The Minbari Federation is the state composed of Minbar, other colony worlds of the the Minbari people, and their protectorates.
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.
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. [1]
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.
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: -
- (Circa 1260 - Circa 1360) Valen
- (unknown - 2245) Dukhat
- (Circa 2245 - 2258) UNOCCUPIED
- (2259) Jenimer
- (2259 - Circa 2261) UNOCCUPIED
Satai
Member of the Grey Council. Appointed through sponsorship and majority vote from the other members of the council.
- Example: Satai Rathenn
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. [2]
- Example: Alyt Neroon
Religious Caste
Shaal
Master of Ti'la (Minbari song poetry.) [3]
- Example: Shaal Mayan
Warrior Caste
Shai Alyt
The Minbari Warrior Caste equivalent of a Captain.
- Example: Shai Alyt Bramner
Alyt
The Minbari Warrior Caste equivalent of a First officer.
- Example: Alyt Kalain
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. [2]
Anla'Shok
Entil'Zha
Title originally held by Valen when he formed the Anla'Shok. The exact meaning is unknown, but believed to have been derived from Vorlon.[2] Subsequent leaders of the Anla'Shok after Valen took on the title of Anla'Shok Na, this was to honour the memory of Valen. This tradition continued for 900 years until Jenimer requested that Jeffrey Sinclair take on the title and reunite Entil'Zha with Anla'shok Na.
- Persons known to have held this position: -
- (Circa 1260 - Circa 1360) Valen
- (Circa 1360 - 2259) UNOCCUPIED
- (2259 - 2260) Jeffrey Sinclair
- (2260 - 2279) Delenn
- (2279 - 2281) John Sheridan
Anla'Shok Na
The title given to the current leader of the Anla'shok in the time after Valen, until the title "Entil'Zha" was reintroduced for Jeffery Sinclair, as a fulfilment of Valen's prophecy. Literally means "Ranger One". [2]
- Persons known to have held this position: -
- (Circa 1260 - Circa 1360) Valen [4]
- (Circa 1360 - unknown) Unknown [2]
- (unknown - 2246) Lenonn [5]
- (2247 - 2259) Turval [2]
- (2259 - 2260) Jeffrey Sinclair [6], [7]
- (2260 - 2279) Delenn [8]
- (2279 - 2281) John Sheridan [9]
- (2281 - 2345) Susan Ivanova [9]
Sech
Essentially means "teacher" or "Sensei".
- Example: Sech Turval
Shok-na
The Anla'Shok equivalent of a Captain.
- Example: Shok-na David Martel
Shok-nali
The Anla'Shok equivalent of a First officer.
- Example: Shok-nali Dulann
Anla'shok/Ranger
"Anla'Shok" and later the English equivalent "Ranger" are also used as a simple, interchangeable honorific to refer to anyone who has completed Ranger training.
- Persons known to have held this position: -