads to the Narn-Centauri War. The loose association of minor independent species known as the League of Non-Aligned Worlds is wary of the Republic, no great surprise given that many members were formerly subject to Centauri rule. Drazi space in particular is hemmed in by the Centauri, and so they watch the return of Centauri militarism with deep anxiety. The fact that the Centauri did nothing to prevent the Dilgar War was another source of antipathy from the League; many maintained the Centauri had used Dilgar mercenaries themselves. The only power that has regularly maintained warm relations with the Centauri seems to be the Earth Alliance, as it was the Centauri Republic who gave humanity Jump Gate technology, allowing the rapid expansion of humans into space. Earth-Centauri relations are only mildly soured by the fact that initially the Centauri tried to swindle Earth into believing it was a long lost colony of the Republic.
2258-2278
From 2258 onwards, the Centauri once again mapped out a path of conquest, taking over not just Narn space but also worlds formally belong to the Drazi, Pak'ma'ra, and other members of the League. A non-aggression treaty between Earth and the Centauri Republic ensured that unlike the situation with the earlier Dilgar War, the Earth Alliance would not come to the League's aid, making resisting the expansion of the Centauri Republic much more difficult.
The guarantor of the revival of Centauri power was the aid of the Shadows, but by 2261 the Shadows had departed the galaxy along with the other First Ones, and the Centauri had to play a much more defensive game. While not initially hostile to the new Interstellar Alliance, Drakh influence on Centauri Prime led to a souring of relations between the Centauri and the other worlds during 2262. Destruction of civilian shipping by the Drakh was blamed on the Centauri, and a force of Narn and Drazi ships made for Centauri Prime, while Drakh agents had managed to get the Regent to deactivate the planetary defences and send the space fleet away. Centauri Prime was bombarded and laid waste, and the Centauri severed all relations with the Interstellar Alliance. Only former allies of the Shadows remained on Centauri Prime, and for the next twenty years the Centauri found themselves in much the same situation as they had visited upon the Narns: their planet was wrecked by violence and ruin. By 2278 little was left of the grandeur of the Centauri save their pride and their patriotism, though a glimmer of hope remained that the Interstellar Alliance might intervene when John Sheridan saw the ruined world himself.
After 2278
After John Sheridan and Delenn had saved their son David and fled from Centauri Prime, Emperor Mollari died soon afterwards. Mollari and G'Kar died at each other's hand, just as Mollari had forseen years before. Vir Cotto killed Londo's keeper, and then escaped from Centauri Prime himself. Vir went to Minbar, and met with the surviving leaders of the Centauri houses. In keeping with Lady Morella's prophecy, Vir's claim to the throne was accepted, and he became Emperor Cotto. The Alliance, realizing that they were the victims of a massive Drakh manipulation, joined forces with the Centauri military to hunt down the Drakh. Vir returned to Centauri Prime a short time later, after which, Shiv'Kala (who was the last remaining Drakh on Centauri Prime) revealed himself to Vir. With the help of Michael Garibaldi, Vir was able to kill Shiv'Kala. This act freed David from the control of a Drakh keeper, and eliminated the last lingering thread of Drakh influence from the Centauri homeworld.
With help from the Alliance, Vir spent the next years rebuilding his homeworld. In 2281, John Sheridan realized that his life was almost over. He extended an invitation to Emperor Cotto to join him and his friends for one last dinner. During the dinner, Vir remembered Londo when Sheridan proposed a toast to all their friends who had died. The next day, Sheridan left, and was carried by Lorien beyond the galaxy to live with the first ones. Vir traveled to Babylon 5 to witness the decommissioning and destruction of the station. He then returned to Centauri Prime, and brought Zack Allan along, as his advisor.
Babylon 5
At the time the Babylon 5 series begins, the Republic is at a low ebb in terms of power and influence and surrounded by enemies of its own making. Former vassals, the Narn, are now creating a rival empire that threatens to burst across the borders of what remains of Centauri space (Midnight on the Firing Line). The upstart Earth Alliance has inexplicably not just survived a war with the Minbari but apparently come out of it victorious, a feat the Republic wouldn't have dreamed of even at the height of its power. In both cases, the Republic is forced to treat as equals species that just a few centuries ago they would have seen as inferior. The Centauri seem fated to only further decline, puttering around faded monuments to old glories and staving off their final dissolution only by association with the rising vigour of the Earth Alliance (The Gathering). Not only is the Republic dying, but everyone else in the galaxy seems to eagerly look forward to the day when they can finally dance on the Centauris' collective grave. It is Londo Mollari's desire to receate the days when the Centauri Republic was at its height that makes him the perfect pawn for the mysterious Mr. Morden and his Shadow masters (Signs and Portents).
