Chancellor of the Klingon High Council

The Chancellor of the Klingon High Council, also known as the High Chancellor, was the leader of the Klingon High Council and thus the Klingon Empire. The chancellor replaced the emperor as the ruler of the Empire in the mid-21st century.

The succession of a chancellor could be determined in different ways, one of them being the Rite of Succession. If the incumbent died peacefully, a pre-determined Arbiter of Succession would initiate the Sonchi ceremony to confirm the death of the previous chancellor. The arbiter would then name the two strongest challengers for the title. By the mid-24th century this proclamation was a mere formality, while in previous time the ja'chuq ceremony had to be performed by the challengers to demonstrate their worthiness. The details of the Rite could be chosen by the arbiter alone. At some point the two designated challengers were to begin personal combat, with the victor becoming the new chancellor. 

Even if one of the two challengers died prematurely, the Rite would continue under the arbiter. Eventually, the arbiter and the surviving challenger would appear before the High Council to complete the rite. If no other legitimate challenger appeared, with the arbiter determining the validity of any new challenger's claim, the arbiter would put the chancellor's robes upon the new chancellor and the High Council would swear loyalty to him. 

An alternate way of succession was an individual challenging the incumbent to personal combat. This could happen anytime, even during a war, but had to be based upon the challenger's claim that the incumbent had acted dishonorably and was no longer fit to lead the High Council. If the challenger defeated the incumbent, he immediately became the new chancellor, but could also hand the office to someone the victor considered more worthy. 

The chancellor was protected at all times by the Yan-Isleth. 

Kol-Sha attempted to seize the Chancellorship from L'Rell in 2257. While he forced L'Rell to sign a document legalizing the taking through using her newborn child for blackmail, she was able to defeat him and his warriors with the assistance of Section 31 agent Philippa Georgiou before the action was made public. A cover story was then created, which stated that Kol-Sha died to protect L'Rell. 

In the late 23rd century, the chancellor wore the Klingon Chain of Office. 

When K'mpec died in 2367, he was the longest ruling chancellor in Klingon history. 

The office of chancellor remained the most powerful one in the empire, even after was installed in 2369. 

List of known Klingon chancellors

 * Mow'ga
 * Unnamed Chancellor (c. late 2140s – c. 2151
 * Unnamed Chancellor (c. 2153
 * M'Rek (c. 2154)
 * L'Rell (2257 onward; styled herself as "Mother of the Klingon Empire" after a failed coup)
 * Gorkon (until 2293)
 * Azetbur (2293 onward)
 * K'mpec (until 2367)
 * Gowron (2367 – 2375)
 * Worf (2375; abdicated immediately after ascension)
 * Martok (2375 onward)

Background information
The concept of the Klingon Empire having a chancellor was introduced in before being reused in several episodes of, , and , as well as a singular reference in. In for Star Trek VI, the term is used interchangeably with president.

While played by different actors, the two unnamed chancellors from Enterprise had similar cranial ridges and hair. It is possible production crew intended for them to be the same person. Additionally, it is possible that one (or both) of these chancellors were M'Rek, since they were not addressed by name.

Azetbur apparently succeeded Gorkon without undergoing a lengthy Rite of Succession; this might have been due to Gorkon being killed by non-Klingon enemies. According to the he had expected something to happen to him and had used his influence to ensure Azetbur would succeed him.

While was not explicitly referred to as chancellor in, he was described as the leader of the Klingon Empire and as having formed a new [Klingon High] Council.

Non-canon sources, like the novels The Art of the Impossible, Serpents Among the Ruins, and Harbinger, list other chancellors such as Sturka, Kaarg, Ditagh, and Kravokh. The video game Star Trek Online depicts Martok being supposedly killed in 2393 by a councilor called J'mpok, who then advanced to take the position of chancellor.

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Klingonischer Kanzler Canciller Klingon Chancelier du Haut Conseil Klingon クリンゴン最高評議会総裁 Klingon kanselier