Imperial Era

"For over a thousand generations, the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic. Before the dark times. Before the Empire."

- Obi-Wan Kenobi

The Age of the Empire, also referred to as the dark times, began with the end of the Clone Wars and the proclamation of the First Galactic Empire, nineteen years before the Battle of Yavin. It was characterized by the reign of Galactic Emperor Palpatine and the political program of his regime, referred to as the New Order. Although the Emperor did bring peace to the galaxy as he had promised, that result was achieved through brutal repression. As a result, the Age of the Empire also saw the birth of the Alliance to Restore the Republic, whose members sought to overthrow Palpatine and restore democracy to the galaxy.