Cardassian Union
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| Founded | 19th century |
|---|---|
| Founder | Tret Akleen |
| Capital(s) | Cardassia Prime |
| Official language(s) | Cardassian, (see: universal translator) |
| Currency | lek |
| Affiliation | Dominion (2373 - 2375) |
The Cardassians are an extraterrestrial species in the Star Trek science fiction franchise. First introduced in the 1991 Star Trek: The Next Generation episode, "The Wounded", the species originated on the fictional Alpha Quadrant planet, Cardassia Prime. Cardassians were the dominant species in an interstellar empire known as the Cardassian Union during the 24th century, although they are not confirmed to have ruled any other species aside from, for fifty years, the Bajorans. The Cardassians later played a key role in the storyline of the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine series as allies of the Dominion in the Dominion War. Several Cardassian characters, including Elim Garak and Gul Dukat, are prominently featured.
The Cardassians were developed by the writers of the Star Trek TV series The Next Generation to provide an enemy race with whom the protagonists could interact, unlike the Borg, with whom such interpersonal drama was difficult due to their lack of personality and individuality.
Cardassians are a humanoid race, with light grey skin. Their faces have small ridges on their sides, which converge to a characteristic crest shape on their foreheads, with female Cardassians sporting a blue or blue-green coloration to their crest. This crest has led to the derogatory nickname "spoonheads" used by other races.
Cardassians tend to be dominating and aggressive even in social situations. Their public behavior is much like a wolf pack, often seeking out the dominant position in any social gathering. ("Chain of Command") Cardassian culture also places extreme importance on family; advanced age is seen as a sign of power and dignity, and Cardassian families often involve several generations living together. Orphans, on the other hand, have little standing in Cardassian society and are often abandoned ("Cardassians", "Return to Grace").
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