The Twelve Colonies of Man

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This article discusses the Twelve Colonies of the Original Series. See The Twelve Colonies (RDM) for information on the Colonies of the Re-imagined Series.
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The Twelve Colonies of Man[1] are located in an unnamed multi-star system within the Cyranus Galaxy. The humans of these worlds have been at war with the alien Cylons for 1,000 yahren.

The Twelve Colonies of Man named[2] in the Original Series included:

Non-Canon Sources

In the publication The Official Battlestar Galactica Scrapbook, on page 14 the Twelve Colonies are noted to be Caprica, Gemoni, Canceria, Piscon, Sagitara, Leo, Libra, Aquaria, Virgon, Aeriana, Taura, and Scorpio. [1]

History

First Exodus

According to the Book of the Word, a religious text of the Kobollian faith, humanity began on a planet called Kobol. After an ecological disaster purported to be created by technology, the tribes of humanity fled outward to the stars. Twelve tribes of Man eventually passed through a magnetic void and settled on a star system of 12 worlds, which would be later known as the Twelve Colonies of Man (Lost Planet of the Gods). A thirteenth tribe made another exodus to a planet known as Earth.

War

One thousand yahren prior to the destruction of the Colonies, the Colonials interfered with the Cylon Empire's attacks on an alien species called the Hasari. This began the Thousand Yahren War, which ended upon the final sneak attack at the Battle of Cimtar, destroying a portion of the fleet led by President Adar (Saga of a Star World).

Colonization

Several planets, moons and asteroid colonies throughout the portion of the galaxy familiar to the Colonials boasted small croppings of Colonials. Some who were well aware of the Colonies and the war with the Cylons, others knew nothing of them.

It is unknown if the remaining surviving colonists on the homeworlds re-grouped to fight another day and push back the Cylons, or if the Cylons defeat on the Colonies was total.

Culture

Each of the Twelve Colonies boasted its own race and dialect as to distinguish itself from the others.

Holidays

Armament Day - A day for celebrating the Colonial Military (Lost Planet of the Gods).

Caprica

Cylon Raiders begin their attack on Caprica (Saga of a Star World).

Caprica was said to be the world that led the technological renaissance among the Twelve Colonies of Man, rediscovering space flight along the way.

The attack on Caprica in the first episode of the series, was filmed at California's Long Beach City Hall, which had been completed in 1976. The pyramids seen don't actually exist — they were added by special effects to appear behind the city hall building.

Gemoni

Many of the passengers about the freighter Gemini are from Gemoni[3]. The language of Gemoni is Gemonese (which Boomer can translate and Cassiopeia is able to speak fluently). Gemoni is home to the Otori Sect (Saga of a Star World).

Tauron

Starbuck and Boomer run across a blonde Taurus woman. Judging by Starbuck's reaction to the Taurus' question on how he knew she was a Taurus, and from his taste in women, we can infer (despite the claim of recognizing "the dialect") that Tauron women may be known for their beauty (Saga of a Star World).

Aeries

In "The Long Patrol", Robber and his family are from Aeries, and there is some suggestion other prisoners on Proteus may be Aerian as well, given their raspy Irish sounding accents which mirror that of Robbers'. Cassiopeia is familiar with the Aerian merchant code as her father was a trader fluent in such things, and may perhaps have been an Aeries himself.

This raspy accent would be revisited in the Re-imagined series where natives of Aerelon are depicted with Irish sounding accents as well.

References

  1. In the Original Series, the formal name of the unified worlds is the "Twelve Colonies of Man. Its Re-imagined Series counterpart is known as the "Twelve Colonies of Kobol".
  2. Note that four of the colonies, ostensibly similar to the astrological names of "Cancer," "Leo," "Libra" and "Aquarius," are never formally named in Original Series episodes.
  3. This is the correct Original Series spelling. The Re-imagined Series counterpart is spelled "Gemenon."