Centauri (Babylon 5)

Centauri Prime
The Emperor's palace
Universe	Babylon 5
Notable races	Centauri
Notable people	Londo Mollari Vir Cotto
Created by	J. Michael Straczynski
Genre	Sci-fi

The Centauri are a humanoid species in the fictional universe of the Babylon 5 television series.

As a species they bear a close physical resemblance to humans including much of their body chemistry, structure and hair but taxonomically differ greatly, especially in the arrangement of internal and reproductive organs. The species is separated into two sexual genders correlating well with the accepted Male and Female aspects. They are warm-blooded and live-bearing. The females nurse the young in similar fashion to humans, showing some parallel to Earth mammals. Cultural norms are for the males to fashion the head hair into large crests from one side to the other - rather like a sideways Mohawk. The size of the crest was originally used to indicate social status, age and wealth but with the decline of the republic are subject more to fashion - one later emperor in particular was known to follow such and consequently displayed a much smaller crest representative of youth. Females are seen mainly to go shaven headed (or sometimes with a "ponytail"). The head crests figure on idols of Centauri deities, even those that display hermaphroditic body features.

They were the first alien species to make open contact with the human race trading technology (including the jumpgate, required for Hyperspace travel) and medical treatments for Earth's "Art and trinkets" and the trimmings of decadence.

Their homeworld is Centauri Prime, a small Earth-like planet consisting of two large continents and several smaller islands divided by large oceans of water. The government of the Centauri Republic is, despite it being called a republic, ruled by an Emperor and an assembly of Ministers and heads of various Houses that form the Centaurum. 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; however, there are also a number of other stars named Centauri).

Centauri Prime is the throne of the once-expansive Centauri Republic. It has fewer land masses than Earth; there are only two main continents with an abundance of small islands and extensive marine habitats. The planet has a population of about 3.4 billion – considerably fewer than the home worlds of many other alien races. It is also the third planet in the Zeta Tucanae system.

From January 2260–61, the island of Selini, in the southern hemisphere of the planet, was occupied by Shadow forces, who established a base for over a hundred of their ships. However, in the interregnum after Emperor Cartagia's death, the base's destruction was ordered and the island was obliterated with fusion-based nuclear bombs.