Wookieepedia:Featured article queue/February 15, 2009

A fanatical supporter of the New Order and its core precepts, Ishin-Il-Raz was one of the original twelve Grand Admirals appointed by Emperor Palpatine two years before the Battle of Yavin. Early in his life, Il-Raz helped found the Commission for the Protection of the Republic, and when it was re-formed in 19 BBY, he became the leader of the Commission for the Preservation of the New Order, and was a key figure in the development of its Humanocentric ideas and concepts.

His efforts eventually came to the attention of Palpatine, who gave him the rank of Grand Admiral, despite Il-Raz's complete lack of military experience. This appointment was met with much criticism, and Il-Raz knew that his appointment was purely a political one. Il-Raz began to idolize Palpatine, and initiated a series of bloody massacres in an attempt to win favor with the Emperor. These atrocities, however, did nothing more than reduce public opinion of him, and when Palpatine was killed at Endor in 4 ABY, Il-Raz was largely forgotten by his fellow Grand Admirals, who turned warlord and fought with each other. Distraught at Palpatine's death, Il-Raz began to contemplate suicide, and eight months after Endor, he plunged his Star Destroyer into the Dena rii Nova, killing himself and thousands of others.