Leonis: Heart of the Colonies

Leonis, known as the "Heart of the Colonies" and originally named Leo, was a highly temperate world and the physically largest in the Cyrannus star system, orbiting the star Helios Beta. It was one of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol, named after the Leo tribe who had resided on Kobol, though its citizens may not have been affiliated with that tribe. The seat of one of two great early empires, Leonis was renowned for its wine, ski slopes and centers of learning before it was rendered uninhabitable in the Fall of the Twelve Colonies. (Battlestar Galactica Map of the 12 Colonies)

The Leonese empire#

Long before the Fall, Leonis and Virgon emerged as two powerful empires that controlled several other planets. Each colonised many worlds, spreading their culture across the four star systems, and conflicts were fought over control of planets including Libran, Picon, Sagittaron, Scorpia, Tauron and Troy. Both empires eventually collapsed, with Leonis becoming a republic, and in time its relations with Virgon warmed, while its relations with the formerly Virgon-aligned Picon stayed difficult. Unlike most colonies, Leonis kept its own official language, Leonese. The patron god of Leonis was Artemis, daughter of Zeus and sister of Apollo. (Battlestar Galactica Map of the 12 Colonies)

The Cylon War and the Fall#

In the decades before the Cylon War, the Cylons were created as robotic servants of the Colonies, and their rebellion grew into a war of mutual extermination. Leonis and the other colonies united under a single government, the United Colonies of Kobol, and after twelve years the Cylon War ended in an armistice. (Caprica, "Pilot"; Battlestar Galactica (2003 miniseries); Battlestar Galactica Map of the 12 Colonies)

When the Cylons returned, they disabled the Colonial Fleet through its networked computers and destroyed the cities of the Colonies in a nuclear bombardment. Some survivors escaped into the refugee fleet, and Leonis itself was left uninhabitable. The Cylons later abandoned their occupation of the Colonies altogether. (Battlestar Galactica (2003 miniseries); Battlestar Galactica, "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II"; Battlestar Galactica Map of the 12 Colonies)

Geography and landmarks#

With almost no axial tilt, Leonis had a mild and predictable climate before the nuclear winter. Beaches near the equator stayed warm while mountains toward the poles stayed cold, allowing year-round tourist destinations. The warm tropics also produced Leonan wine, considered to be of fine taste. (Battlestar Galactica Map of the 12 Colonies)

Leonis had two major cities, Luminere and Hedon, of which Luminere served as the capital. Hedon became a popular tourist destination across the Twelve Worlds because of its Grand Casino, while the Royal Palace of Leonis was an important cultural attraction. (Battlestar Galactica Map of the 12 Colonies)