The Twelve Colonies of Kobol

This article discusses the Twelve Colonies of the Re-imagined Series. See The Twelve Colonies (TOS) for information on the Colonies of the Original Series.

Part of the series on The Twelve Colonies of Kobol (Re-imagined Series)

Arts & Literature Ecosystem Government History Language Law Race & Ethnicity Sexuality Religion

Approximately 2,000 years ago, twelve of the thirteen tribes of Kobol leave the planet due to an issue involving their gods, settling on 12 worlds some distance away (Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I). Their namesakes and icons originally corresponded to the twelve signs of the ancient tribes, although these names drifted over time (Home, Part II).

The early colonies lived (and fought) more as sovereign nations. By the events of the Articles of Colonization, apparently with the advent of the Cylon War, these worlds unify as a federal republic known as the Twelve Colonies of Kobol.

Star System

The star system of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol has not been named.

Caprica has been shown as an Earth-like world, similar to Kobol and New Caprica. No other colonies have been shown to-date. The military base seen in Kara Thrace's flashbacks in "Act of Contrition" may have been part of the facilities on Picon, the location of Fleet Headquarters, but this cannot be substantiated.

Likewise, it remains unknown whether all of the 12 Colonies are Earth-like, and whether or not Caprica's Earth-like ecosystems are the product of environmental modification or whether they occur naturally, as some sort of parallel evolution.

No descriptions are available of the other colonies in terms of their celestial type: Minor planet, moon, or major planet. However, Elosha states in the miniseries that the tribes settle onto "12 worlds." While the use of "worlds" is ambiguous, the colonies are noted as independent celestial bodies.

Although Commander Adama and President Laura Roslin mention leaving the star system, it is unclear whether all twelve colonies are in this star system. However, Caprica, Virgon, and Ragnar (based on tactical data gathered by Lt. Felix Gaeta in the miniseries) are located within the same star system (Miniseries).

The Colonies had approximately 20 billion inhabitants prior to the Cylon attack (The Resistance).

The Colonies maintained some minor observatories and listening posts in outlying star systems. Economic activity, such as tylium mining also occurred outside of the immediate vicinity around the Colonies (Hero).

Aerelon

Colors and Symbol of Aerelon

Ancient Name: Aries

Aerelon was primarily an agricultural farming world. It was considered to be the the "food basket" of the twelve Colonies. Despite this, Aerelon was ranked as one of the poorest members of the Colonies (Dirty Hands). Aerelon is also known to have a strong raspy dialect.

"Fifteen people died" when President Richard Adar, for reasons unexplained, sent the Marines to Aerelon (Water).

The mining colony of Troy, destroyed in a cataclysmic explosion (Flesh and Bone) is located near Aerelon, and may have been operated by natives of that world. Troy was the alleged home of Sharon Valerii (Flesh and Bone).

The pro Pyramid team from Aerelon played against the Caprica Buccaneers in one of the last games before the Cylon attack. They apparently won (Resistance).

A photo of a grief-stricken soldier staring out at the ruins of Aerelon's capital hangs behind President Roslin's desk and on the bulkhead of the pilot ready room on Galactica (titled "Lest We Forget"). Galactica's pilots touch the photo for luck as they file past to the hangar. This photo of Aerelon gives viewers the only visual depiction of life on a colony other than Caprica in the Re-imagined Series.

Natives

• Colonel Saul Tigh
• Sekou Hamilton (Presumably - editor of the Aerelon Gazette)
• Specialist Socinus (deceased)
• The unnamed Quorum of Twelve delegate from Aerelon voted for Tom Zarek in the vice-presidential elections (Colonial Day)
• Doctor Gaius Baltar (According to his own claims)

Publications

• Aerelon Gazette

See also

• Cuffle's Breath Wash

Aquaria

Colors and Symbol of Aquaria

Ancient Name: presumably Aquarius

The unnamed Quorum of Twelve delegate from Aquaria voted for Tom Zarek in the vice-presidential elections (Colonial Day).

