Bothan/Legends

"Many Bothans died to bring us this information."

- Mon Mothma before the Battle of Endor

Bothans were furry humanoids, about 1.5 meters tall. Hailing from Bothawui and several colonies, Bothans differ in facial structure from canine to feline to equine. The Bothans were members of the Old Republic at least from 4,000 BBY, but likely from a significantly earlier point. Through numerous conflicts the Bothans remained officially neutral, although their famed Spynet always played each side and commercial interests sought profits. The Bothans played a large role in the founding of the New Republic and in the development of its government. Bothese is the name of the native language spoken by Bothans, where Botha is the written form.

Culture
Bothan culture was guided by the philosophy and principles set forth in the ancient text The Way by Golm Fervse’dra. In this "Bothan Way", the pursuit of power and influence was paramount. Thus, individual Bothans put their own political and economic success above all other concerns, and as a species, Bothans put their own advancement ahead of other intergalactic interests. The volume of backstabbing, subtle character assassination and political maneuvering in Bothan society was dizzying, and resulted in many species stereotyping Bothans as untrustworthy. In times of crisis, the focus of Bothan society shifted to a survivalist state known as "Ar’kai". When engaged in Ar’kai, all fit Bothans volunteered to defend their species from impending annihilation. The last calling of Ar’kai was during the Yuuzhan Vong invasion after the death of Borsk Fey’lya and the practical defeat of the New Republic.

Clans
Immediate Bothans families were organized into large clans, which were the more important social unit in Bothan society; family and clan loyalty were equally important as power accumulation. Clan associate was denoted as the last component in a Bothan name. For example, the name Girov Dza'tey would mean that Girov is his given name, Dza his family name, and that he was of the Tey clan.

Government
The Bothan Council, a representative body of selective Bothan clans, was the primary governmental body of the Bothan people. Renamed the "Combined Clans" during the New Republic era, the body was still commonly referred to as the Council. At the height of the Galactic Civil War, the council was comprised of representatives from 608 registered clans. A constant flow of new clans petitioned for membership with the numbers soaring during crises like the Yuuzhan Vong invasion. At the head of the Council was the First Secretary, who led the council from their headquarters in Merchant's Square in the capital of Drev'starn.

Beginning with the Clone Wars and continuing after the fall of the Old Republic, the Council absorbed many of the Bothan political bodies, such as the Bothan Independent Treasury, seeing them as wasteful, corrupt and inefficient. Highly centralized, the Bothan Council governed all social, political, economic and security issues of Bothan life.

The Bothan Diplomatic Corps was one of the few government organizations to survive the culling, and was in fact expanded. The Diplomatic Corp operated as a branch of the Bothan government, and held the responsibility of furthering Bothan ideals through diplomacy. Its agents met with the leaders of other worlds, forged treaties, and represented Bothawui in the New Republic, to ensure that Bothan ends were served in any alliance.

Military
Although a neutral planet during the Galactic Civil War, the Bothans maintained a small defense force to protect Bothawui, and Bothan colonies and economic interests. Bothan soldiers and officers were trained at the oft-mocked Bothan Military Academy.

After the Empire subjugated the Bothan worlds, Alliance General Bob Hudsol organized many Bothan into a resistance movement that eventually overthrew the Imperial garrison. As Bothan involvement in the New Republic increased, so did Bothan military advancement. From 4.5 ABY to 8 ABY, the New Republic Defense Fleet maintained a Bothan-only Bothan Combat Response Element as a quick response force, giving early experience to many future Bothan New Republic officers. By 25 ABY, Bothans such as Traest Kre'fey held high ranking posts in the New Republic military, and the Bothans had developed several warships, such as the Bothan Assault Cruiser.

Behind the scenes
Only mentioned in Return of the Jedi film, Bothan physical appearances differ noticeably in different Expanded Universe sources. Timothy Zahn first describes the species in Heir to the Empire novel, and illlustrations for the Heir to the Empire Sourcebook from West End Games show them as fairly human-like creatures with fur. The Heir to the Empire comic depicts the Bothans differently, as largely fur-faced with long snouts. The Shadows of the Empire comics follow the lead of the West End Games sourcebooks, as do the Shadows of the Empire Planets Guide, Star Wars: Rebellion, the Star Wars Customizable Card Game, and the Databank (this last source uses the image from the card and was the main image for some time). Meanwhile, long-snouted Bothans appear in later EU games and publications. The Essential Guide to Planets and Moons shows Bothans as an average between the two extremes.