Editing Imperious Leader

{{disline|This article discusses the [[Original Series]] [[Cylons (TOS)|Cylon]] commander. For information on the collective commanders aboard [[Basestar (RDM)|basestars]] of the [[Re-imagined Series]], see [[Basestar command]].}}

{{Character Data
|sepcon title=Imperious Leader (alternate)| series=TOS
|photo= ImperiousLeader.jpg
|seen=Saga of a Star World
|actor=[[Patrick Macnee]] (voice)<br/>[[Dick Durock]] (costume)
|mcylon=y
|sepcon=y
}} 

The '''Imperious Leader''' is the highest authority of the [[Cylon Empire]].  There is only one Imperious Leader, although there are others to replace it should the Cylon succumb to destruction. Typically, their potential replacements are called [[IL-series]] Cylons, and are typically the politicians or [[Wikipedia:viceroys|viceroys]] of the Cylon Empire. 

* In the original novelization, the Imperious Leader had three brains, all capable of independent or collective, unified thought.  In addition, the sitting Imperious Leader could seek telepathic advice from the preserved brains of its predecessors, maintained in the "thought archives."  Presumably, Leaders who were killed in action and whose bodies could not be recovered were not represented in these archives.

* Imperious Leaders are also programmed, each one an improvement on the previous generation.  In the epilogue of "[[Saga of a Star World]]," the Imperious Leader tells {{TOS|Baltar}} that his predecessor was programmed in a time when Cylons were less tolerant.

* The origin of the Imperious Leader can be traced directly to Count [[Iblis]].  In "[[War of the Gods, Part II]]," Baltar tells Iblis that he recognizes his voice as that of the Cylon Imperious Leader.  Iblis balks at this, replying that he would have to be 1,000 [[yahren]]s old since the Cylon race is just as old. Additional information from the "[[Experiment in Terra (TV movie)|Experiment in Terra]]" telemovie indicates that the onset of the [[Thousand Yahren War]] was started by the Imperious Leader, who had a defect in its programming that lead to the annihilation of the serpent Cylons and the subsequent holocausts against humanity.

* A green lizard can be seen sitting on the shoulder of the Imperious Leader in the pilot episode.  This reptilian/lizard reference was never fully explored in the Original Series run, except during a scene on [[Carillon]] where {{TOS|Apollo}} explains the origins of the Cylons to {{TOS|Boxey}}.

== Biography ==

[[File:ImperiousVisit.jpg|thumb|right|The Imperious Leader visits Gamoray.]]

The Imperious Leader strikes a bargain with {{TOS|Baltar}}, allowing the Cylons to take control of [[The Twelve Colonies of Man|the Twelve Colonies]] but leaving Baltar's colony alone (with Baltar in command). When the [[Battle of Cimtar|plan comes to fruition]], the Imperious Leader reneges on the bargain and destroys Baltar's colony as well. Baltar is thanked and sentenced to public execution. The Imperious Leader is present at the [[Battle of Carillon]] and is killed when his [[Basestar (TOS)|basestar]] is too close to the planet [[Carillon]] when the planet explodes {{OS|Saga of a Star World}}.

The next Imperious Leader claims to be more tolerant. He commutes Baltar's death sentence. The new Imperious Leader argues that his predecessor was programmed in a time when the Cylon Empire was less capable of tolerance. "Now that the Cylons are omnipotent," they could afford to be more charitable {{OS|Saga of a Star World}}. Baltar is given command of a basestar to track down [[The Fleet (TOS)|the Colonial Fleet]]. To help him Baltar gets the assistance of [[Lucifer]] from the leader (However it is unclear how much power Baltar really got as Lucifer will soon betray Baltar without any noticeable punishment) ([[TOS]]: "[[Lost Planet of the Gods, Part I]]," "[[Lost Planet of the Gods, Part II]]").

The Imperious Leader is last seen visiting the planet [[Gamoray]], where he dedicates a Cylon cultural center. The Imperious Leader is present at the Cylon compound when a commando unit disables the planetary defense systems, allowing {{TOS|Viper}}s to attack freely. It is unknown whether this Imperious Leader survives the [[Battle of Gamoray]] {{OS|The Living Legend, Part II}}.

