Caprica: the Colonial capital

Caprica, known as the "Capital of the Colonies" and originally named Capricorn, was a planet in the quaternary Cyrannus star system, orbiting the star Helios Alpha in a shared orbit with Gemenon. It was one of twelve worlds in the system colonized by humans native to the distant planet Kobol, founded by those of the Capricorn tribe. Though it remained underdeveloped for centuries, Caprica eventually became the focal point of technological and societal advancement among the Twelve Colonies of Kobol, as well as the birthplace of the first Cylons. (Battlestar Galactica (2003 miniseries); Caprica, "Pilot"; Battlestar Galactica Map of the 12 Colonies)

Origins and rise to power#

According to the official map of the Colonies, Caprica was possibly the first planet colonized by the Twelve Tribes after the settlement of Gemenon, founded by people of the Capricorn tribe. In the first centuries of expansion it lagged behind Virgon and Leonis, which held colonial empires that dominated the region. When those two empires exhausted one another in a protracted interplanetary war, Caprica began its rise as the new dominant power. (Battlestar Galactica Map of the 12 Colonies)

On the eve of the Cylon War, Caprica had become the center of culture, art and learning in the Colonies. It was among the richest and most technologically developed of the Twelve Colonies, and people from other worlds, such as the Tauron Adama family, moved there to start a new life. (Caprica, "Pilot")

Society and government#

Some sixty years before the Fall, Caprica's society was seen by some as decadent, and the colony was plagued by terrorist attacks by the Soldiers of the One, a monotheist group that bombed a maglev train in Caprica City. Caprica was also the birthplace of the first Cylons, built by Graystone Industries for the military. (Caprica, "Pilot"; Caprica, "Gravedancing")

After the Cylon War Caprica was the seat of the unified Colonial government, and it remained the main center of learning and the arts among the Twelve Colonies. (Battlestar Galactica, "Epiphanies")

Geography and landmarks#

Caprica was a blue-green world with large oceans and a temperate climate, with hills, lakes and forests around its cities. It shared its orbit with its twin, Gemenon, and the light reflected from the neighbouring world was bright enough to light up Caprica's night sky. (Battlestar Galactica (2003 miniseries); Battlestar Galactica, "Litmus")

The capital, Caprica City, was the planet's principal metropolis and the seat of the Colonial government. The city of Delphi was home to a large spaceport and the Delphi Museum of the Colonies, which held artefacts from the lost homeworld of Kobol. The official map of the Colonies also lists Phoebus as a major city. (Battlestar Galactica (2003 miniseries); Battlestar Galactica, "Downloaded"; Battlestar Galactica Map of the 12 Colonies)

The Fall and occupation#

Forty years after the Armistice, the Cylons returned with a coordinated nuclear strike on all twelve planets, launched from basestars in orbit. Caprica City was destroyed by missiles carrying multiple warheads, though Delphi was spared so the Cylons could use it as a base for the occupation. (Battlestar Galactica (2003 miniseries); Battlestar Galactica: The Plan; Battlestar Galactica, "Downloaded")

For the following several months the Cylons occupied the planet and set about clearing and rebuilding its cities. A small resistance band near Delphi, led by Samuel Anders, carried out hit-and-run attacks and raided isolated facilities for supplies, including the medicine they needed against the lingering radiation. The surviving fighters were rescued in a Raptor mission ordered by Admiral William Adama, and soon afterwards the Cylons abandoned their occupation of the Colonies. (Battlestar Galactica, "Resistance"; Battlestar Galactica, "The Farm"; Battlestar Galactica, "Downloaded"; Battlestar Galactica, "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I"; Battlestar Galactica, "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II")