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{{species stub}}
{{Infobox Organisation
{{Infobox Organization
|image         = Order of the Headless.jpg
|image = [[File:Headless_monks.png|250px]]
|leader        = [[Papal Mainframe]]
|name = Headless monks
|aka          = Headless Monks
|leader =
|affiliation   = [[The Church]]
|affiliation = [[The Church]]
|bases         = [[Demon's Run]], [[Seventh Transept]], [[Delirium Archive]]
|bases =  
|first mention cs = The Time of Angels (TV story)
|appearances = [[DW]]: ''[[Prequel (A Good Man Goes to War)]]''<br>[[DW]]: ''[[A Good Man Goes to War]]''
|first cs        = Prequel (A Good Man Goes to War)
|members =
|appearances  = {{il|[[TV]]: {{cs|A Good Man Goes to War (TV story)}}|[[TV]]: {{cs|The Wedding of River Song (TV story)}}|[[GAME]]: {{cs|The Tomb of Cleopatra (game)}}}}
|garrison =  
|members       = {{il|[[Fat One]]|[[Dorium Maldovar]]}}
|size          =
|clip          = {{uc:Doctor Who clip}} 15 2
|bts          = The Headless Monks Exclusive Sneak Peek From BBC America's Original 'Doctor Who' Specials
}}
}}
The '''Headless Monks''' were a [[Religion|religious]] order who believed in listening to their hearts rather than their minds, to the point of having themselves beheaded.
The '''Headless Monks''', also known as the '''Order of the Headless''', were a [[Religion|religious]] order who believed in listening to their hearts rather than their minds, to the point of having themselves beheaded.


==Biology==
== Biology ==
As they were headless they did not register as living beings. The monks were also supposedly incapable of being fooled. Despite their lack of heads they seemed to be able to see well, or at least were able to detect where other beings were. They could also fire energy from their hands.
As they were headless, the Headless Monks did not register as living beings. They were also supposedly incapable of being fooled or surprised or of feeling fear. Despite their lack of heads, the Monks were able to detect where other beings were. They could fire energy blasts from their hands, as well as channelling that energy into the [[sword]]s they carried.


They could also be killed just as easily as most other humanoids, in this case with energy blasts or sword wounds.
They could be killed just as easily as most other humanoids, with energy blasts, guns, or sword wounds. They also had some form of vocal ability, as they could chant, though this may have been a psychic ability. ([[TV]]: ''[[A Good Man Goes to War (TV story)|A Good Man Goes to War]]'')


==Culture==
== Culture ==
The Headless Monks were very religious, although it's not explicitly stated what deity they worshipped. They believed in listening to their hearts rather than their minds, so they beheaded themselves with an unnamed, box-like device. If another group allied with the monks, they were expe
The Headless Monks were very religious. They believed in listening to their hearts rather than their minds, so they beheaded themselves and placed their heads inside an unnamed, box-like device. If another group allied with the monks, they were expected to provide at least one of their members to join the monks.


cted to provide at least one of their number to join the monks.
It was a [[Level One Heresy]], punishable by death, to attempt to lower the hood of a Headless Monk. The group followed an entity known as the [[Papal Mainframe]]. Although the monks considered it a heresy to reveal their headless state to outsiders, they were apparently able to do so under the orders of the Mainframe.


The group followed an apparently female entity known as the [[Papal Mainframe]]. Although the monks considered it a heresy to reveal their headless state to outsiders, they were apparently able to do so under the orders of the Mainframe.
The Monks would perform an attack prayer before certain fights. ([[TV]]: ''[[A Good Man Goes to War (TV story)|A Good Man Goes to War]]'')


The monks apparently had many chants, including an attack chant.
Not all inductees to the Order of the Headless had their heads kept in boxes. The boxes were apparently reserved for the very wealthy, while the rest of the monks' heads were left to rot on shelves in a cave full of skulls called the [[Seventh Transept]]. Despite this, the skulls were still 'alive' in a sense, capable of moving about and attacking others. The heads kept in ceremonial boxes were even better preserved: [[Dorium Maldovar]] was still very active and in full possession of his memories and personality when visited by the [[Eleventh Doctor]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Wedding of River Song (TV story)|The Wedding of River Song]]'')


[[File:Monks.png|thumb]]
== History ==
The Order of the Headless joined an alliance led by [[the Silence]], the Anglican Regiment of [[the Church]], and Madame [[Kovarian]] dedicated to the defeat of [[the Doctor]]. Some time after [[Amy Pond]]'s honeymoon, after her [[Melody Pond|child]] was conceived, she was captured and replaced by a [[Ganger]] perfectly synced to the real Amy so that neither the [[Eleventh Doctor]] nor [[Rory Williams]], Amy's husband, would notice.


