System Lord



"They're posturing egomaniacs driven by an insatiable lust for power. Each one capable of unimaginable evil."

- Daniel Jackson

The System Lords are a group of major Goa'uld powers who function as the leadership of the Goa'uld Empire.

History
Membership among the System Lords has changed greatly throughout the millennia. Membership was decided by the High Council of System Lords, a rare gathering of their membership. Though they constantly warred amongst themselves for power, they did work together when it suited them.

For thousands of years, Ra was the Supreme System Lord, until he was killed in 1994. They rarely trust each other, and very frequently battle amongst themselves, only holding council with regards to a mutual external or internal threat.

The Tok'ra usually try to keep the system lords balanced so that no single system lord can completely overpower the others. The Asgard also follow this strategy.

At various times the Goa'uld Amateratsu, Anubis, Apophis, Ares, Ba'al, Bastet, Camulus, Cronus, Heru'ur, Isis, Marduk, Morrigan, Nirrti, Olokun, Osiris, Ra, Seth, Sokar, Svarog and Yu have been system lords.

Apophis became dominant after Ra was defeated; Sokar after Apophis, Apophis again, then Anubis, Ba'al and Anubis again. It is not clear who is currently dominant after the success of the Jaffa rebellion, but Ba'al appears to be the only surviving member of the System Lords.

Apophis, Ares, Bastet, Camulus, Cronos, Hathor, Heru'ur, Isis, Marduk, Nirrti, Olukun, Ra, Seth, Sokar, Yu, and Baal are dead as of 2008.