Canceron

Colors and Symbol of Canceron

Ancient Name: Cancer

• Robin Wenutu is the Canceron Representative to the Quorum of Twelve.

Caprica

Colors and Symbol of Caprica

Ancient Name: presumably Capricorn

Caprica is a large blue-green planet. Its largest population center is Caprica City, which serves as the seat of all three branches of the Colonial Government, making Caprica effectively the capital of the Twelve Colonies. Caprica City is surrounded by other small towns and hamlets, such as Oasis.

Thus far, Caprica is the only planet of the Twelve Colonies that viewers have seen directly. The series' opening credits show Caprica City, as well as the nuclear bombing of Caprica itself.

Other major cities included Delphi, famous for the Delphi Museum of the Colonies and also home to a large spaceport. During the Cylon attack, the Cylons spared Delphi from nuclear bombardment in order to use it as a base of operations in their occupation of the planet. The human resistance cell, led by Samuel Anders, operated near Delphi.

Caprica is known for its fine Caprican cloth (which Dr. Gaius Baltar wears), fumarella leaf, Caprican cigars and art.

A railway line can be seen below the balcony of Baltar's house on Caprica during "The Hand of God." What appear to be internal combustion engine powered vehicles, such as cars and trucks, are seen extensively in shots of Caprica.

According to Gaius Baltar, Caprica was the seat of politics, culture, art, science, and learning. It was also one of the wealthier colonies. (Dirty Hands)

Natives

• Admiral William Adama. (Born in Qualai)
• Carolanne Adama (deceased)
• Major Lee "Apollo" Adama.
• Lieutenant Zak Adama (deceased)
• Captain Kara "Starbuck" Thrace (Had an apartment in Delphi. Sky One sources state that she was born on Picon, but this information is questionable).
• James McManus (Presumably - editor of the Caprican Times)
• Aaron Doral (alleged home was in Oasis)
• President Richard Adar (deceased) (Presumably Caprican - according to background information from Sky One he started his political career as the mayor of Caprica City)

Publications and Media

• Caprican Times
• Caprican Life
• Caprica 5
• Channel 7 News

Pyramid Team

• Caprica Buccaneers

See also

• Caprica City
• Caprica Beach
• Gup's Point
• Oasis
• Pilgrim Bay
• Qualai
• Martok Valley
• Unnamed Cities of Caprica

Gemenon

Colors and Symbol of Gemenon

Ancient Name: Gemini

Gemenon natives are called Gemenese (Taking a Break From All Your Worries). They are known for their literal interpretations of the Sacred Scrolls (Fragged). Most of the population of Gemenon was apparently very strongly opposed to the federal laws legalizing abortion. Traditional Gemenese law declares children to be the property of their parents (The Captain's Hand).

Gemenon is home to the Kobol College School of Public Relations (Miniseries). One of the last ever pro Pyramid games was held on Gemenon just prior to the Cylon attack on the Colonies (Miniseries).

Gemenon was one of the poorer colonies (Dirty Hands).

Natives

• Representative Sarah Porter, Quorum of Twelve
• Corporal Venner
• Chief Petty Officer Galen Tyrol
• Rya Kibby

Leonis

Colors and Symbol of Leonis

Ancient Name: Leo

Safiya Sanne is identified as both Leonis's and Picon's representative on the Quorum of Twelve. See his article for details.

Libris

Colors and Symbol of Libris

Ancient Name: Libra

Practically no information has been given yet regarding the colony corresponding to Libra. Its colonial-era name also has yet to be confirmed. According to issue 3 of the now-defunct Battlestar Galactica: The Official Magazine, the colony's name is "Libris".

The Space Park, a passenger liner in the Fleet, is of Libran registry.

Picon

Colors and Symbol of Picon

Ancient Name: presumably Pisces

Picon is the location for the Colonial Fleet Headquarters (Miniseries). The colony came under heavy attack during the early stages of the Cylon attack. President Richard Adar offered a complete and unconditional surrender to the Cylons after Fleet Headquarters is destroyed; this overture was ignored (Miniseries, deleted scene).