==Technology==
As far as Amy knew, she was continuing her adventures with the Doctor and Rory. In reality, Amy's pregnant body was taken to [[Demon's Run]] in the [[52nd century]]. The Headless Monks went to great effort to contain her and her unborn child. ([[TV]]: ''[[A Good Man Goes to War (TV story)|A Good Man Goes to War]]'') They paid [[Dorium Maldovar]] for delivering them the brain of a [[Judoon]] trooper which contained security software they needed. ([[WC]]: ''[[Prequel (A Good Man Goes to War)]]'')
They were armed with swords that gave off some sort of orange energy, although they could be deflected with ordinary swords.


==History==
In accordance with the Headless Monks' alliance protocol, [[Fat One|one Cleric]] was to be initiated into their religion. Later, during a speech by Colonel [[Manton]], he was allowed to unveil the monks to reveal knots of skin where the bases of their necks should be; the Cleric had been unaware that this would happen to him.
The Headless Monks were present at [[Demon's Run|Demons Run]] when they fought the [[Eleventh Doctor]] and his allies. ([[DW]]: ''[[A Good Man Goes to War]]'') The [[Delirium Archive]] was said to be their final resting place. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Time of Angels]]'')


==Behind the scenes==
The Doctor revealed himself to be disguised as a Monk, in order to panic the Clerics into attacking them. The Monks began to kill the marines in retaliation until Manton told everyone to cease fire, at which point they were surrounded by the Doctor's own forces, an army of [[Silurian]]s and [[Judoon]] led by [[Sontaran]] Commander [[Strax]]. The Doctor believed he'd captured and driven off the entire force — however, he was unaware the Headless Monks did not register as alive and that they'd kept most of their number hidden, as part of a trap. They massacred most of the Silurians before they were even noticed and took out the Doctor's allies Strax, [[Lorna Bucket]], and Dorium, the last converted into a Headless, before they were killed. ([[TV]]: ''[[A Good Man Goes to War (TV story)|A Good Man Goes to War]]'')
*The Monks resemble the unnamed [[cowled figure]]s from [[TW]]: ''[[Exit Wounds]]''.
 
The monks cut ties with Kovarian after the battle. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Furies (audio story)|The Furies]]'') The Eleventh Doctor later discovered that the Headless Monks stored the heads of their followers in the catacombs under their temple, in the [[Seventh Transept]]. Despite having no bodies and the flesh around their skulls having rotted away, the skulls were still alive, although bestial in nature; they would attempt to eat anything that wandered into the catacombs, including rats and people. [[Gantok]] took the Doctor here to meet the severed head of Dorium Maldovar. Dorium's head turned out to be fully alive and still sentient, a privilege affordable only by the wealthy. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Wedding of River Song (TV story)|The Wedding of River Song]]'')
 
Travelling from the 51st century to [[Egypt]] in 1st century BC, the Monks laid a trap for the Doctor using the remains of the [[Twelfth Cyber Legion]]. The trap was encountered by a group of [[Adventurers (Player's Guide)|adventurers]] which may have included the Doctor. ([[GAME]]: {{cs|The Tomb of Cleopatra (game)}})
 
In the [[171st century]], the [[Delirium Archive]] was said to be the final resting place of the Headless Monks. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Time of Angels (TV story)|The Time of Angels]]'')
 
When the [[telepathic]] [[Emily Fairfax]] read the mind of the [[Hypothetical Gentleman]], a Headless Monk was among the images she saw. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Hypothetical Gentleman (comic story)|Hypothetical Gentleman]]'')
 
A band of what appeared to be Headless Monks went on stage at the ''[[Battle of the Bands Beyond the Stars]]'', then lowered their hoods to reveal that they were all [[incarnation]]s of [[the Master]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Abominable Showmen (comic story)|The Abominable Showmen]]'')
 
== External links ==
{{Dwlx|Headless Monk|Headless Monk}}


{{Series 6 aliens}}
[[Category:Religious orders]]
[[Category:Religious orders]]
[[Category:Eleventh Doctor enemies]]
[[Category:Monks]]
[[Category:Battle of Demons Run]]
 
[[fr:Moine sans Tête]]

Latest revision as of 23:29, 1 October 2024

The Headless Monks, also known as the Order of the Headless, were a religious order who believed in listening to their hearts rather than their minds, to the point of having themselves beheaded.

