Supreme Commander (Empire)/Legends

The title of Supreme Commander was borne in succession by several of the most senior officers in the military of the Galactic Empire: by Lord Darth Vader before the Battle of Endor and Lord Luke Skywalker, during the Dark Empire period, and latterly by Grand Admiral Gilad Pellaeon.

In fact, specific references style Lord Vader and Lord Skywalker "Supreme Commander of the Imperial Forces" and Admiral Pellaeon rather as "Supreme Commander of the Imperial Fleet" or "Supreme Fleet Commander"; but all three men's ranks are sometimes abbreviated to "Supreme Commander", and as the precise relationship between the different ranks is unclear at this present time, they will be treated together in this article.

The Supreme Commander of the Imperial Fleet (sometimes referred to as Supreme Commander of the Imperial Forces within the Imperial Remnant) was the title given to the commanding officer of the Imperial Starfleet. The title became most well-known in the post-Endor Galactic Empire as a position of great power, though it would become most well-known in the era of the Imperial Remnant some nineteen years after the Battle of Yavin. In that particular form, the post seems to have taken on the duties and responsibilites of the older, no-longer-used position of Executor and that of head-of-state of the Imperial Remnant. Holders of specific form of the title include Grand Admiral Thrawn, Admiral Daala, and Gilad Pellaeon. In addition, Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker both held positions called "Supreme Commander"; though it is quite likely they held the position of "Supreme Commander of the Imperial Fleet", it remains unknown if these positions were the same. This title seems to have replaced that of Executor (only ever held by Darth Vader, Sedriss, and Xecr Nist) as the one given to the effective commander-in-chief of the Imperial Military.

Imperial Remnant
After peace was secured by the New Republic and the Imperial Remnant in the form of the Pellaeon-Gavrisom Treaty, the position of Supreme Commander of the Imperial Fleet became one of the most important positions in the Imperial government. By some means whose details are, as yet, unknown, the post came to be the chair of the confederated Imperial Council of Moffs, thus making the Supreme Commander effectively both the commander-in-chief of Imperial forces and Imperial head-of-state. The powers of this position included the ability to override military decisions made by individual Moffs, most especially concerning the use of the Starfleet, and the power to federate the individual Sector fleets. His powers could be checked by the Council, however, including the ability to recall the Supreme Commander from expeditions outside the territory of the Imperial Remnant.

Origin of Powers
The only Supreme Commander of the Imperial Fleet officially under the Imperial Remnant in the post-treaty era has been Gilad Pellaeon, so it is unknown whether this position is that of an official magistrate. Pellaeon came to be Supreme Commander of the Imperial Fleet after Admiral Daala relinquished command in 12 ABY. It is quite likely, given the existence of the position of Executor, that other, counterpart positions existed within the Galactic Empire. Given the situation in which the Empire found itself during the unification of the warlord factions under Admiral Daala in 12 ABY, it is quite possible that any other positions&mdash;such as the commander-in-chief position of Executor&mdash;simply ceased to exist and that Daala, being an officer of the Imperial Starfleet, took it upon herself to unite the Empire under the title of Supreme Commander of the Imperial Fleet with all the powers of Executor and, to an extent, "Empress". This notion is not unusual and is similiar to how Ysanne Isard was the effective "Empress" of the Galactic Empire in the years before the First Battle of Coruscant despite the fact her official title remained Director of Imperial Intelligence. It is quite possible, then, that the title was at one point of a lower status&mdash;possibly answering to not only the Emperor, but also the commander-in-chief (i.e. Executor&mdash;than has been witnessed by the two most recent occupants of the post: Daala and Pellaeon, and may not correspond with the position of Executor until after the events of 12 ABY).

Under the said conditions, it is quite possible that modern Imperial Council of Moffs was based off of the original, but has no linear connection (similar to how the Galactic Republic and the New Republic share a common name and lineage, but are not directly connected). Therefore, it is unknown how the current Supreme Commander of the Imperial Forces came to be chair of the Council, whether it was through election to the post or simply by means of power, as the Moffs would have had to acknowledge such power if they wish to retain their own powers. This is highly likely given the unstable and highly volatile situation of inner civil war the Empire was experiencing since the death of Emperor Palpatine and, to a larger extent, the death of Palpatine's clones in 11 ABY and onward.

Galactic Alliance
With the Imperial Remnant now a part of the Galactic Alliance, it is unknown what political powers the Supreme Commander still retains; however, because of the Galactic Alliance's confederate-style of government, the position most likely retains power as head of state of the Imperial Remnant answering to the government of the Galactic Alliance.

Ascension to the Post
Vader was apparently made Supreme Commander by a direct appointment from Emperor Palpatine, as was his son when Palpatine was "reborn" in a clone body. Daala assumed it by killing off the thirteen most powerful warlords. Pellaeon acceded to the post when Daala relinquished command, but it is unknown if this was an official appointment as it is unknown when the modern Imperial Council of Moffs came into being.

List of Supreme Commanders

 * Darth Vader (as Executor, 19 BBY–4 ABY)
 * Grand Admiral Thrawn (possibly, 8 ABY–9 ABY)
 * Luke Skywalker (10 ABY)
 * Sedriss (believed to be as Executor, 11 ABY)
 * Xecr Nist (believed to be as Executor, 11 ABY)
 * Admiral Daala (12 ABY)
 * Grand Admiral Gilad Pellaeon (12 ABY&mdash;30 ABY)


 * Note: There is some dispute as to whether all beings in the list did in fact hold the exact position of "Supreme Commander of the Imperial Fleet", as many of them held the position of "Executor", which might be an entire position altogether. Also, there might be other "Supreme Commander" positions, which might have been some positions held by these beings instead of "Supreme Commander of the Imperial Fleet".