== Tie-in Material Information ==

* ''According to ''[[Encyclopedia Galactica]]'' (a non-canonical piece of merchandise published in 1979):''

: An [[IL-series|I-L series Cylon]] known as the Imperious Leader commands the vast [[Cylon Empire]]. Although the [[Cylons (TOS)|Cylons]] are totally obedient to commands of their leaders, the first Imperious Leader engineered the overthrow of the first reptilian Cylons. Today, of all the Cylons, only the Imperious Leader retains the reptilian form of their creators. Other I-L series Cylons treat the Leader with great respect, all secretly aspire to its role. No orderly means of succession has been developed; if a Leader shows weakness, it is replaced by whatever Cylon unit has the power to eliminate it.<ref>{{cite book|last=Kraus|first=Bruce|year=1979|title=[[Encyclopedia Galactica]]|pages=40-41}}</ref>

== Notes ==

=== Character Conception and Portrayal ===

[[File:Imperiouslizarddeleted.jpg|thumb|right|The Imperious Leader]]

According to ''[[So Say We All: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Battlestar Galactica]]'', the Imperious Leader was envisioned as a "reptilian creature with a cobra head," intended to be a physically imposing and sinister presence, though often kept in the shadows.<ref name="sswa124">{{cite book/sswa|124}}</ref> The elaborate costume, which cost an exorbitant $50,000, featured an imposing cloak designed by [[Jean-Pierre Dorleac]], while the head itself is alleged<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=625195459809876&id=100069582834284&set=a.401107145552043|title=Facebook Post - Battlestar Galactica 1978|accessdate=13 July 2025|date=9 September 2023}} 

'''''Note:''' Per this posting, Rambaldi claims otherwise, although it is not substantiated either way.''</ref> to have been designed and built by [[w:Carlo Rambaldi|Carlo Rambaldi]], the famed creator of [[w:E.T.|E.T.]]<ref name="sswa124"/> A deleted scene from "[[Saga of a Star World]]" offers a glimpse of this original reptilian concept, showing a non-robotic face communicating through a glass orb.

The voice of the Imperious Leader was provided by the distinguished actor [[w:Patrick Macnee|Patrick Macnee]].<ref name="sswa125">{{cite book/sswa|125}}</ref> Initially, producer [[Glen A. Larson]] instructed sound editor [[Peter Berkos]] to create "the most evil voice in the world." Berkos hired actor [[w:Lou Ferrigno|Lou Ferrigno]] and mixed his deep voice with the sound of a hissing cobra. However, Larson found the result "almost too frightening" and chose to go with Macnee's performance instead.<ref name="sswa125"/> The only known evidence of this performance is in a scene that aired in 1978 on ''Good Morning America'', during an interview with [[Lorne Greene]].

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In the theatrical version of the pilot, the Imperious Leader orders [[Baltar]]'s execution.<ref>{{cite book/sswa|126}}</ref> However, for the television series, this was changed. In the epilogue to "Saga of a Star World," the new Imperious Leader spares Baltar's life, telling him his mission is to offer peace to the surviving Colonials. This is later [[Wikipedia:Retcon|retconned]] in "[[Lost Planet of the Gods, Part I]]," where this peace mandate is absent, and Baltar is simply escorted out of the [[throne room]] by [[Lucifer]].

=== Re-imagined Series Perspective ===

The Imperious Leader has no direct analogue in the [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Re-imagined Series]]. The Cylon hierarchy in the 2004 series is decentralized, led collectively by the various [[Humanoid Cylon|humanoid Cylon models]] rather than a single supreme ruler.

=== Additional Details ===

* Another Imperious Leader, with a different voice (provided by [[Dennis Haysbert]]), appears in the episode "[[Space Croppers]]" in the short-lived ''[[Galactica 1980]]''. (The sequence utilizes stock footage from the Original Series.)

== References ==

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