Biology[[edit] | [edit source]]

As they were headless, the Headless Monks did not register as living beings. They were also supposedly incapable of being fooled or surprised or of feeling fear. Despite their lack of heads, the Monks were able to detect where other beings were. They could fire energy blasts from their hands, as well as channelling that energy into the swords they carried.

They could be killed just as easily as most other humanoids, with energy blasts, guns, or sword wounds. They also had some form of vocal ability, as they could chant, though this may have been a psychic ability. (TV: A Good Man Goes to War)

Culture[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Headless Monks were very religious. They believed in listening to their hearts rather than their minds, so they beheaded themselves and placed their heads inside an unnamed, box-like device. If another group allied with the monks, they were expected to provide at least one of their members to join the monks.

It was a Level One Heresy, punishable by death, to attempt to lower the hood of a Headless Monk. The group followed an entity known as the Papal Mainframe. Although the monks considered it a heresy to reveal their headless state to outsiders, they were apparently able to do so under the orders of the Mainframe.

The Monks would perform an attack prayer before certain fights. (TV: A Good Man Goes to War)

Not all inductees to the Order of the Headless had their heads kept in boxes. The boxes were apparently reserved for the very wealthy, while the rest of the monks' heads were left to rot on shelves in a cave full of skulls called the Seventh Transept. Despite this, the skulls were still 'alive' in a sense, capable of moving about and attacking others. The heads kept in ceremonial boxes were even better preserved: Dorium Maldovar was still very active and in full possession of his memories and personality when visited by the Eleventh Doctor. (TV: The Wedding of River Song)

History[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Order of the Headless joined an alliance led by the Silence, the Anglican Regiment of the Church, and Madame Kovarian dedicated to the defeat of the Doctor. Some time after Amy Pond's honeymoon, after her child was conceived, she was captured and replaced by a Ganger perfectly synced to the real Amy so that neither the Eleventh Doctor nor Rory Williams, Amy's husband, would notice.

As far as Amy knew, she was continuing her adventures with the Doctor and Rory. In reality, Amy's pregnant body was taken to Demon's Run in the 52nd century. The Headless Monks went to great effort to contain her and her unborn child. (TV: A Good Man Goes to War) They paid Dorium Maldovar for delivering them the brain of a Judoon trooper which contained security software they needed. (WC: Prequel (A Good Man Goes to War))

In accordance with the Headless Monks' alliance protocol, one Cleric was to be initiated into their religion. Later, during a speech by Colonel Manton, he was allowed to unveil the monks to reveal knots of skin where the bases of their necks should be; the Cleric had been unaware that this would happen to him.

The Doctor revealed himself to be disguised as a Monk, in order to panic the Clerics into attacking them. The Monks began to kill the marines in retaliation until Manton told everyone to cease fire, at which point they were surrounded by the Doctor's own forces, an army of Silurians and Judoon led by Sontaran Commander Strax. The Doctor believed he'd captured and driven off the entire force — however, he was unaware the Headless Monks did not register as alive and that they'd kept most of their number hidden, as part of a trap. They massacred most of the Silurians before they were even noticed and took out the Doctor's allies Strax, Lorna Bucket, and Dorium, the last converted into a Headless, before they were killed. (TV: A Good Man Goes to War)

The monks cut ties with Kovarian after the battle. (AUDIO: The Furies) The Eleventh Doctor later discovered that the Headless Monks stored the heads of their followers in the catacombs under their temple, in the Seventh Transept. Despite having no bodies and the flesh around their skulls having rotted away, the skulls were still alive, although bestial in nature; they would attempt to eat anything that wandered into the catacombs, including rats and people. Gantok took the Doctor here to meet the severed head of Dorium Maldovar. Dorium's head turned out to be fully alive and still sentient, a privilege affordable only by the wealthy. (TV: The Wedding of River Song)

Travelling from the 51st century to Egypt in 1st century BC, the Monks laid a trap for the Doctor using the remains of the Twelfth Cyber Legion. The trap was encountered by a group of adventurers which may have included the Doctor. (GAME: The Tomb of Cleopatra [+]Loading...["The Tomb of Cleopatra (game)"])

In the 171st century, the Delirium Archive was said to be the final resting place of the Headless Monks. (TV: The Time of Angels)

When the telepathic Emily Fairfax read the mind of the Hypothetical Gentleman, a Headless Monk was among the images she saw. (COMIC: Hypothetical Gentleman)

A band of what appeared to be Headless Monks went on stage at the Battle of the Bands Beyond the Stars, then lowered their hoods to reveal that they were all incarnations of the Master. (COMIC: The Abominable Showmen)

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]