Romulan ranks

The Romulan ranking system was a hierarchical collective command structure used within the Romulan Star Empire, seemingly descended from the ancient Vulcan ranking system which was also used by the Vulcan military forces until the mid-22nd century. The Tal Shiar used a different ranking system, although they were at times used interchangeably with the military ranks.

Though not part of the Romulan rank hierarchy, the title captain has been used in the Empire, but not in terms of rank. Doctor Telek R'Mor, a low ranking scientist and minor functionary from the Romulan Astrophysical Academy, initially referred to himself as "captain of the cargo vessel Talvath." (VOY: "Eye of the Needle")

Romulan Guard

Uhlan

Proconsul Neral in 2368, who rose from the lowly rank of uhlan

An uhlan was described as a "lowly" member of the Romulan Guard. (TNG: "Unification II")

• Uhlan Neral

Romulan military

General

A general in 2375

A general was more of a political position than a rank. (TNG: "Redemption")

• General Movar
• General Velal

Admiral

An admiral in 2367

An admiral was a flag officer rank and position known to be held by field commanders and ex-senators. (TNG: "The Defector"; ENT: "United")

• Admiral Alidar Jarok
• Admiral Mendak
• Admiral Valdore

Commander

A commander in 2266

A commander was equivalent to a Starfleet captain. (TNG: "Face of the Enemy")

• Commander Donatra
• Commander Konsab
• Commander Sela
• Commander Tomalak
• Commander Toreth

Sub-commander

A sub-commander in 2268

A sub-commander in 2371

A sub-commander was immediately below that of a commander. (TOS: "The Enterprise Incident")

• Sub-Commander N'Vek
• Sub-Commander Sela
• Sub-Commander Selok
• Sub-Commander Tal
• Sub-Commander T'Rul
• Sub-Commander Velal

Centurion

A centurion in 2266

A centurion in 2366

A centurion was a general officer's rank. (TOS: "Balance of Terror", "The Enterprise Incident"; TNG: "The Enemy")

According to The Making of Star Trek (p. 256) the Romulan rank of centurion is the generic rank of all officers.

According to deleted lines from the script for "The Enemy", in a bit of sarcastic banter, Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge, upon learning the identity of the soldier, Centurion Bochra, who he was otherwise calling "commodore", he stated, "And you're a centurion. Well, stay with it, you'll be a commodore someday." Bochra, catching on to La Forge's sarcasm, fired back with, "I'm not certain of the equivalent Federation rank… but I do know it's higher than lieutenant commander."

• Centurion Bochra
• Centurion Tarent

Sublieutenant

Admiral Jarok impersonating a sublieutenant in 2366

A sublieutenant was a low ranking military rank. Positions known to be held by this rank include logistics officers. (TNG: "The Defector")

• Sublieutenant Setal

Tal Shiar

General

A general in 2399

A general was a rank reserved for senior members of the Tal Shiar. A general could command a fleet of Tal Shiar starships. (PIC: "Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2")

• General Oh

Colonel

A colonel in 2371

A colonel was a rank reserved for senior members of the Tal Shiar. A colonel could command a fleet of Tal Shiar starships. (DS9: "The Die is Cast")

• Colonel Lovok
• Colonel Narissa

Major

Deanna Troi impersonating a major in 2368

A major was a lower rank in the Tal Shiar. A member of the Tal Shiar for only several months could gain this rank. (TNG: "Face of the Enemy")

• Major Rakal

This chart shows only general equivalencies based on the ranks used by many governments on Earth, as well as the rest of the galaxy.

Background information

Given the rank of sublieutenant, there is presumably a lieutenant rank at some point in the Romulan military history. No Romulan has been referred to as a "Lieutenant" in Star Trek.

The ranks of centurion and uhlan are ancient Earth ranks (Roman and Polish respectively) not known to be used by any other Star Trek cultures. The reason for their use in the Romulan language or by the universal translator is unknown.