Emperor's Guardsmen

The Emperor's Guardsmen was a group of elite troops that loyally served Emperor Palpatine during the Great Jedi Purge and Galactic Civil War. They were made up of three groups: the Senate Guard, Royal Guard, and Shadow Guard. All guardsmen were always silent and executed orders swiftly and without question.

Royal Guard
Main article: Emperor's Royal Guard

The Royal Guards were the most common of the guardsmen and served as the Emperor's personal bodyguards. They wore red robes and helmets with black visors. They used Force pikes as their primary weapon, but were shown using lightsaber pikes in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. Wherever Palpatine traveled, there would always be at least two Royal Guards who would stand guard over him at all times. They either flanked the entrance to Palpatine's chamber or flanked Palpatine himself to ensure his safety. They replaced Palpatine's original guardsmen, the Red Guard, during his time as Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic.

Senate Guard
Main article: Imperial Senate Guard

The Senate Guard served as Palpatine's agents in the Imperial Senate. They guarded the senators at all times. They wore blue robes and helmets with black visors. They used Cortosis staffs, but where shown using lightsaber pikes in Force Unleashed. They replaced the original Senate Guard of the Galactic Republic. They fought alongside the Royal Guard and the Emperor against Galen Marek during the Battle on Death Star I as well as guarded the leaders of the Rebel Alliance. After the Dissolution of the Imperial Senate, they were most likely merged into the ranks of the Royal Guard.

Shadow Guard
Main article: Emperor's Shadow Guard

The Shadow Guards were the highest ranking of the guardsmen and served as the Emperor's agents in the Great Jedi Purge. They wore black robes and helmets with red visors, possesing a completely inverted color scheme of the Royal Guards. They were tasked with hunting down and eliminating fugative Jedi and others who were Force-sensitive. Galen Marek faced these guardsmen during The Force Unleashed. They were capable of using Force powers. Their primary weapon was the lightsaber pike.