Parallels with Earth History
The Centauri Republic reflects many imperial cultures of Earth, but the strongest parallels are with the Roman Empire. Like Rome, the Centauri Republic sees itself as being destined to rule and to conquer, and each generation measures itself against this ideal. Also like ancient Rome, the Centauri are governed by an Emperor and members of the aristocracy (The Coming of Shadows), while at the bottom of Centauri society are the slaves (Born to the Purple) as well as many alien labourers drafted in from the various conquered worlds (Sic Transit Vir). Straczynski regularly uses motifs that echo modern perceptions of Roman culture: feasting, polytheism (The Parliament of Dreams), social conservatism including traditions such as arranged marriages (War Prayer), and the importance of clans, known as Houses.
On the other hand, similarities with the British Empire are obvious as well. The rapid decline as former vassals acquire ambitions of their own recall the rapid independence of the parts of Africa and Asia once under British rule, while the diplomatic warmth accorded to the Earth Alliance, a young but strong power, has something of the flavour of the special relationship between Britain and the United States in the years following the First World War. Londo Mollari's complaint, expressed in the movie The Gathering, that Centauri Prime has been reduced to "A tourist attraction... See the Centauri Republic, nine to five, Earth time"
Biology
Appearance
The Centauri are humanoid in appearance, similar enough to humans that the species can easily pass for one another under casual inspection. However, in terms of internal structure there are several important differences between the two species. Centauri teeth, for instance, are somewhat pointed.
Centauri males typically wear their hair in Peacock-tail shaped fans. The social standing of the male determines the length and style of the hair. Females typically shave their heads but for a knot of hair in the back.
Their dress and customs reflect their imperialistic culture, with militaristic clothing reminiscent of the 17th Century for the men, gowns for the women whose design appears to be of similar general vintage, and a generally courtly manner.
Sexuality
The sexual organs of the Centauri are quite different than those of humans, and they are in a different location than the human sex organs. Male Centauri have six tentacles (jokingly called "tentesticles") along the sides of their bodies. The males can stretch the tentacles out to several feet. Females have six orifices along the sides of their bodies. The male places the tentacles in the female orifices individually. Each additional tentacle the male places in a female orifice brings an additional level of pleasure for both partners. Only one tentacle is necessary to inseminate, however.
Cardio-vascular system
The cardio-vascular system of Centauri has two hearts instead of the single heart that humans have. The right heart is a solid mass of muscle which provides most of the force behind the body's blood circulation. The left heart is much more complex - this heart is made up of an intricate system of thousands of veins that help cleanse the blood in a manner similar to the human kidneys. As a result, a heart attack in the left heart is a very serious matter because the left heart is very difficult to repair. By contrast, a heart attack in the right heart is relatively easy for a competent doctor to repair. Centauri also do not have major blood vessels in their wrists. As a result, a cut in that area would not cause a Centauri to bleed to death.
ESP and telepathy
The Centauri have extra-sensory perception to varying degrees, generally manifesting as precognitive abilities. Most Centauri have limited perceptions, enjoying only rare fleeting glimpses of the future. However, some Centauri will expereince vivid prophetic dreams telling them of the time and the circumstances of their deaths. A rare few Centauri, almost exclusively female, have very strong prophetic abilities.
Some Centauri have telepathic ability. Unlike humans, who have only manifested the ability since about 2160, the Centauri have had telepaths for most of their history. Like humans, the degree of telepathic ability varies with the individual.
The Centauri Emperor always has four female telepaths in his court. When he travels, two go with him and two remain at the royal palace allowing rapid communication between the Emperor and Centauri Prime.
Evolution
The Centauri were originally one of two intelligent species to occupy their homeworld. The other intelligent species was known as the Xon. The Xon were physically stronger than the Centauri, but the Centauri had the greater intellect. Both sides engaged in a savage war for control of their world, and Centauri intellect won out in the end. By about the human fifth century, the Xon race had been exterminated, which left the Centauri the sole intelligent life form on their world. An old Centauri joke told by Londo Mollari goes, "Do you know what the last Xon said, just before he died? ARRH-KKGH-K-KGH!" (a horrible strangling noise)