Editing Romulan (section)

===Original development===
The Romulans are a fictional extraterrestrial species in the Star Trek universe and were devised for the episode "[[Balance of Terror]]". In 2014, the episode was rated the best in the franchise by ''[[io9]].'' They were reused for the second-season episode "The Deadly Years" and the third-season episode "The Enterprise Incident".<ref name="io9st100">{{Cite web
| url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-top-100-star-trek-episodes-of-all-time-1641565699
| title=The Top 100 Star Trek Episodes Of All Time!
| first=Charlie Jane
| last=Anders
| date=October 2, 2014
| publisher=[[io9]]
| access-date=May 21, 2019
}}</ref>

They are humanoid beings originating from the planet Romulus and are known for their cunning, secrecy, and often adversarial relations with other civilizations, especially the [[United Federation of Planets]]. Physiologically, Romulans are similar to Vulcans, another species in the Star Trek universe. In fact, Romulans share a common ancestry with Vulcans and are considered an offshoot of the same species. They have pointed ears and arched eyebrows, and possess great strength, intelligence, and longevity.

The Romulans diverged from their Vulcan counterparts millennia ago due to ideological differences. While Vulcans embraced logic and the teachings of Surak, advocating emotional control and pacifism, the Romulans rejected these principles. They embraced their emotions and maintained a more militaristic and secretive society. Romulans are known for their cunning strategies, espionage, and manipulation in political affairs. They have a powerful and formidable military, with their signature warbird starships being a symbol of their might.

Throughout various Star Trek series and films, the Romulans have been portrayed as complex adversaries with deep-seated cultural traditions and a sense of superiority over other species. Their interactions with other factions in the Star Trek universe often involve political intrigue, espionage, and attempts to expand their influence in the galaxy. 

While based on the [[Roman Empire]], they took on the adversarial role of [[Cold War]] era [[China|Communist China]], with the fictional government the [[United Federation of Planets]] playing the role of the [[United States]], and the [[Klingons]], based on the [[Mongol Empire]], acting the role of the [[Soviet Union]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |title=Creating the Romulans — Forgotten Trek |url=https://forgottentrek.com/the-original-series/creating-the-romulans/ |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=forgottentrek.com}}</ref> As a result, the Romulans were generally portrayed as mysterious, but also "highly militaristic, aggressive by nature, and ruthless in warfare".<ref name="auto" /> The make-up required for an episode including Romulans in the Original Series became too expensive and time-consuming, so the Romulans became largely overshadowed by the [[Klingons]].<ref>Reeves-Stevens, 35.</ref>