Ellen Tigh claimed to be at the airport on Picon, "on her way home" when the attack started, and that some "unknown hero" ensured she was put on the last ship to get off the planet (Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down).

Natives

• Representative Safiya Sanne, Quorum of Twelve (Although there is some confusion on the matter, see his article)
• Playa Palacios, Veteran columnist from the Picon Star Tribune (presumed a resident)
• Asha Janik, Cylon sympathizer, member of the "Demand Peace" movement

Publications

• Picon Star Tribune

Pyramid Team

• Picon Panthers (Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II)

Sagittaron

Colors and Symbol of Sagittaron

Ancient Name: presumably Sagittarius

Sagittaron endured centuries of exploitation at the hands of the other Colonies (Bastille Day), so much so that even after unified Colonial rule, Tom Zarek of the S.F.M. led an organized series of terrorist acts against the established government there, many years before the fall of the Colonies. One of these acts include blowing up a government building (Bastille Day). Under Sagittaron penal law, convicted felons lose their citizenship, but have it automatically reinstated after they finish serving their sentences. This included the right to vote and to stand for election (Colonial Day).

The Sagittarons practice a form of the Colonial religion that can trace its roots for at least over 1,000 years. Like the Gemenese they developed a staunch religious stance but with possibly a greater emphasis on traditional folk practice than scripture. They view medicine as "an abomination, a sin against the gods." This stubbornness has led to a bitter hatred directed towards them by the other Colonies. During the exodus, this is reinforced by the fact that many Sagittarons on New Caprica did not help to fight the Cylons, which increases their rejection, especially among former resistance fighters. The Sagittarons practice a form of herbal medicine, which has lead to derogatory terms such as "stubborn rootsucking jackasses". Dr. Robert expresses skepticism about its effectiveness, however his statement implies that there has not been any serious research on the subject (The Woman King).

Sagittaron was also one of the poorer colonies (Dirty Hands).

Sagittaron has 5,251 natives residing in the Fleet directly after their colony's destruction (33).

Natives

• Lieutenant Anastasia Dualla
• Tom Zarek, Vice President
• Valance (Colonial Day)
• Leon Grimes (Colonial Day)
• Mrs. King (The Woman King)

Notes

• Sagittaron is referred to as "Sagittarion" in the Miniseries, but this changed to "Sagittaron" when the regular series began.

Scorpia

Colors and Symbol of Scorpia

Ancient Name: Scorpio

Home to a Fleet shipyard, where battlestar Pegasus was docked during the Cylon attack. Scorpia native Eladio Puasha serves as its Quorum of Twelve delegate.

Tauron

Colors and Symbol of Tauron

Ancient Name: Taurus

The unnamed Quorum of Twelve delegate from Tauron votes for Gaius Baltar in the vice-presidential elections (Colonial Day).

Tauron was reputed to be somewhat of a troublesome colony within the federal system of the Colonies, often disobeying directives decided by the colonies and "pushing their luck with the admiralty every chance they got." As a ruse Admiral Adama claimed the Taurons were drilling for tylium ore on a moon that was close to the Armistice Line (Hero).

Tauron was also one of the wealthier colonies (Dirty Hands).

Natives

• Admiral Helena Cain (deceased)

Virgon

Colors and Symbol of Virgon

Ancient Name: Virgo

Marshall Bagot is the Virgon Representative to the Quorum of Twelve. In public ceremony, the Virgon delegate wears a light blue sash.

Soon after the Cylon attack began, the bulk of the spacewide offensive by the Colonials began "shaping up" over the planet. The battle ostensibly ends with the destruction of battlestar Atlantia and the death of Admiral Nagala.

Virgon was one of the wealthier colonies (Dirty Hands).

Galactica 1980 definition: Dillon is called both a terrorist and a chauvinist by Jamie Hamilton during their phone call from the police station; he asks Troy "what's a terrorist chauvinist?" ^{(1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I")}

These are terms directly relating to Galactica 1980, some of which are based from the Original Series. For terms from that series, please refer to List of terms (TOS).